East High students inviting kids from other districts to disco dance-off against bullying

YOUNGSTOWN

A group of East High School students wants to end bullying, and they need help from other students to do it.

“Bullying is a big problem, but it’s usually overlooked,” said sophomore Ty’Shawn Rutledge. “People don’t think it’s a big deal.”

He, sophomore Alexis Palumbo and juniors MarkQushia Stevenson, Marvinia Fulks and Devon Culver selected an anti-bullying effort as their Destination Imagination entry. Jeanne Constantino, an East teacher, is the team’s coach.

Destination Imagination is a contest where students compete in different categories. Each contest hones students’ creativity in hands-on tasks.

The East team is entering the Service Learning/Project Outreach category. They had to identify a community need, organize a community event and develop a plan to address it.

The community event is a disco dance-off from 1 to 4 p.m. next Saturday at East, 474 Bennington Ave. Attendees are to dress in disco attire and light refreshments will be served.

There’s no charge to attend and it’s open to middle- and high-school students from any district.

Bullying is something close for each of team member. Each has been a victim.

Read more of the story in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.