New campaign raises awareness of violence

In his work as an attorney and mediator, Brian Muldoon is quite familiar with what he describes as the proliferation of violent tendencies in society.

Whether it’s between couples or family members, “I see it all the time,” Muldoon said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“There is something in our culture that lets people feel that violence is an acceptable response.”

“We have to end that.”

A cultural shift has to start at the root, with today’s youth, Muldoon said.

“It starts in childhood,” he goes on. “Studies show that kids who get away with bullying tend to be violent adults.”

“That is the place we need to start, with violence in the schools.”

Muldoon is chairman of a new coalition of schools and Flathead Valley organizations that have joined the Campaign Against Violence initiative.

The campaign’s inaugural event is a public forum Monday, Nov. 2 from 1-3 p.m. at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

Guest speakers include Whitefish Schools superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt, FVCC professor of psychology Ivan Lorentzen, FVCC sociologist Ami Megalav, and Marlene Snyder, a national authority on bullying prevention.

More than 120 students, staff and administrators from the Whitefish School District are anticipated to be in attendance..

Muldoon says the mission of the movement is to raise awareness of violence in the community and to ultimately provide tools to make the community and schools safer.

Muldoon says Whitefish lacks a cohesive program addressing bullying and violence within the schools. It’s his hope that the campaign can lead to the implementation of such a district-wide program.

“This is a first step,” he said. “We want to find ways to make people aware and provide the tools to address it.”

“We want everyone educated in how to respond to bullying.”

The event is free and open to the public.

Visit online at www.campaignagainstviolence.com or call Joan at 406-862-4942.