The American Association of Orthodontists’ annual Bullying Bites campaign returns for National Bullying Prevention Month, illuminating nearly two dozen North American landmarks.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and nonprofit organization Stand for the Silent are turning landmarks across the US and Canada orange to raise awareness for bullying prevention. The initiative is part of the annual Bullying Bites campaign, which coincides with National Bullying Prevention Month and National Orthodontic Health Month in October.
The centerpiece of the campaign is Unity Day on October 21, when nearly two dozen monuments and landmarks will be illuminated in orange. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, one in five students ages 12 to 18 report being bullied during school, and 41.3% of those students believe the bullying will happen again.
Orthodontists Positioned to Support Patients
Orthodontists are uniquely positioned to support young patients, as they routinely see school-aged patients every six to eight weeks during treatment. These regular visits provide opportunities to reinforce positive messages about kindness and inclusion while helping parents recognize potential signs that a child may be struggling.
“Orthodontists have the opportunity to build relationships with young people and their families over time, which gives us an important platform to reinforce the message that everyone deserves to feel safe, accepted and supported,” says Dr Michael Durbin, president of the AAO, in a release. “Through our Bullying Bites campaign with Stand for the Silent, we hope to turn a simple message into visible action and encourage our members, staff and communities to stand together against bullying—during October and throughout the year.”
“Every child deserves to feel safe and supported, and every community has a role to play in making that possible,” says Kirk Smalley, president and co-founder of Stand for the Silent, in a release. “Bullying has devastating effects and impacts so many children every day. Working with AAO to help spread our message is vital to helping end the bullying epidemic. The orange landmarks are a powerful way to show young people that they are not alone and that people are willing to stand with them.”
Practice Involvement and Participating Landmarks
Orthodontic practices can participate by utilizing pledge cards and campaign materials available online to encourage patients and staff to take a stand against bullying. The AAO also invites members to support Kind Lips, a lip balm company donating 20% of purchases to anti-bullying organizations, or to sponsor Stand for the Silent’s educational assembly programs at local schools.
Landmarks scheduled to light up orange for Unity Day include:
- Big Dam Bridge – Little Rock, Arkansas | October 21
- Canada Place Sails – Vancouver, British Columbia | October 21
- Delaware State Capitol – Dover, Delaware | October 21
- Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Bridge – Fort Wayne, Indiana | October 21
- Eiffel Tower – Paris, Tennessee | October 21
- Houston City Hall – Houston, Texas | October 26
- I-35W St Anthony Falls Bridge – Minneapolis, Minnesota | October 21
- Downtown Kansas City – Kansas City, Missouri | October 21
- Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | October 21
- London City Hall – London, Ontario | October 21
- New York State Capitol – Albany, New York | October 20
- The Parthenon – Nashville, Tennessee | October 21
- Paycor Stadium – Cincinnati, Ohio | October 21
- Peace Bridge – Buffalo, New York | October 21
- RBC Place London – London, Ontario | October 21
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Cleveland, Ohio | October 21
- Salem’s Union Street Railroad Bridge – Salem, Oregon | October 21
- Skydance Bridge – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | October 20
- SkyWheel – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | October 21
- State Farm Center – Champaign, Illinois | October 21
- St Louis Science Center – St Louis, Missouri | October 21
- Union Plaza Building – Little Rock, Arkansas | October 21
- US Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, Minnesota | October 21
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