Kindergartener Launches Anti-Bullying Campaign In Gaithersburg

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Cavanaugh Bell may be six years old, but he has already launched an anti-bullying campaign and spoken to local lawmakers about the problems children face in school.

"When I first told my mom I wanted to give back to others, she went looking for places I could volunteer. But, the answer was always the same… 'He's too young to help.' So, I created Cool & Dope to change that and show the world that we aren't too young to have a positive impact," the Gaithersburg kindergartener said.

Founded in 2018, Cool & Dope stands for "Considering Others' Obstacles in Life" and "Dish Out Positive Energy." Bell uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to spread positive messages.

"Hey, you! Let me see those pearly whites. Come on, let me see them," Bell said in one of his videos. "Now, you, take them everywhere you go."

In his videos, Bell also raises awareness about bullying victims who have died by suicide.

"This (video) is dedicated to the memory of Mallory Grossman. She told teachers she was getting bullied and no one stepped in to stop it," Bell said.

Grossman, who attended Copeland Middle School in New Jersey, was relentlessly bullied in the months leading up to her death on June 14, 2017, her mother, Dianne Grossman, told The Daily Record.

In addition to posting on social media, Bell has attended a Gaithersburg City Council meeting.

During the council meeting on Jan. 22, Bell climbed on a step stool and appealed to lawmakers to designate Feb. 21 as Anti-Bullying Awareness Day.

"I'm so passionate about giving back to others and raising awareness about things that affect our community. And today, I'm going to talk about bullying," Bell said. "I'm in kindergarten. I have had trouble with bullying, and so did my mother when she was little. I think this topic should be discussed. And if we don't stand up to bullying and pay attention to how it affects everyone, we may never get it to stop."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, between 1 in 4 and 1 in 3 students in the U.S. say they have been bullied at school.

Every public school across Montgomery County has a student support team that consists of schools counselors, a school psychologist, a school nurse, and a pupil personnel worker. For more information about mental health and crisis support at MCPS, click here.

Resources for Help

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Crisis Text Line: Text 741741
• Maryland Crisis Connect: Call 211 and press option 1 or text 898-211
• Montgomery County Hotline: Call 301-738-2255
• Trevor Lifeline: Call 1-866-488-7386
• Trans Lifeline US: Call 1-877-565-8860 // Canada: Call 1-877-330-6366

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