by Jody Miller, Executive Director, Mediation Center of Dutchess County

There have been three child and teen suicides due to bullying since September. 15 year old Felicia Garcia threw herself off of a train platform in Staten Island. 15 year old Amanda Todd made a video that silently told her story as she held up index cards, one by one, describing her desperation before she took her life. 10 year old Jasmine McClain hung herself after being teased about her clothes and her shoes.

Students and adults representing 12 middle and high schools in Dutchess, Ulster and Columbia Counties attended the Mediation Center’s 1st Anti-Bullying Youth Summit on November 2, 2012 in Poughkeepsie.

The Mediation Center of Dutchess County trained new mediators at Marist College over two weekends in June.

The Coalition on Elder Abuse, under the auspices of the Mediation Center of Dutchess County, has received a $3,000 grant from the Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation.