AACPS Challenges County Exec, Mayor To Wear Orange On Unity Day

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — In an effort to encourage everyone to be kind, accepting and inclusive, Anne Arundel County Public Schools is challenging County Executive Steuart Pittman and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley to “Turn Anne Arundel County Orange” on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

For the second straight year, Anne Arundel County Public Schools will take an active part in Unity Day, an initiative of the National Bullying Prevention Center. October is National Bullying Prevention Month and Unity Day is designed to visibly show commitments to fostering acceptance and inclusion and eliminate hate and bullying. As part of Unity Day, students and staff across the county will wear orange and take part in a variety of activities planned to reinforce the message of unity.

“Our school system made an incredibly powerful statement in 2018 in our first year being involved in this effort,” said Superintendent George Arlotto in a statement. “We want to make an even more powerful statement this year, and we want everyone in the county and city of Annapolis to join us. Our children are products of our communities as well as our schools, and we all need to join together to convey the message of kindness and acceptance to them loudly and clearly.”

The day is just the first of several occasions during which AACPS will specifically address anti-bullying issues this year. As part of Project Unity, AACPS students and staff will wear orange and participate in additional activities on Dec. 5, Feb. 12 and March 24.

On Oct. 17, Buckley accepted Arlotto's challenge.

“And I challenge our elected officials in the General Assembly, Dels. Alice Cain and Shaneka Henson and Sen. Sarah Elfreth, to turn the legislature orange on Oct. 23," Buckley stated.