Anti-bullying program will be offered Thursday at the Decorah Public Library

A representative of GSAFE, a Madison, Wisconsin-based organization that campaigns for LGBTQ Issues, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Decorah Public Library about the issue of bullying.

Speaker Brian Juchems will use interactive small and large group work as well as personal reflections and humor to explore how communities can change environments that currently allow certain kinds of bullying to exist.

Juchems worked as an RA at Luther College in 1994. More recently he moved into the position of GSAFE's Senior Director of Education and Policy.  He spends half his time helping school staff and administrators understand how to address the safety and support needs of LGBTQ+ youth in K-12 schools and half his time helping schools pass and implement policies that support transgender and gender expansive youth. 

Also at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, volunteers who have knitted 100 rainbow-colored scarves will pass out the scarves to community members as a symbolic move to raise awareness and to respond to the presence of bullying.  The program has been supported by area churches, the Blue Heron Knittery, Decorah Human Rights Commission and Luther College Social Work Department.

Juchems' program is jointly sponsored by the Friends of Decorah Public Library and the Decorah Human Rights Commission. Contact Decorah Public Library at 382-3717 for more information.