Phoenix’s first lady, Nicole Stanton, received an award honoring her work to stop bullying in schools Thursday night in downtown Phoenix.
The Ally Award presented to Stanton was one of three awards at the Phoenix Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network‘s Sparkle, Glitter, GLSEN event. It was given to Stanton for her work advocating for safer schools for those in the LGBT community. Other recipients included Matthew Heil, who received the Legacy Ally Award, and Dr. Eileen Yellin, who received the Safe Schools Advisor Award.
GLSEN Phoenix is one of 40 chapters of the education organization working to create environments where all students at K-12 schools are treated with respect, according to a press release.
Stanton was considered for the Ally Award in part for her involvement in establishing the Dion Initiative, a program that promotes healthy environments for children, according to a statement from GLSEN Phoenix.
“I originally started an organization called “Stop Bullying AZ” in 2012 when my husband became mayor … Through that organization we did a number of things,” Stanton said. “Probably the biggest one was a conference at ASU where we taught educators about basic practices around anti-bullying, and then out of that grew the Dion Initiative, which is housed at ASU and continues the same mission to really raise the quality of anti-bullying programs in schools, which would better educate educators about anti-bullying initiatives that work.”
Stanton said one of the most impactful initiatives she has spearheaded was bringing Dr. Dan Olweus, an expert on bullying, to Arizona to speak to the education community.
“Our work on finding what needs to be done on anti-bullying is game-changing because there are so many people who are well-intentioned, but the things that they take into schools just do not work,” Stanton said.
Nicole Stanton’s husband, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, was also in attendance on Thursday, and said he is also an ally of the LGBT community.
“It’s very important for us to send the message that Phoenix is as LGBT friendly as possible,” the mayor said. “It’s great for the community, it’s great for the people involved, it’s also great for business. GLSEN obviously has one of the organizations that has the best reputations in town, and the work that they do to make sure that kids have a safe space at school is critically important.”
Greg Stanton also said he wants to continue to promote acceptance in Phoenix schools.
“We want to send a message of zero tolerance when it comes to any kind of bullying through the Dion project at ASU on the issue of anti-bullying within our schools,” Greg Stanton said. “Obviously it’s a high priority for us to send a message that this city is a wonderfully tolerant, accepting and embracing city of everyone regardless of socioeconomic status, race, religion, or LGBT status, we love you in Phoenix. You’re welcome here.”
Among the attendees at Thursday’s event were GLSEN board members Trey Jenkins and Zaria Ruiz, who presented Dr. Eileen Yellin with her award.
“The people being rewarded tonight are the foundation,” Jenkins said. “They are what makes it possible for something like this to happen.”
Jenkins said this is the first awards ceremony of its kind for the Phoenix chapter of GLSEN.
Contact the author at Holly.Bernstein@asu.edu.
