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Kevin
Epling
Bully Police USA Co-Director
Legislative
Liaison, Bully Police Michigan
Speaker
and Consultant
Tammy
Epling
Legislative
Liaison, Bully Police Michigan
Speaker
and Consultant
The loss of their son Matthew
in the summer of 2002, forty days after a hazing incident has charged Kevin
and Tammy with making sure other children are safe from bullying, hazing
and harassment in Michigan’s schools. Locally they have led the charge
to establish a community based awareness program: Safe Schools, Safe Communities.
They are currently working on state wide anti bullying legislation.
It will be named “Matt’s Safe School Law” in memory of their son. |
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The Eplings have been
actively telling their story to numerous civic, educational and parent
groups, have been featured on CNN, The Mitch Albom Show and several other
local and regional news outlets. Kevin and Tammy have established an art
competition for middle school students to explore the arts and assist in
building self esteem.
If you have opportunity
for a speaker, anti bullying consultant, workshop presentors
or would like to get more information
about fees and services –
The Eplings can be reached
at tepling (at) gmail (dot)
com or kepling (at) gmail
(dot) com
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Tammy &
Kevin's TOP 10 Speaking Points
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Exposing Bullying and Hazing in our schools
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Building better community relations
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Law Enforcement's role in solving bullying problems
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Raising awareness through personal loss
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Ending the "Ostrich Principle"
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The Bullying/Suicide connection
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Develop action plans for your school/department
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Generating new ideas within the school/community
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Question/ Re-evaluate your own policies and procedures
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Becoming an Agent of Change
(Presentations
are customized to meet the needs and interests of your group)
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Hazing – Another
Form Of Bullying
Matt’s Story
- “Rite of Passage"
Matthew Alexander Epling
– 2/10/88 – 7/16/02
“Don't be fooled. Bullying
doesn't have to be repeated, or take place
over a period of time.
Each child is different. Even one traumatic instance
can cripple a young mind
into a well of despair.”
Matt's mom, Tammy Epling
Little did Matt know that lurking
around the corner was a parked car, and three upperclassmen were waiting
for them. …The upperclassmen restrained Matt and his friend and said,
"Welcome to high school”. Then they proceeded to pour syrup on them, and
smash eggs on their heads. Matt fought back and stood up for himself and
his friend...The main attacker told Matt, “Stop fighting. This is
how it is!”
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A Personal How-To
Guide To Effecting Change
Hazing has a few different
components than bullying, but at the core, they are both about “power and
control”. One person has power and control, one person does not.
Bullying, harassment, and hazing - they are all sick twisted cousins. It
is sometimes hard to define when hazing is an assault and when repeated
hazing became bullying. In order to make a wider base we wanted to incorporate
all of the aspects of bullying, harassment and hazing together into a comprehensive
anti-bullying plan.
Tammy & Kevin Epling
To order our book,
click on the link below
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