Tickets to CIFF"s screening of "Bully" are free, thanks to Wyoming Humanities Council

All tickets are FREE for the May 17 Cheyenne International Film Festival screening of “Bully” at the Frontier 9 Theater. Thanks to the Wyoming Humanities Council for underwriting the program including discussions before and after the film. Doors open at 6:00pm – movie at 6:30 pm. There is no cost for tickets, but are required for admission to keep a seat count. There may be “Rush” tickets available at the door.

"Bully" screens at Cheyenne International Film Festival on May 19

Cheyenne International Film Festival presents:

“Bully” (2011 TRT: 99 min.)

Saturday, May 19, 1-3 p.m., Lincoln Theatre

Call2ACTion with the Matthew Shepard Foundation
Panel discussion and audience talk-back follows film

Directed by Lee Hirsch (USA)
This year, over 13 million American kids will be bullied at school, online, on the bus, at home, through their cell phones and on the streets of their towns, making it the most common form of violence young people in this country experience. BULLY is the first feature documentary film to show how we've all been affected by bullying, whether we've been victims, perpetrators or stood silent witness. The world we inhabit as adults begins on the playground.

BULLY opens on the first day of school. For the more than 13 million kids who'll be bullied this year in the United States, it's a day filled with more anxiety and foreboding than excitement. As the sun rises and school busses across the country overflow with backpacks, brass instruments and the rambunctious sounds of raging hormones, this is a ride into the unknown.

For a lot of kids, the only thing that's certain is that this year, like every other, bullying will be a big part of whatever meets them at their school's front doors. Every school in the U.S. is grappling with bullying-each day more than 160,000 kids across the country are absent because they're afraid of being bullied-but for many districts it's just one more problem that gets swept under the rug. BULLY is a character-driven film. At its heart are those with the most at stake and whose stories each represent a different facet of this crisis.

Preceded by:

“Art of Misery” (2011 TRT: 4:00)
Directed by Liz Osban (Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Time is fleeting, life is changing and she's absolutely miserable. All in a day’s work of teenage misery.
Tickets - http://ciff2012program3.eventbrite.com/

Sioux City Journal: It takes a community to stop bullying

Sioux City (IA) Journal devotes Sunday front page to anti-bullying campaign. Neat graphic, gutsy move. A new resource is available locally for parents whose children have been the target of bullying in the Laramie County No. 1 School District. Contact UPLIFT for its bullying ombudsman program at 307-778-8686 or 1-888-875-4383.  

Anti-bullying program on the agenda at tonight's LCSD1 school board meeting

Laramie County School District No. 1 put out a press release on April 3 about its new arrangement with Wyoming non-profit UPLIFT to serve as ombudsman for its anti-bullying program. Not everyone is town is happy with the news. I happen to know that UPLIFT already has a great track record working with families whose children have "emotional, behavioral, learning, developmental or physical disorders." The topic will be discussed tonight at the school board meeting in the Storey Gym. It's also awards night for district students, followed by a bit of official business. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. I am attending as a parent whose children (now in college) have benefitted from UPLIFT's expertise. Here's info from the press release:

Officials at Laramie County School District 1 have announced plans to continue offering bullying ombudsman assistance for families in the community as part of the district’s overall package of services offered to address bullying and provide for safe schools.  

The ombudsman advocacy service will be provided through UPLIFT, a family support network dedicated to the hope, health, and well-being of Wyoming children and families. This service will complement the existing prevention programs and problem-solving efforts of the district. 

“An ombudsman is available to advocate and support kids and families during instances when people believe their concerns have not been addressed through standard processes,” said Dr. Mark Stock, LCSD1 superintendent of schools.

UPLIFT"s phone number in Cheyenne is 778-8686.

No drug tests for Wyoming welfare recipients or for legislators

The Wyoming Senate, showing more sense and sensitivity that the Wyoming House, defeated a bill yesterday that would have mandated drug tests for some welfare recipients.

The vote was 17-13. Democrats led the charge to defeat this so-called "punish the poor" bill (so-called my me) and were joined by moderate Republicans. All the votes in support of the bill were cast by Tea Party Republicans.

Sen. Kit Jennings (Tea Party-Casper), co-sponsor of the bill, supported the House-originated bill and the Senate's amended version, which stipulated random drug tests for adults instead of drug tests for all welfare recipients. In the Casper Star-Tribune, he said that 

it would have provided an answer to the many constituents he hears from who ask why they have to get drug-tested for their jobs but welfare recipients get a pass.

No word from Jennings about why it's a good idea for state government to get into the drug-testing biz.

But Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, said the bill would do more harm than good. He said the most likely result is that a small number of people would choose not to apply for the benefits because of the testing. 

“This is a program that is designed to help children,” he said. “The outcome of this randomized experiment is going to be that 1 or 2 percent won’t show up and their kids will probably go hungry.” 

Sen. John Hastert, D-Green River, said there were constitutional problems with the bill since the state has no probable cause or reasonable suspicion that the people it is testing are drug users. 

“By singling out this specific program, there is a sense of discrimination,” he said. “Why not drug test other forms of public assistance that we have? Like should we require drug testing for any type of subsidy?”

As the bill was debated in the House, Rep. Jim Byrd (D-Cheyenne) tried to attach an amendment mandating drug tests for legislators. It failed, but it was one heck of a good idea.

Next year, when ultra-conservatives bring up other punish the poor bills, it should be mandated that legislators also comply with drug tests. There must be some mood-altering substance responsible for the addled behavior of Tea Party Republicans.

Read more at http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2012/03/06/news/01top_03-06-12.txt

Update (and new graphic) for "Defy the Hate" photo shoot Feb. 14 at LCCC in Cheyenne

You are invited!

More Arizona craziness: Tucson schools ban books by Chicano and Native-American authors

Can you imagine a school district anywhere banning the writing of Sherman Alexie, Leslie Marmon Silko, William Shakespeare, Roberto Rodriguez, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Sandra Cisneros and Henry David Thoreau?

This is what the Unified Tucson School District board did when it ordered the removal of "Rethinking Columbus" and other books from the curriculum. This was in response to the Arizona State Legislature's banning of ethnic studies classes in all public schools.

The Know Nothings in the Arizona Legislature are an international embarrassment. They have the upper hand now, but it won't last forever. The voices of these talented authors will outlast the barking of the bigots. Authors such as Alexie and Silko and Baca and Rodriguez and Cisneros are writers of the West. They write about the struggles that go on every day in Wyoming and Utah and New Mexico and Arizona. Their voices are loud and clear. Too loud and too clear and too popular for close-minded bigots in state legislatures across the West.

Read more here: Tucson schools bans books by Chicano and Native American authors | the narcosphere

P.S.: When the Arizona Legislature was first considering banning ethnic studies classes in May 2010, I penned a modest satire on the subject, "Ethnic Studies 212: The Superiority of the Irish." The post has received thousands of hits in the past 18 months and remains one of the most popular pieces on Hummingbirdminds. Read it at http://hummingbirdminds.blogspot.com/2010/05/ethnic-studies-212-superiority-of-irish.html

"Defy the Hate" photo shoot Feb. 14 in Cheyenne targets bullying

From the “Defy the Hate” Facebook invite:

A “Defy the Hate” photo shoot will take place in the student lounge area at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne on Tuesday, Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 

This shoot will conducted in honor of those who have committed suicide due to bullying. This shoot is also a community awareness shoot. Suicide and bullying is a growing problem. Too many of our youth are ending their lives needlessly. Too many teachers, principles, guidance counselors, and even some parents are turning a blind eye to this. Schools are saying that they have no record of some kids being bullied... really, how many kids feel safe to come to a teacher about this? How many kids have to lose their lives to this disease of bullying, ignorance, and indifference before someone realizes this is a problem? Schools are supposed to be a safe place. It seems the schools have become a battleground for the lives of the kids that go there. Come to this open shoot and make a stand against bullying and suicide. Come show the schools and bullies that you aren't going to put up with their hate and indifference any longer. It is time to be heard. Let’s show everyone that the community of Cheyenne won't stand for this. 

Photography will be provided by Flux Photography Studios and Lunar Studios. More info will be added as it becomes available.

Once again, Wyoming teen suicide in the news

Once again, Wyoming teen suicide is in the news. This time, it's the death of 13-year-old Alex Frye of Cheyenne. His death on New Year's Day is getting plenty of attention in the local media -- and elsewhere. There is much talk about the alleged cause -- bullying at school. The school district seems to be doing its part of bringing up the topic and providing counselors for students and teachers at Alex's school, Carey Junior High. According to last night's Channel 5 newscast, the Cheyenne Police Department is adding a position to address suicide prevention. There's a fine local organization, Grace for 2 Brothers which offers “suicide prevention through awareness and education.”

Still, the beat goes on. Wyoming has among the highest teen suicide stats in the nation. Some of that is due to isolation and rough weather and lack of opportunity. Some of that is due to bullying, although it's unclear how much. It is clear that bullies beget bullies, and until this is addressed, bullying will continue to lead to both the mental and physical scarring of vulnerable youth.

Some of Wyoming’s cluelessness about suicide can be blamed on Wyoming's "cowboy up" mentality, which can be summed up this way: "Cowboy up!" Be tough. Shake it off. Get back on that horse. None of which helps much when it comes to assisting someone in pain.

I refer you to Tom Morton's excellent Casper Star-Tribune column from Oct. 26. He focused on the lethal nature of suicide by gun. Guns are very popular in Wyoming, and a popular (and very final) way to commit suicide. He noted that U.S. suicide stats -- 39th in the world -- are not particularly alarming. But, "if Wyoming's rate of 20.0 suicides per 100,000 population was compared to the worldwide rates, Wyoming would rank about 10th." Read more here. 

This comes from a 2010 article in the WTE:

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Wyoming youth, said Keith Hotle, a suicide prevention team leader with the Wyoming Department of Health. Only car crashes kill more teens. 

If a new disease was the second-leading cause of death for youth, that would be front page news all over the state," he said. 

But it isn't. Those headlines arrive only with each new suicide by a Wyoming youth. And they appear with great regularity, much to our shame.

Rest in peace, Alex Frye. We will remember you.

Despite what the Gov says, Cindy Hill continues her war against public employees

Why does Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill hate her permanent employees?

Probably because she can't fire them every time her little heart desires.

Hill had some juicy quotes in yesterday's Casper Star-Tribune story, "Wyo. Gov. Mead: At-will employment should be consistent."

“I have SOME permanent employees who are very personally committed and find ALL at-will employees are personally committed to their work,” Hill said.

I have capitalized "some" and "all." I am a permanent state employee. If I saw my agency director saying that only SOME of her employees were "personally committed," I would ponder several things:

1. Thank God that there are laws that protect me from Tea Party extremists such as Cindy Hill.

2. Why do Republicans hate the people who actually do the work?

3. This person is in charge of our public schools?

4. What is my union’s (Wyoming Public Employees Association) position in this tug-of-war between its members and Hill?

Cindy Hill is part of the Republican bid to privatize everything. As we've seen in Wisconsin and Ohio and Florida, Republicans governors and their lackeys are trying to undo every gain made by employees since The Great Depression.

One has to wonder how Wyoming will find and keep “personally committed” employees when right-wing extremists such as Hill are calling the shots.

Suicide prevention topic of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Summit March 30-31 in Laramie

The University of Wyoming Counseling Center hosts its fourth annual Higher Education Mental Health and Substance Abuse Summit March 30-31 at the UW Conference in the Hilton Garden Inn in Laramie. The topic is suicide prevention.

This is an especially important topic for the state's young people. For young people everywhere. Suicide ranks third as a cause of death among young (15-24) Americans behind accidents and homicides.

"Mental health, suicide, and substance abuse are topics that affect college students and those working with college students regularly," says Lena Newlin, UW Alcohol Wellness Alternatives, Research and Education (AWARE) Program coordinator. "It is important for professionals working with college students to have the understanding and skills on how to best address these issues. This summit will provide an opportunity for training and collaboration to people throughout Wyoming who work with college students."

Several professionals in their respective fields are the scheduled speakers during the summit. Harry Rockland-Miller, Ph.D, will present the clinicians training, which will provide an advanced clinical training program known as "Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk."

The training is offered through the American Association of Suicidology and is based on established core competencies that mental health professionals need to effectively assess and manage suicide risk. Rockland-Miller is director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health, and an associate director of University Health Services at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Rockland-Miller is a trainer and consultant in areas including college mental health, clinical triage, suicide prevention and mental health care delivery. Other clinical interests include crisis intervention, brief therapy and hospital-based treatment.

Kathy Cordell, of Cheyenne, a life coach specializing in medical care, will present the two-day training designed for non-clinicians. Cordell will share her knowledge and techniques of Motivational Interviewing (MI). MI is a student/client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.

Cordell has an established background working in community healthcare. She has had extensive training in motivational interviewing techniques and facilitates MI training sessions at medical institutions throughout Wyoming to broaden the scope of screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment for substance use.

A pre-conference Gatekeeper's train-the-trainer workshop will be held a day before the actual event Tuesday March, 29. UW's Gatekeeper's training program teaches participants how to recognize the signs and symptoms of someone who might be suicidal and how to refer them to seek professional help.

A lunch presentation Wednesday will feature Keith Hotle from the Wyoming Department of Health.

For more information about the event, presenters, schedule, accommodations or to register, visit the summit website at http://www.uwyo.edu/ucc/summit/index.html

For more information, contact Newlin, in the UW Counseling Center at (307) 766-2187 or e-maillnewlin@uwyo.edu

Photo: Harry Rockland-Miller, director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, will provide an advanced clinical training program known as "Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk." (University of Massachusetts, Amherst)