MEAN GIRLS & REAL BOYS WORKSHOP

Kalamazoo, Mich.- Do you work with youth? Are you concerned how the overall culture cultivates and reinforces gender-based bullying behaviors? This workshop is for you.

Kalamazoo County 4-H and the Kinship Care Program through MSU Extension in partnership with the New Genesis Education Center are honored to have the Mean Girls & Real Boys Workshop come to Kalamazoo. This day-long session will explore bullying through the lens of gender and other differences. We’ll examine ways in which the overall culture cultivates and reinforces “girlfighting” and other gender-based bullying behaviors, and we’ll explore ways youth and adults can work together to respond to the issue of bullying among and between girls and boys. Highlights from research and practice will be presented, as well as video clips and a variety of interactive activities designed to deepen awareness and knowledge around these issues at the personal, interpersonal, institutional and cultural levels. Participants will leave with knowledge about resources available for exploring these topics with young people and other adults.

The presenters are Janet Olsen, Karen Pace and Dionardo Pizana with Michigan State University Extension. Together they have more than 70 years of experience developing and providing educational opportunities in the areas of youth development, violence prevention, anti-bullying, diversity, multiculturalism and social justice education. They have taught workshops extensively across Michigan and the United States on a variety of youth development and diversity topics.

The workshop will be held on Friday, May 1, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kalamazoo County Nazareth Complex 3299 Gull Road. The cost is $30 and pre-registration is required. For more information or to register contact John Burhans, 383-8648, or Joyce Stout, 384-8054.

For more information about 4H Programs in the Kalamazoo area, contact John Burhans at (269) 383-8648 or email him at burhansj@msu.edu or visit the 4H web site at www.kalcounty.com/4H

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MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

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