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Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation Coordinates First Annual Kindness Color Walk

Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation, Facebook Page

Two out of every ten students experience bullying, says Susan Guess of the Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation. While this is an improvement, Guess says  it's still a large number of students and is unacceptable. She says we need to be intentional about how we treat one another and is demonstrating this in the first annual Paducah Kindness Color Walk planned for August 8th in Noble Park. On Sounds Good, Kate Lochte speaks with Guess about the event and other anti-bullying efforts.

Susan Guess says she received a letter this morning from a mother who leads a youth group at church. Two of the kids in the group are being bullied and she ended her letter saying that one boy told her son that "they would not quit until they saw him dead." Guess says she wonders where the outrage comes from and adds that these sad stories are presented all the time. Students are harming themselves and contemplating suicide, she says, and there needs to be an intentional focus on kindness in how we treat one another. 

The message that's being received is that kindness is not a priority, Guess says. She encourages adults and parents to change that message and talk about its importance. She's hoping to show a display of community unity in the first annual Paducah Kindness Color Walk this August 8 at Noble Park at 9 a.m. It's the start of a new school year and an opportunity to bring students, teachers, parents, businesses, community leaders and church leaders together on this issue, she says.

The organization is seeking more sponsors and volunteers. Interested participants can contact Susan Guess at susan@paducahbank.com, or visit the Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation website or see updates on their Facebook page.

In addition to the Color Walk, Guess says she and her daughter Morgan are serving on the Governor's Bully Prevention Task Force, chairing committees. She is on the legislative committee and her daughter is on the community outreach committee. Their next project is creating a network of blue ribbon communities, allowing them to come together and be recognized. 

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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