Austin & Maru flex their activist muscles to run for safe schools!

But even though the marathon is over, the race to outrun bullying continues. With your donations, Georgia Safe Schools Coalition (GSSC) can continue to cultivate and expand initiatives that will transform Georgia schools for the better. Learn more about the work of GSSC by visiting their website: http://www.georgiasafeschoolscoalition.org/

There’s still time to help Maru & Austin meet their fundraising goal. Click on the following link to make a secure donation: http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/fa1b64d77a673cae

Student advocacy and youth empowerment have always been central to my role as an educator. In fact, my motivation to engage and lift youth voices was born out of my own experiences as a middle and high school student who felt silenced by a status quo that seemed to discourage critical inquiry. I can remember one particular instance when I mustered up enough courage to meet with my principal in order to address a discrepancy that was impacting the entire student body. Rather than work with me on a viable solution, the principal simply dismissed my grievances as nothing more than a “bump on the road life” and added, “Sometimes you just have to learn to go around those bumps and keep moving forward.”

While anecdotal, my experience speaks to a broader narrative in which educational institutions reinforce an educator/student binary that views learning as unilateral. And with so much emphasis on standardized tests and teacher-centered learning, the role of student is being further relegated to that of an empty vessel meant to consume—rather than contribute—information and ideas.

Granted, there have been measures within education to motivate student leadership and integrate diverse perspectives into the curriculum. But what if we proposed a more bold initiative? What if we presumed that students can also be teachers, that their opinions and perspectives enrich curriculum and classroom discussion? What if teachers encouraged students to be more than just empty vessels and actively contribute to school reform? What if educators and students worked together to smooth out—rather than go around—those proverbial “bumps”? Would not everyone have an easier road to travel?

Throughout my experience as an educator and youth advocate, I have been afforded the opportunity to work alongside youth whose voices have shifted the way in which I view the world; students who have led movements to change hearts and open minds; and who have made the impossible seem possible. Austin Laufersweiler is one such youth. I first met Austin while I was working as a high school counselor in Georgia. As a not-yet-out gay student, he was the frequent target of schoolyard taunts aimed at his perceived sexual orientation. Motivated to inspire systemic change, Austin sought my support and that of another school counselor. Together, we helped cultivate a more respectful school climate by establishing a Gay-Straight Alliance, creating awareness about bullying and harassment among the student body, and coordinating an educational workshop for school personnel.

We soon joined forces with a team of activists, educators and community members to establish the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition, an organization which creates safer, more affirming schools for all students throughout the state. Since then, Austin and I have taken our message from Georgia school houses to the U.S. Capitol, lobbying for anti-bullying measures such as the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act. Two years ago, we successfully helped secure enumerated protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and other marginalized populations in our local school district’s anti-bullying and harassment policy. In recognition for our advocacy efforts, we were invited to the 2010 LGBT White House Pride Reception and subsequently honored with Georgia Equality’s “Champions for Equality” award. We also marched as Grand Marshals in the 2010 Atlanta Pride Parade and have embarked on a number of individual anti-bullying and harassment initiatives.

Jumping for safe schools on lobby day at Capitol Hill!

For our next adventure, Austin and I will be participating in the Atlanta marathon and half marathon on March 18, 2012 to raise money for the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition and create awareness about bullying and harassment in schools. I will be running the full marathon while Austin will run the half. As with our advocacy work, we will begin the races together: running side by side and supporting each other every step of the way. True to life, there will come a time (around mile 7) when our paths will diverge and we will run our own race- separate but still connected, running toward the same goal but taking different routes. Along the way—whether we’re solo or side by side—we will rely on the support of the other to cross the finish line.

On a personal level, the marathon and half marathon reflect our extraordinary collaborative achievements and individual endeavors. More broadly, the races are meant to underscore the importance of educators and students working together toward justice so that no student is ever made to feel invisible.

For Austin and I, this race is not about competition or achieving a personal best; it’s about creating awareness about bullying and harassment in schools and supporting one another throughout the process. It’s about running the race step by step, mile by mile, changed heart by changed heart and leaving behind a smoother road for those who follow.

DONATE!!!

Join Austin & Maru in their fight against bullying. Click on the link below or cut and paste into your browser to donate today: 

http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/fa1b64d77a673cae

In training for my first marathon, I have had time to reflect on and appreciate the people who have played a significant role in my work for social justice.

These special people and organizations have challenged me to always do and be better. They have brought out aspects of myself I didn’t know existed, grounding me in what matters and helping me find my purpose. They have opened my mind and expanded my heart. From them, I have drawn endless hope and inspiration, laughter and connectedness, fellowship and support.

And on March 18th, these 26 heroes and sheroes will be part of my adventure and I will carry a list of their names with me while I run. Each mile of the marathon will be dedicated to a different person, organization or family who has helped shape the person I am and the work that I do.

While the journey will be surely be long and arduous, their support will never be in short supply. Step by step and mile by mile, love will keep me going…

1.) Austin Laufersweiler
2.) George McMahon
3.) Anneliese Singh
4.) Diane Wilkes
5.) Cory Shaw
6.) YouthPride
7.) GLSEN
8.) Eric Bach
9.) Alex Becker
10.) BP Sisters
11.) Adam Kunz
12.) Jacqui (and Carter) Page
13.) Brendan Stephens
14.) SJE family
15.) Soulforce family
16.) Sirdeaner Walker
17.) Stonewall Center staff
18.) David Said
19.) Auggie Bartning
20.) Chance Strickland
21.) Melissa Casey
22.) Papo
23.) Ton-man
24.) Papi
25.) Mami
26.) Georgia Safe Schools Coalition
…the last .2 miles: ME!

Together, we took our message to the local, state, and federal governments. As a team, it was clear that we were an unmatched force of energy and hope, fully prepared to address the issue of bullying in any capacity. Our efforts were facilitated by our proximity, as both of were in the Atlanta area with plenty of access to vital resources, and more importantly, each other.

Today, Maru and I are each traveling down different paths, hoping to reach the same goal. Our ambitions have taken me to the University of Georgia and Maru to Massachusetts. Despite our distance, we’re still working to continue the dialogues that we were able to start during our time in Atlanta.

Austin & Maru marched as Grand Marshals in the 2010 Atlanta Pride Parade

Maru and I are reuniting at the end of March to run a marathon and half-marathon, respectively. We want to demonstrate that despite the different paths of life on which we currently travel, we can still work together to achieve a collective goal. Our efforts are geared toward raising funds for the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition, an organization that Maru and I have seen develop into a powerful force in the dialogue of school safety. I am completely thrilled to once again work in solidarity with a person that has touched my life in an extremely significant way. Although the road ahead will be long and arduous, there is no other person, nor another cause, that could motivate me further to conquer it.

Be part of our adventure: http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/fa1b64d77a673cae

Austin’s life changed after he found empowerment and support through his GSA. And on March 18th, he and Maru will run the Atlanta marathon and half marathon to ensure that other students are given the same opportunity.

With your donation, GSSC can continue to cultivate the important youth leadership that will transform Georgia’s schools for the better.

Help Austin & Maru OUTRUN bullying: http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/fa1b64d77a673cae

http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/fa1b64d77a673cae

This interview is provided by courtesy of StoryCorps, and national project of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect stories of everyday Americans. http://www.storycorps.net