Speak Truth To Power Responds

A local attorney and school volunteer from Bucyrus, Ohio approached the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights because he had seen a problem in his community. As a growing number of minorities began moving into Bucyrus, he had witnessed an increase in emotional and physical bullying against these new residents and students. He expressed concern that teachers seemed ill-equipped to respond appropriately to the racially and ethnically charged incidences. As a result, with the support of the Bucyrus City School District and its superintendent, Speak Truth To Power has been asked to work with a team of teachers and staff members to implement the Speak Truth To Power framework into their own curriculum, and to help train the more than 200 teachers and staff members in a Teach Truth To Power one-day teacher in-service session. The Bucyrus Speak Truth To Power program has the potential to be a model for other communities across the country that possess the requisite courage to stand up and face the issues in their schools, regardless of what form their issue takes.

After RFK Center’s education specialist, Karen Robinson, visited Bucyrus last week, attorney Adam Stone, writes,

“Originally, I contacted the RFK Center, Speak Truth To Power program because I had witnessed among the young people that I mentor in the Bucyrus City School District a complete disregard for one another's common dignity. Oftentimes, that disregard would manifest itself in degrading and disrespectful words, and violent actions (i.e. bullying). I had researched several other programs in my search to address these issues, but ultimately determined that Speak Truth To Power was the most comprehensive, multi-faceted program of its kind. Its focus on advocacy and activism appealed to the attorney in me, and likewise caught the attention of teachers, staff members and many community leaders. I was overwhelmed by the RFK Center's response and willingness to come to Bucyrus to tailor Speak Truth To Power to the issues and problems that effect this community. I firmly believe that with steady implementation, and with the ongoing support of the RFK Center, Speak Truth To Power will grow roots in our little midwestern town and human rights activism will simply become what Bucyrus, Ohio does.”