What is an UPSTANDER?
Well, up is an action word. It implies that you do something; get up, stand up, go up, etc. Stander? Is that even a word? Encarta Dictionary defines stand as; to be in an upright position. If you add the ‘er’ it implies ownership. So, if you put it all together, UPSTANDER means to see, hear or be a part of something that you believe requires you to STAND UP and take action.
According to a survey of Wichita middle school teens: 26% report their peers have pushed, grabbed, or shoved a boyfriend or girlfriend. 65% of Wichita middle school staff surveyed believe teen dating violence is a big problem at their school. Statistics tell us one in five high school students will graduate having experienced some form of dating violence. Do we need any more information than that? Is teen dating violence a serious issue for our youth?
So, what does being an UPSTANDER mean in relation to teen dating violence? Simple. It is what you do when you witness disrespect of any kind toward another person either through hurtful jokes or physical violence. Being an UPSTANDER sends a message to; the person being abused that they are valued and do not deserve to be treated like that; to the abuser that their words and/or actions are not acceptable; and acts as a role model to others watching and not taking action. UPSTANDERS have an effect on the entire culture.
Mayor Carl Brewer has declared February as UPSTANDER Month in Wichita. Start Strong/Choose Respect, a project of Catholic Charities, is celebrating UPSTANDER Month by recognizing local youth who have been UPSTANDERS at the Connecting the Dots Final Friday Art Show. Why call it Connecting the Dots? Because, violence didn’t just start when teens started dating. It sits on a continuum of unhealthy relationship behaviors from bullying on the playground to domestic violence in adulthood. UPSTANDERS can make a difference at any point along that continuum. Start Strong/Choose Respect wants to recognize our UPSTANDERS and promote this pro-social behavior.
Support UPSTANDER Month by coming to the Connecting the Dots Art Show February 24th at the Shopkeepers Gallery at Hewitt’s Antiques, 232 N. Market, 5-9PM. You will be inspired by over 200 pieces of youth-created visual and performing art. Patrons will also have an opportunity to join in recognizing some of Wichita’s finest UPSTANDERS, as we recognize them throughout the night as part of the first ever UPSTANDER Awards.
So what is our definition UPSTANDER? Anyone who believes that everyone deserves to be in a healthy relationship free from abuse of any kind and is willing to Stand UP when that is not happening around them.
If people who abuse are the minority of the population, then what is the majority of us doing? What if we ALL became UPSTANDERS to violence of ANY kind? What would our world look like then? Become an active part of the majority. Become an UPSTANDER.
Happy UPSTANDER Month,
Nancy Carroll,
Violence Prevention Coordinator
Start Strong Wichita
About Nancy Carroll
Nancy Carroll is Program Director of Start Strong Wichita, a project of Catholic Charities, which is funded entirely by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Nancy, has worked, in Violence Prevention for the past 15 years, and has been the Wichita Violence Prevention Program Coordinator for Choose RESPECT. To find out more about the work, Nancy and her team are doing, feel free to visit them online by going to StartStrongWichita.org
