Unity Day 2024 | Join the Kindness Crew
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Year after year, bullying continues to be a leading cause of concern in K-12 schools, and students are more susceptible to harmful words and actions than ever before with the continued expansion of social media. As members of the school communities we serve, our teams have the unique opportunity to help raise awareness and promote bullying prevention every year through Unity Day.
Unity Day is an annual event that falls on the third Wednesday of October. School hallways are flooded with orange shirts, posters and signs – each spreading a visible message promoting kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
The first Unity Day was held in 2011 and participation has grown significantly over the years. Led by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, the event encourages every individual – from students to educators to community members – to get involved. By widespread involvement, a reminder is sent to those who have faced bullying: You are not alone, and you are cared for.
Unity Day 2024
SSC began participating in Unity Day in 2022. Every year, we work to expand our efforts and help raise awareness and visibility for the Unity Day message. On October 16, over 20 of our teams and nearly 1,500 associates took a stand against bullying and celebrated Unity Day in their school communities. This year, we brought the message “Kindness Crew” to school hallways on t-shirts and posters to show our support for the cause and the students that we serve each day.
Associates were also encouraged to read and sign “Pledge Cards” that take the message further:
“I pledge to support others who have been hurt or harmed, treat others with kindness, be more accepting of people’s differences, and help include those who are left out.”
The goal of these pledge cards is to empower our team members to take the Unity Day message into their homes and communities and continue spreading the message of kindness and acceptance throughout the year.
It takes courage to stand up to bullying. Together we can create learning environments that foster inclusion, acceptance, and kindness. Please visit StopBullying.gov and PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center to learn more about how you can get involved with Unity Day in your own community.