Features
Submit your nomination for the Unity Awards today!
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center Unity Awards, first held in 2015, recognize individuals and groups who are helping to prevent bullying and create a kinder, more accepting, and inclusive world. Examples of bullying prevention efforts may include empowering others to take positive action, advocating for those who need support, or sharing acts of kindness that cause a ripple effect in a community. Nominate an individual or group who is making a difference!
Nominations due March 31, 2025
Join the Students with Solutions Challenge!
K-12 students are invited to join PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center Students with Solutions Challenge. The SWS Challenge is a creative way for adults to engage youth in bullying prevention conversations while they learn how to speak up for themselves and their peers. To participate, students can share creative videos, artwork, and posters to be featured on NBPC websites with a chance to win some awesome prizes!
Submissions due March 31, 2025
National Bullying Prevention Month (NBPM) held during October | Save-the-Date for Unity Day: October 25, 2025
A month long event to prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. On Unity Day, plan to wear and share the color orange — as a tangible representation of the supportive, universal message that our society wants to prevent bullying, and is united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Take action to address acne-based bullying
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center is pleased to partner with Liquid Oxygen Skincare’s campaign to increase awareness of and address acne-based bullying. We are looking for youth (ages 14-21) like Larkin, pictured here and featured in this video to share their story about acne and bullying to be a part of the solution to help others! Want to learn more? Email [email protected]
Bullying Prevention 101
This quick guide for middle and high school students provides helpful information on what bullying is, who is involved, the roles played, and bullying prevention rights, along with ideas for advocacy and self-advocacy.
Student Action Plan Against Bullying
Ready to take action to address bullying? Maybe not sure how to start? As a student, bullying is something that impacts you, your peers, and your school – whether you’re the target of bullying, a witness, or the person who bullies. Bullying can end, but that won’t happen unless students, parents, and educators work together and take action.
Tell Us Why You Care
“
-
it can affect the way people learn and how much they focus on and can lead to worse things including death. And why hurt someone when you can make them happy and yourself happy. i never understood that. Just think of others similar as you think of yourself.
Tee — 13
-
i've never been bullied but no kid should have to get bullied because sometimes even bullying leads to self-harm and no kid should ever think of doing that or actually doing it.
Alex — 13
-
I care because I know someone who has tried to hurt themselves because they were bullied, luckily they didn't hurt themselves and now are doing fine.
Christopher — 16
-
I see too often people belittling those who are different than them; whether it's their gender, race, or sexual orientation.
Tony —
-
I care because it is not fair for people to be bullied as they are doing nothing wrong, i experienced it and it makes you quite depressed so don't do it at all if you care about someone's health.
Talia — 13
-
I care because:
I know what bullying can do to someone. I know how it can make you feel. Alone and scared and worthless. Sometimes it feels like no matter what you do, it won't stop. Don't be afraid to seek help. The worst thing you can do it let it happen without self-advocacy. Sometimes schools can't or won't help you, but things can get better. Lean on others, because there is always someone who loves you.
And if you are bullying someone, think about what you are doing, and how you would feel if your bullying led someone to seriously hurting themselves, and you are responsible. Let that sink in before you harm them any further.
Be a force of love in the world, not hate.
Brynne — 15
Stories
Don’t be a Bystander, be a Upstander
May 2, 2025
When I was little, my sister (she prefers to stay anonymous) would always play outside with her friends. Her friends were “popular”, and they would always hang out at the park with her under certain circumstances. For example, if she brought candy, or brought pencils that they could use. If she didn’t bring these things, she would get kicked out of the friend group for the day, or even hurt.
When my mom, or I asked her how she was feeling, she would always lie about it, and say that she had an amazing day. My mom started noticing that my sister would always take things. It started with little things like a pack of candies now and then, but then it grew, like my mom’s earrings, or her necklaces. My mom would question my sister about it, but my sister would shake it off, and say that she just wanted to wear it for the day, and our mom was too busy to hear her ask beforehand. Also, when my mom would ask her how her bruises showed up, and she said that she just walked into something, or it appeared without her noticing.
Finally one day after she came with a black eye, she told us that her friends were bullying her. She said she was too scared to tell us before, because the girls said that if she said anything they would hurt her more. My mom decided to let my sister move schools, and talked to the friend’s parents about the bullying.
In the end, she wanted to share the message that you should speak to a trusted adult if you are getting bullied, even if you have a potential threat, because the trusted adult will always figure a way out.