Niagara Falls disability advocacy organization to host town meeting on bullying awareness

In an effort to raise the public's awareness of the impact bullying has on vulnerable individuals, Independent Living of Niagara County is inviting the community to a town hall meeting on bullying. There is no cost for attending the gathering, which is set for 3:30 p.m. Thursday Dec. 10, at ILNC's Haeberle Plaza offices, 746 Portage Road (near Pine Avenue), Niagara Falls.

ILNC Director Sarah K. Lanzo noted, "Bullying is one of the most serious but preventable scourges in our communities and particularly in our public schools. We have invited the superintendents of all the Niagara County school districts and hope they will be able to attend."

This awareness event (and a previous one held last year) was prompted by the interest of Dexter Colvin, a 46-year-old woodworker from the Cataract City who is a friend of ILNC. He had been following news of some high-profile suicides of young people, who left notes saying they were driven to it by in-person bullying and/or cyberbullying. Colvin felt an effort had to be made to get to the root of the problem, and if there was a chance one life could be saved by the event, it was worth doing.

Those wishing to attend should call Michelle at 716-284-4131, ext. 214, or email [email protected].