As part of a major new national initiative, The United States Conference of Mayors has launched a new partnership with The BULLY Project - the Mayors’ Campaign to End Bullying to develop a series of evidence-based responses to combat bullying in school districts nationwide. As part of the new project, more than 170 mayors from around the country signed on in the Campaign’s first weekend, pledging to raise awareness, foster safe school climates, and work with educational experts partnering with The BULLY Project to create customized plans, rooted in social and emotional learning (SEL) practice -- to address bullying in their local school districts.

"As community leaders, it is the responsibility of mayors to raise awareness and educate city residents about not only the potentially tragic effects of bullying, but also the many real ways that school climate impacts how our schools perform and innovate,” said Sacramento Mayor and USCM President Kevin Johnson. "Developing and implementing long-term anti-bullying initiatives that engage top-level community stakeholders including superintendents, law enforcement and philanthropic leaders is critical for the health and safety of not only our children, but all our residents. We are proud to stand in partnership with The BULLY Project on this historic mayors' campaign in order to end bullying once and for all in the nation's cities.”

The Mayors’ Campaign to End Bullying -- which launched June 21 at the 82nd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors Meeting in Dallas -- has already gained support from more than 170 mayors nationwide, with nearly 70% of The U.S. Conference of Mayors attendees signing on in the first few days to tackle the issue of bullying in their local schools during National Bullying Prevention Month in October.  

"Bullying has an impact on children’s achievement in school all the way to the personal tragedy of suicide. As mayors, we have the convening power to be able to bring our constituents together and talk to them about how we can prevent bullying, how we can protect our kids who are being bullied and how we can challenge our educators and schools to become schools where all kids feel connected and welcome. I am honored to lead the Mayors’ Campaign to End Bullying," said Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

Mayors have already signed on in more than 150 cities, including Little Rock, AR; Mobile, AL; Phoenix, AZ; San Francisco CA; Sacramento, CA; Tallahassee, FL; Orlando, FL; Des Moines, IA; Louisville, KY; New Orleans, LA; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; St. Louis, MO; Kansas City, MO; Raleigh, NC; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH; Philadelphia, PA; Charleston, SC; Nashville, TN; Houston, TX; and Madison, WI.