More Than “Mean Girls”, Focus on Bullying in Everett This Friday

The Everett Mayor’s Youth Council and the city of Everett are inviting both teens and adults to find out more about bullying, its causes and some potential solutions. Here’s the information directly from the city…

Community invited to Finding Kind screening, discussion Finding Kind movement and documentary focuses on bullying

EVERETT – The Washington State Youth Leadership Summit will present “Finding Kind,” a free community event from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday June 1 at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave. in downtown Everett. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The event includes a screening of the documentary film and an interactive community dialog on bullying led by the filmmakers, Lauren Parsekian and Molly Stroud.  The event is free and open to all who would like to attend.

In addition to the filmmakers, special guests at the event include: Kim Hopen, Mrs. Washington Plus America and Raven Hopen, 2012 Washington All American Girl Teen.  The mother-daughter team has chosen the topic of bullying as a platform to open up the community conversation and encourage people to join in the anti-bullying movement.

“In my opinion, bullying is worse now than ever,” Mrs. Hopen said. “Raven and I are committed to making a difference!”

The Kind Campaign and the Finding Kind documentary are about bringing change to relationships.  The big picture, however, reveals much more: We should all be more accepting of each other, girls as well as boys.  In order to make the world a better place, we must change ourselves as individuals.  It starts with being KIND.

Nearly one in three students admits to being bullied, is afraid to talk about it, and lists it as a concern regarding personal safety.  In a series of interviews with girls, women and experts, Finding Kind documentary shows these girls have a lot to say.

In Finding Kind, filmmakers Parsekian and Stroud, who met while in school at Pepperdine University, set out on a cross-country journey of discovery and education about girl bullying.

Interviewing women and girls along the way about their lives and experiences, Parsekian and Stroud find among all of the unique personal stories some universal truths about growing up as girls.  Finding Kind is a document of that journey and of the filmmakers’ quest to take these experiences and find a common ground of kindness and mutual respect.

In addition to all of the individual girls and women who share their personal experiences with the filmmakers, Parsekian and Stroud include interviews with respected experts and authors in the fields of psychology, education and the relationships of women and girls.

Parsekian and Stroud have brought their message to more than 30,000 people in more than 300 schools and organizations.

According to the filmmakers, all of us are shaped by the people around us and the messages we receive from others.  These often unhealthy, competitive friendships are something that everyone deals with, and it’s an issue that has frequently been swept under the rug.  There is no reason that girl bullying should be considered “normal” or a “rite of passage.” The Washington State Youth Leadership Summit is an annual workshop hosted by the Everett Mayor’s Youth Council.  The June 1 event is made possible thanks to the City of Everett, the Everett Mayor’s Youth Council, The Everett Clinic Foundation, Brien Ford, Rodland Toyota, Dwayne Lane’s, Snohomish County Executive’s Office, Everett Performing Arts Center, Everett Public Schools, Snohomish County Medical Reserve Corps, Snohomish Health District, Snohomish County Children’s Commission, Everett Community College, Edmonds Community College, Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, Port of Everett, Thrivent Financial-Andrew Brandt and Village Theatre.

For more information on Finding Kind, go to:http://findingkind.indieflix.com/home/ View the Finding Kind documentary trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woZTiMgWYDo

The film was brought to the screen by IndieFlix, which is a next-generation film distribution company and one of the largest and fastest growing aggregators of film festival movies.  Through indieflix.com, a film distribution and discovery site focused solely on connecting people through movies in a fun way, the company helps filmmakers promote their films and leverage new media.

If you would like to support this Finding Kind event or the Washington State Youth Leadership Summit, please contact Kate Reardon, City of Everett, at 425-257-8687 orkreardon@ci.everett.wa.us