Bullying & Social Media Influence The Topic Of Free Danbury Symposium

**News Release Submitted by WHEELpassion, Inc.**

Oct. 10, 2022

WHEELpassion, Inc., announced today that its inaugural Danbury TALKS (Turning All Learning into Knowledge for the Soul) free community symposium will occur this fall on Thursday, October 13, 2022, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at The Palace Danbury. The October 13 Danbury TALKS will cover Bullying and Social Media Influence moderated by Pamela Tolbert-Bynum Rivers, Ed.D., Associate Professor of English at Naugatuck Valley Community College and President of Steps Beyond Remediation, Inc., and a panel of experts and industry professionals including Debra Zegas Berman: mother, parent survivor of suicide loss, and educator; Scott Driscoll: President, Internet Safety Concepts; and Elizabeth Driscoll Jorgensen: Drug and Alcohol Counselor, CACD, and Director, Insight Counseling. Sandra Yunga will provide English to Spanish interpretation for the event.

"Now more than ever, we need to have these conversations in our city as our children deal with the growing influence of social media and bullying," said Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury. “This is the perfect platform to bring individuals with decades of knowledge to the front lines in support of the mental and physical well-being of our community.”

Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics states that following the COVID 19 pandemic, 80 percent of US public schools report this having a negative impact on students’ socio-emotional and behavioral development during the 2021 and 2022 school years.

“I am excited to help create Danbury TALKS, a community-centric symposium that aims to reduce any stigma associated with one’s social-emotional wellness,” said Duane E. Perkins, Founder and President of WHEELpassion, Inc. “At the end of the day, no one should be afraid or embarrassed to seek care. This event in collaboration with industry experts will provide young adults and their families with a clear path to a wealth of community resources.”

WHEELpassion, Inc., designed Danbury TALKS to facilitate difficult conversations to enlighten and to inform the community in a public town hall-type setting. Danbury TALKS will examine topics that have a significant impact on our lives, with the outcomes of enriching life experiences.

To register for the Danbury TALKS October 13 event, visit WHEELpassion.org. To donate to WHEELpassion, Inc. Email wheelpassion@gmail.com