Submitted by Bedford Embraces Diversity
Active bystander training for adults who want to learn how to respond when they witness biased language or actions will be offered in Bedford, free of charge, on Monday evening, October 23.
Held in the Flint Room at Bedford’s Town Center, the evening will begin at 5:30 pm with a complimentary supper: pizza donated by the Flatbread Company, soft drinks, and conversation. The training program will run from 6 to 8 pm.
NOTE: The training is free, but because there is limited space, you must register by by Thursday, October 19. Send an email to [email protected].
Offered through a partnership of Bedford Embraces Diversity, the Bedford Violence Prevention Coalition, and Middlesex Community College, a similar training took place on May 21, as a prelude to this year’s Bedford Multicultural Festival.
Alisa M. Chapman, Director of Compliance and Title IX/ADA/504 Coordinator at Middlesex, will deliver the workshop. It will include an understanding of how to identify situations yo which bystanders can respond, and practicing several different ways of responding.
Ms. Chapman says the training was created because people in the Bedford community wanted to learn how to deal with difficult situations. She says that you can also use these skills to work out problems that may occur elsewhere in your life, such as with friends, neighbors, or co-workers.
A veteran of last year’s workshop noted that “although hate crimes are on the rise, we are unlikely to encounter serious violence as we go about our day. But more often we may hear comments that make us uncomfortable, or witness acts of bigotry and intolerance! Bystander training gives us a short list of strategies that are more effective than standing up to a bully which could escalate the situation, or doing nothing at all.”
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