Today I spoke at an event in my hometown and shared a story and a message that I am really passionate about. I wanted to share it here with you and ask that you join us on Wednesday, February 25th to create change with your shirt.
Before you read on, I want you to know something:
Once upon a time (2007) in a land not so far away (Nova Scotia), a boy showed up for his first day of Grade 9. It’s kind of a big deal, that first day, Grade 9 in a new school with so many new people. You want to make a good first impression. You want to be cool. You want to look good. His first day didn’t go as planned. He found himself to be the target of a group of boys who called him names and threatened to beat him up. Why? They didn’t like his pink shirt. The bullies followed him around, tormenting him, all day. It sucked.
It didn’t go unnoticed. Two students decided to do something about it. Travis and DJ were In Grade 12 and had seen things like this going on in their school for years. Enough is enough.
They went to the store and bought 50 pink shirts. They went home and emailed everyone they knew and asked them to email everyone that they knew. They said that “tomorrow we are creating A Sea of Pink. Wear pink to stand with this boy. Wear pink to stand up to the boys who bullied him. When we stand together wearing pink the bullies will be forced to step down.”
Travis and DJ showed up the next day and saw that their message was heard. Hundreds of students showed up wearing pink.
That grade 9 student walked in and saw everyone in pink and he smiled and he sighed and he knew it was going to be ok. He was not alone.
Today, the pink shirt has become a symbol against bullying all over the world. Pink Shirt Day is on February 25th and it is a day that we come together, creating a sea of pink.
For those of you who are empowered and ready to make a difference but don’t know where to begin – wear a pink shirt this Wednesday and let people know why you are wearing it. Pink Shirt Day empowers us to stand up against bullying because we do it together. It reminds us to be better people and create better, safer and more inclusive communities.
Change starts one shirt, one person, one school, one community at a time.
To learn more about Pink Shirt Day, visit http://pinkshirtday.ca/
Follow on @PinkShirtDay on Twitter. You can also follow my friend and founder of Pink Shirt Day, Travis Price, on Twitter @ThePinkDeal.
Find and Like Pink Shirt Day on Facebook too!
This post originally appeared at: http://www.callmehannah.ca/2015/02/22/change-can-start-with-one-shirt-and-one-person/ on February 22, 2015
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