Broward County Parents, Teens, Educators and Law Enforcement Learn about Dangers of Cyberbullying

Date: October 27, 2009

To help teens, parents, teachers, educators and law enforcement recognize and confront cyberbullying, a growing threat that affects almost half of all U.S. teens through harm inflicted via electronic media, ADL took part in two programs in Broward County during the month of October to increase awareness about the problem and to provide educators and parents with the tools to empower young people to respond to online bullying, social aggression, harassment and hate through interactive break-out sessions.

On October 22nd ADL partnered with the National Council of Jewish Women to deliver a two hour Cyberbullying Program for parents and teens at Congregation Kol Tikvah in Parkland.  Dr. Sameer Hinduja from Florida Atlantic University provided the keynote address.  On October 23rd, ADL partnered with the School Board of Broward County to deliver a full-day Cyberbullying Conference at Pompano Beach High School for educators and law enforcement officers from throughout Broward County.  Superintendent James Notter provided opening remarks and Dr. Justin Patchin from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire provided the keynote address.  Close to 200 participants attended both programs and increased their awareness of the problem of cyberbullying and learned prevention & intervention strategies to address cyberbullying.   The programs were generously underwritten by private donors and Microsoft Foundation. 

Pictured L-R:  Dr. Justin Patchin; Superintendent James Notter, Broward County School District; ADL Lay Leader Robin Krooks; and Leah Kelly, Executive Director of Student Support Services with Broward School Board.