A student empowering program intended to equip students and adults with strategies to combat bullying will be brought to the community Oct. 25

Called Rachel's Challenge, the program is also intended to reduce feelings of isolation and despair by creating a culture of kindness and compassion.

The program is being brought to Borderland by Friends Against Abuse.

On Oct. 25, all 6-12th grade students are invited to a one hour school presentation that motivates them to create a positive change in the way they treat others and to accepts Rachel’s challenges: look for the best in others; dream big; choose positive influences; speak with kindness; start your own chain reaction.

A presentation open to all community members is scheduled at 6 p.m. at the Falls High School Gymnasium on the same day.

The program is based on the writings and life of 17 year-old Rachel Scott, who was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999. Rachel left a legacy of reaching out to those who were different, who were picked on by others, or who were new at her school. Shortly before her death she wrote, "I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go." 

An essay written by Scott challenges people to start a “chain reaction” of kindness and compassion. The message motivates the audience to a whole new level of kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness and understanding, according to organizers of the program. Rachel’s Challenge is an effort to make everyone aware of the scars that bullying, intimidation and violence can cause and together we can prevent these negative experiences. The goal is to change the culture of our youth in our schools.

A direct link between bullying at an adolescent age and inflicting domestic violence at an adult age has been identified, according to a study published in the September 2010 Psychiatric Quarterly. The study states, men who recalled being frequent bullies in school were four times more likely to physically abuse their partner than those who reported never bullying in school. Past research has shown that bullies are at a higher risk of bullying their own kids, losing a job, and getting involved in the criminal justice system. The study indicates that identifying bullies when they are young and teaching them different behaviors will have a significant decrease on the frequency of future domestic abuse.

Domestic violence is a global and local human rights crisis that took the lives of at least 34 Minnesotans in 2011. Drastic funding cuts have caused Minnesota’s domestic violence programs and partners to struggle to offer the essential life-saving services that have assisted over 60,000 primary victims in the last year, according to preliminary Office of Justice Programs’ data. In recognition of the importance of these issues, Gov. Mark Dayton has designated October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Minnesota.  

In addition to FAA local efforts, the local group works with the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women to elevate the concerns of victims of domestic violence. MCBW’s annual Femicide Report documents the numbers of people who are killed in Minnesota as a result of domestic violence. In recognition of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, MCBW has released its preliminary Femicide Report for 2012, which documents at least 16 domestic violence homicides so far this year. 

The governor’s proclamation emphasizes that domestic violence violates one in three women’s human rights, and undermines the economic stability, safety and well-being of our communities. Dayton lauds Minnesotans’ response to domestic violence, and reminds us that it is our duty to honor victims and survivors and to protect all Minnesotans’ rights to life, safety and equality.