I n a perfect world, no person would be mean to another individual. People would be considerate of each other’s feelings and no one would have anxiety from stressful situations generated by the rude behavior of others. In other words, in a perfect world there would be no bullies. Since 2007, Gina Marie Raimondo, a native of Freehold Township, has been working hard to help create that perfect environment for children through The Bullying … We’re Kickin’ It national campaign.
Raimondo, an energetic single woman with no children of her own (except her dog, Jersey), previously owned a restaurant in Virginia and was enjoying life. She gave it all up, bought an RV and hit the road, explaining that she felt compelled to help save other people’s children when she became concerned about the increasing rate of suicides that occur as a result of peer bullying.
She began her Kickin’ It campaign to beat bullying. She drove to schools across the country and hosted assemblies that focus on eliminating the bullying mentality. She aims to create peaceful environments by teaching children to be responsible for their actions and to think about what another person might be going through before pointing fingers and saying harmful things. She also promotes old-fashioned manners and taking a stand against bullying by sticking up for someone who is being treated negatively, or by reaching out to those who seem alienated.
As she attained her goal of reaching out to students in schools, she realized that once she left the building, the child who was silently suffering was still left alone in the school to deal with the issues. She wanted to create a haven in Monmouth County where children can go after school without fear of intimidation, at a reasonable cost to their parents.
Afriend, Alison Leszczynski, the owner of Hands On Salon in Freehold Township, introduced Raimondo to Joann Rosenberg, the owner of 3-2 Count athletic facility in Howell. Rosenberg’s beliefs parallel those of Raimondo, and Rosenberg donated space in her 20,000-square-foot facility for a Kickin’ It after-school program to be held.
When a pilot summer camp Kickin’ It program proved successful, an after-school program was implemented.
“The Kickin’ It after-school program is offered to any student from age 5 through college from any town,” said Raimondo. “It gives them the forum to talk to one another. Students show each other support, and it offers them the space to vent and share with friends. It provides a place where it’s safe to play, do homework, and interact socially in a healthy, structured environment. If they have a problem, they don’t feel isolated when they know others are going through the same thing. It empowers them.”
Raimondo focuses on promoting manners in which boys are gentlemen, ladies go first, and everyone says “please” and “thank you” and is treated with respect.
The younger children get dropped off after school and their parents pick them up later. Transportation can be arranged through Kickin’ It from schools in Howell. Older children serve as mentors to help the younger children with homework, share their own stories of being bullied and how they deal with it, and teach the younger pupils about their own positive outlets (art, music, karate, etc.) that helps them focus on something other than painful thoughts.
Mentors such as Kelly Khadam-Hir, 16, of Marlboro, a student at Colts Neck High School, help out on a regular basis. Kelly, a dancer, was bullied about her weight at age 7 and wants to help prevent other children from feeling the way she used to feel.
Mentors are rewarded whenever possible with opportunities to shine within their own positive outlet. Kelly will be dancing at an upcoming Kickin’ It red-carpet event and silent auction to be held at the Hard Rock Café in New York City on Oct. 20.
“On the first day of the program, kids say nice things about themselves,” Kelly said. “A few weeks into the program, they are standing up for each other and feeling good about themselves. The program works. Kids can only have so many feelings until they do something about it. This gives them an outlet and pushes them to find their own positive outlet, whatever they’re good at — to remind them that bullies are bullies, but you have to go for your dreams and goals.”
When the children arrive, they have a snack and chat with Raimondo and the mentors, often venting about any unfair treatment they experienced or witnessed that day and how they handled it. If necessary, Raimondo said, she will contact the child’s school to report an incident. Parents are always kept in the loop.
After doing their homework, the children can work on an art project or any other creative outlet they choose, kick around Bully Balls or use the facilities at 3-2 Count until it is time to leave.
One youngster, Nick, said he likes the Bully Balls, which have faces painted on them.
“If someone calls me stupid at school, I hit or kick the Bully Ball and say, ‘I’m not stupid,’ ” Nick said.
Danielle, 8, said, “I don’t like bullies. I like coming, and Miss Gina Marie is really nice. I’m happy that the other kids are here because if I were ever to get bullied, they’d stick up for me. I also like the boys to be gentlemen and let ladies go first.”
The Kickin’ It organization has partnered with the Rocky Marciano World Foundation and the Rocky Johnson Student Resource Fund to help students unite in the fight to knock out bullying. Local business supporters are always being sought.
Current supporters include Delicious Orchards, Everything Natural Too, Hands On Salon, Longhorn Steakhouse of Howell, Music University, Games 2U of Monmouth County, Best Buy of Howell, Tiger Schulmann of Marlboro, Art Beins Martial Arts, Confections of a Rock Star, Miss New Jersey Teen, and several others.
A Kickin’ It concert is planned for 6-9 p.m. Nov. 19 at 3-2 Count, 323A Fairfield Road, Howell. For more information, visit the website at www.werekickinit.org.