On November 13, ASEZ STAR—the Church of God Student Volunteer Group in Orange County, California—held its School Violence Prevention Forum at the Orange County Church. The event aimed to raise awareness of bullying and other forms of school violence while promoting the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign, an initiative focused on fostering empathy, unity, and positive peer relationships among students.
The forum welcomed teachers, friends, and ASEZ STAR members from the Orange County Church, Cerritos Church, Temecula Church and Torrance Church.
Let’s Stay Together, Stop School Violence
ASEZ STAR members delivered a presentation highlighting the purpose and benefits of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign and explaining how the initiative helps address issues related to school bullying and violence. Following the presentation, a Q&A session allowed attendees to hear insights from the panelists: Dr. Ciara Perez, Principal of Savanna High School, and Mrs. Sandra Sturgill, an English Teacher at Sonora High School. An ASEZ STAR member facilitated the discussion by posing thoughtful questions about the panelists’ experiences with school violence and bullying, as well as their perspectives on how students & teachers can work together to create safer school environments.
Following the forum, students participated in team-building activities designed to promote empathy, strengthen communication, and encourage cooperation and teamwork.
Encouragement from Panelists and Participants
Mrs. Sandra Sturgill praised the impact ASEZ STAR could have on local campuses, stating,
“Imagine how our campus would change if we had this club on campus, and we had an entire student body who knows about talk buddies and walk buddies. I truly believe our campus would be a different campus.”
One ASEZ STAR member also reflected on the significance of the forum:
“Being able to understand what people are going through—understanding that not everyone is [living a safe life]—understanding people are going through hard things. If people are bullying people, it’s probably because they have been bullied. How much we should be considerate and have empathy towards our peers and teachers.”
Community Commitment and Support
The forum was the culmination of several weeks of planning, outreach, and rehearsal by ASEZ STAR members, who worked diligently to invite teachers, friends, and peers to participate in the program. In recognition of their efforts, both Dr. Ciara Perez and Mrs. Sandra Sturgill provided supporting signatures for ASEZ STAR, affirming their commitment to advancing sustainability and strengthening community well-being in Orange County.
