East High groups inviting all area schools to Saturday event

YOUNGSTOWN

East High School senior Kayla Mitchell believes bullying is something that’s been overlooked for too long.

“We’re trying to shine a light on bullying and not overlook it because sometimes bullying can lead to suicide,” Kayla, 17, said.

She is a member of both the Q-Team and the Destination Imagination team at the school. Those teams are working together on an anti-bullying initiative.

Students from all area schools are invited to the teams’ “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully” event from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the school, 474 Bennington Ave. They’ll make T-shirts, friendship bracelets, key chains, lanyards and buttons with the anti-bullying theme and play mini-bowling, knocking over bowling pins bearing words regularly used by bullies. There’s no cost to attend or participate.

The two teams number 21 members of various grade levels.

“Bullying is a big problem in all schools,” said senior Trey Ingram, 18, vice president of the Q-Team.

The students want to stop it, he said.

Q-Team, short for Quaglia Team, is made up of students and teachers.

The Destination Imagination team participates in an annual contest with a theme or community need and a plan to address it. DI is a creative-thinking and problem-solving competition for young people.

Read more about these groups and Saturday's event in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.