PHOENIX — Empowering students to "Speak Up, Stand Up and Save a Life." It is a movement gaining traction in dozens of Arizona schools. The now-annual "Speak Up" Conference is striving to make an impact, fast.
"There's always warning signs that are missed," said Gina Godbehere, bureau chief for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office and co-founder of "Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life." She decided to take action after working a tragedy at a local school.
"We discovered that the students didn't want to upset their friend, they didn't want to add drama to a situation," she said. "We had to teach them that speaking up and standing up was the right thing to do and it could save their friend's life."
The program's first youth conference four years ago drew 28 schools and 1,000 people. Last year 156 schools attended and organizers expect 5,000 people at their next conference in January. They are also getting interest from schools in other states.
"This is a grassroots, growing effort," said Godbehere.
Students and teachers use what they learn at the conference to make their own campus a better place.
"Whether it's painting rocks, whether it's having an assembly, handing flyers to their classmates or having lunch with people that don't have anybody to eat lunch with, they get to choose how to be difference makers in their communities and schools," Godbehere said.
Trinity Lucero and Seth Fuller are two of the almost 70 "difference makers" at Pendergast Elementary School.
They are focused on empowering their fellow students and fostering empathy.
"They should be willing to help one another, no matter what, no matter what the situation," said Fuller.
"We do posters and hang it around, we do assemblies, plays and skits," said Lucero. "What if they were the ones sitting alone and feeling lonely? Wouldn't they want someone to go and ask if they were OK?"
The founders say they are already seeing a difference in how these students treat and check up on one another. The next conference in January is open to all Arizona public, private and charter schools.
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