You’ve Got A Friend, bullying prevention panel.

JOIN US for a bullying prevention panel on Friday October 4th, 2013 at Center On Halsted – Rooftop Garden. This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Friend Movement proudly presents, “You’ve Got A Friend” with celebrity panelist, Richard Pryor, Jr.

6:30-8:30PM (Starts promptly at 6:30PM)
Light refreshments provided.

Moderated by:
Colleen Tomanek, AM, LSW

Panelists:

Richard Pryor, Jr., Actor/Activist

Julius DC Bautista, Artist

Joe Serio, Psychologist

Chris Hill, Teacher

Andrew Kroma, Student

Melba Rodriguez, VP of Institution Advancement – NEIU

Planning Committee

Deborah Abbott

Brad Setter

Colleen V. Tomanek, AM, LCSW (moderator), is a Tenured Faculty Counselor/Instructor in the Center for Multicultural Learning at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. In addition to serving as a Counselor, Colleen has also taught courses, such as Exploring Diversity in the U.S. and Humanistic Psychology. She is bilingual (Spanish/English) and holds a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Colleen is qualified to provide supportive social services for members of the LGBT community. In addition, Colleen is skilled at helping clients navigate social systems, such as welfare, low income housing, drug & alcohol rehabilitation programs as well as personal counseling services. Furthermore, Colleen has experience working as a Bilingual Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Case Management Intern. Colleen is the Co-Author of Diversity & Social Justice in a Changing United States (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2012) in which Ronnie Kroell is featured.

Richard Pryor Jr. (panelist) is an actor, singer and activist. Mr. Pryor is the son of legendary comedian/actor the late Richard Pryor. Mr. Pryor has relocated to Chicago to work on various projects. He appeared in the play “Lipstick Goes On Last”, in the tv series The DECLASSIFIED which is filming in Chicago and the feature film “Bachelors Grove”. Mr Pryor is very humbled and eager to be a part of this project for bullying. Bullied, gay bashed and taunted Richard thought he had no way out and tried committing suicide. Throughout life Richard has learned that there is always an escape, whether talking to a friend/companion or even speaking to others who are hurt and suffering. It is important to let people know that the answer is to stand tall, be accounted for, and to survive. Life is worth living.

Julius DC Bautista (panelist) is a Chicago based artist and Marketing/Communications Director for the Fulton Street Collective of performers and visual artists. Philosophy and psychology inspire both his ongoing series of experimental portrait paintings as well as his neo-baroque inspired approach towards marketing and graphic design. Despite each style of work strongly contrasting with the other in aesthetic, they are both influenced by the idea of finding balance in imbalance, a motif inspired by his experiences dealing with and overcoming prejudice. “Bullying and prejudice can leave long lasting feelings of inadequacy, which in turn guide victims to search for some sort of retribution. How the victim goes about achieving that balance is ultimately up to him, but without positive guidance, the pain bullying may cause often develops into behavior that repeats the same prejudice.” Julius believes that art can present and communicate complex emotions resulting from trauma in productive ways that may not be so easy to express otherwise. Through art, and the promotion of the artwork of others, Julius seeks to engage the public with work that combat prejudice by tolerating imperfection and celebrating diversity and individuality.

Joe Serio MA MSEd (panelist) is a native of the Chicago area. He earned two Master’s degrees from Northern Illinois University, one in Developmental Psychology and one in Counseling. Joe is currently an adjunct faculty member at National Louis University. He is also the clinical manager of child and adolescent programming and Kenneth Young Center, a mental health center in the Northwest Suburbs. Joe’s areas of specialty include working with LGBT youth and cognitive behavioral therapy with teens. He has served on state task forces to address runaway, locked out and homeless youth and on committees to bring evidenced based services to the Illinois mental health system. Joe is in a civil union. He and his husband Paul Dombrowski are volunteers for Pride Youth, an program that provides support and empowerment for LGBT youth in the North and Northwest suburbs.

Chris Hill (panelist) is a Chicago Public School teacher at Libby Elementary and Middle School, and co-founder of a community arts initiative called Chicago Artery. He has worked with youth in analyzing violence and bullying in their communities, and promotes the use of art as a way of empowering, transforming, and healing. Chris is excited to provide his perspective as a teaching artist, and join in on this important conversation on friendship and bullying.

Andrew Kroma (panelist) – Hello, My name is Andrew and I am 20 years old. However, I was once referred to as Lauren for 18 years of my life. I grew up in Oak Park, where the LGBT community was widely accepted. Since the age of 7 I knew I was born into the wrong body. I did not start my transition until until the winter of 2012. I graduated from Naperville North High School in 2011 and now I attend College Of Dupage. I was bullied and harassed throughout most of my teenage years which added to my disorder NOS and led to over 15 inpatient hospitalizations in about 3 years. I was hospitalized for self injury, suicidal intentions, and two suicide attempts. I now stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. I believe that together we can end Bullying and the Transgender stigma.

Melba Rodriguez (panelist) – As I reflect upon this panel discussion about bullying, I find myself reviewing/reliving some moments in my youth. Fortunately, I can stand here today and rather proudly share that I’m married to an amazing woman, that I thrived in higher education settings, and that I found acceptance in my faith practice. Then, I think about the demographic information that most want to know: I’m Latina, a Lesbian, middle-age, and a Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Northeastern Illinois University. I’ve had the privilege of undergraduate and graduate education at private institutions of higher education and I’m the proud product of public education as I graduated from Lake View High School in Chicago. I can attribute much of my strength and courage to live my life to the friends that I made in high school. Bullying is real and I can say that I’m fortunate that my friends were my own protective cocoon.

Brad Setter (planning committee) – Life is a journey worth exploring and when choosing a path we must remember what got us here. It’s moments like these which make us a better Friend. Personally it is a goal of mine to get educated by people in society everywhere I go. At the age of 17 I joined the United States Marine Corp and this is a time where the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was instated. I was closeted and in a deep depressed spiral that left me leaving the USMC with an honorable discharge 4 years later after doing a tour over sea’s. But during my time in I told someone who I thought was an ally that I was a gay man, this decision I made turned to be bad as I was told “I will kill you if you ever touch or talk to me again”. But it is a blessing today that the military does not closet individuals anymore and the DADT no longer exists. From seeing this hate towards me when I got out I decided to become a student of humanity and to ALWAYS be a Friend to everyone (even those who practice hate). This is because everyone needs positive influences in there lives. Today I am fighting for things like Gender Identity/Expression to be added to policies at College of Dupage, To #ENDTHESTIGMA for those who are living with HIV/AIDS, for all parts of the  LGBTTQQIIAA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Intergender, Asexual, & Allies) Community because we all want our voice to be heard, but most importantly I am just trying to be your FRIEND.

Deborah Abbott (planning committee) – The experience of having someone stand up for her transformed this almost-*Breakfast Club* Allison into someone who stands proud of her accomplishments and now fights for the other outcasts. One constant in Deborah’s life has been people who care about her, and that inspired her during a few bullying episodes. in elementary and high school. Since then, she has worked her way from the McDonald’s counter to project management with one steady commonality: Connections. She strongly believes that self confidence and pride in one’s accomplishments produces positivity, and that specific element can continuously work with friendships to generate success. Deborah’s proud to have known Ronnie for over 10 years and jumps to help whenever Friend Movement needs another friend.