No Name-Calling Week begins today, January 24, and Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) have joined forces with Predators’ players and the Nashville Film Institute in launching a bullying prevention public service campaign which STARS’ officials announced in a joint news conference on Friday, January 14, where plans for the special week were outlined.
The Predators’ players, led by team captain Shea Weber and Wade Belak, introduced their public service announcement at the news conference. The PSA was also played during the Saturday, January 15 home game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Players appearing in the PSA are Wade Belak, Patric Hornqvist, Pekka Rinne, Joel Ward, Colin Wilson and team captain, Shea Weber.
The PSA will be played throughout Middle Tennessee schools by STARS specialists. The student version of the PSA will be unveiled at a premiere in Tuesday, January 25 at the NFI in The Factory at Franklin, Tennessee with Stoveworks Restaurant providing hospitality.
Rodger Dinwiddie, CEO for STARS, said “at the Predators’ game, we were thrilled to have so many folks see the PSA and the first 1,000 fans also got an incredible ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ poster. We have activities planned throughout the week for No Name-Calling observance including the premiere of our student PSA version featuring NewsChannel 5’s Lelan Statom on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the studios for NFI. We are honored to have so many people leveraging their organizations’ time, talents and resources helping STARS offer assistance to students, parents and schools in dealing with bullying and working to prevent any catastrophic outcomes from this devastating issue.”
The underlining theme for this campaign is “there is help, there is hope, there are solutions.” National studies have consistently shown that a community uniting against a prevalent issue like bullying is critical to systemic change. The Predators players who have stepped forward to make a difference along with the talents shared by the Nashville Film Institute, Lelan Statom and the students participating in the PSAs are important examples of folks working together to make a difference in the lives of our community.
STARS officials have activities planned around this week to help further educate the community. A Bullying Prevention series is being launched via STARS Youtube Channel (starsnashville), Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/STARS(StudentsTakingARightStand) and their website at www.starsnashville.org.
In addition to Stoveworks Restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen is offering a portion of their sales for Monday, Jan. 24 for the STARS’ Bullying Campaign for patrons presenting a CPK flyer which can be printed off the STARS website or Facebook Page.
Also on Monday, Jan. 24, Amerigo Restaurant Chef Hrant Arakelian is cooking on NewsChannel 5’s Talk of the Town with host Lelan Statom. The student PSA will also be played during the 11 a.m. show. On Wednesday, Jan. 26, the Amerigo Restaurant located in Cool Springs will be giving a portion of all their sales for day to the STARS’ Bullying Prevention Campaign as well.
