ReDo Day is a program for high school and junior high students that seeks to end bullying by building empathy and self-awareness. This document contains information and guidelines for Adult Volunteers that will be be participating in one of our events.
ReDo Day is a program in southwest Ohio developed by the Violence Free Coalition of Warren County in Lebanon, Ohio.
2. What’s ReDo?
ReDo is an action. We want everyone to ReDo his or her day.
When you ReDo your day, you are committing to:
RESPECT – “I will give the gift of respect to every person I come into contact with today”
ENGAGE – “I will take time to get to know the stories of the people around me”
DEFEND – “I will speak out against bullying when I see it happen”
OVERCOME– “I will overcome stereotypes and look at more than outward appearances”
3. What is
ReDo Day?
ReDo Day is a program designed to help junior high and high
school students develop an awareness of themselves and
the people around them. It is designed to prevent bullying
by erasing ignorance and building empathy.
Throughout the day, students and adults will participate in
games, listen to talks and engage in group discussions
designed to let each person know more about their peers
while also sharing their stories.
ReDo Day is brought into schools by the Violence Free
Coalition of Warren County whose mission is to prevent
violence through education and community action.
4. Why we need
volunteers
ReDo Day is successful in large part due to the small group
interaction which works best with a 5:1 student to adult
ratio. Small groups are where students get the chance to
share their stories and process the information they’ve
heard in a safe space.
With fewer adult volunteers the small group sizes get larger.
This makes it less secure and students feel less safe sharing.
5. Order of
EVENTS:
Arrive at the school and sign in. There will be a expectation
and policy form that you will need to sign. Thirty minutes before the
program begins there will be a short meeting with the ReDo Staff that
will give you an idea of what to expect from the day and what is
expected from you as an adult leader.
Release your inner 8 year old. Once the students have arrived, we start off the
day by explaining to the students what is expected from them that day. These
expectations are for the adults as well! Afterwards, everyone will engage in some
icebreaker games. BE ALL IN. Release your inner 8 year old and play the games with
enthusiasm. It may be a little uncomfortable at first, but relax and go with it. The students
will follow your lead. If you sit back and don’t participate, you give the students
permission to not participate.
Lead your small group. After the icebreaker games, we will begin our talks and small group
time. The ReDo Staff will divide you and the students into groups. From there, listen carefully. The
ReDo Staff will give you instructions on the group activities. Most group times consist of sharing a
story from your life or sharing your thoughts or opinions. Remember to be open to the experience,
but only share what you are comfortable with.
6. Order of
EVENTS:
Step Out of the Crowd. The most impactful activity of the day is Step
Out of the Crowd. Students and adults will line up and a statement will be
read. If that statement is true of you, you’ll be asked to step out of the line.
This is a way for people to be authentic without having to say a word. This is
usually a very emotional activity; don’t let that frighten you. Give the activity
the chance to build empathy and compassion within yourself.
Make Amends. After the Step Out activity, small groups will be reformed and you’ll
have the opportunity to discuss what you saw and what stuck out to you. From there,
students will be given the opportunity to apologize to someone in the room whom they
may have mistreated, bullied or hurt in some fashion. Adults are not required to
participate in this activity but we welcome it if there is an apology you’d like to make. The
ReDo Staff will lead and facilitate this part of the program.
Fill out the Paperwork. At the end of the day, each group will receive a bag with the following:
Take Action Plan, Student Survey, Adult Survey, Attendance form. Instructions for what to do with
these things will be given by the ReDo Staff. Please pay careful attention and follow the directions to
the letter.
7. Keep in
MIND:
ReDo Day is a full day event. If you are participating as an Adult Volunteer you must be
willing to commit to the full time. If you leave in the middle of the event you are leaving your small
group without a leader.
Keep your phone off. During the activities and the small group times we ask that you keep
your cell phones off and in your pocket or purse. There will be several breaks throughout the day
and a half hour for lunch. If you need to check your phone or conduct business, we ask that you
wait until these designated time. Remember, adult leaders set the tone. If you checkout of the
activity to look at your phone, you’re giving the kids in your group permission to do the same.
Stay present and focused. The ReDo Staff will give clear instruction before every activity.
Please pay attention and if you have any questions, please make sure that you ask a member of
the ReDo Staff as soon as possible.
It’s okay to be vulnerable. We understand that it can be uncomfortable as an adult to share
personal stories with teenagers. But sharing stories is part of how we are authentic with one
another and build empathy. The ReDo Staff will share a variety of stories, some of which express
traumatic events that have happened to him or her. We’re not asking you to go to the same level,
but we are asking you to share authentic moments that had a genuine impact on you. Share to the
level at which you are comfortable.
8. Topics Covered
(high school)
Stereotyping. The ReDo Staff will help the students understand what stereotyping is and how it
is usually inaccurate. This section will include the small group activity “If You Were My Best
Friend…” This will be modeled by the ReDo Staff. The adult leader should go first during this
activity.
Negative Emotions. There are several parts to this section, each designed to help the
students think through things that cause them to experience a negative emotion and how they can
respond in healthy, non-destructive way. The ReDo Staff will lead you through the discussion
questions. There is a possibility that this could be an emotional experience for some students.
Authenticity. What we see on the outside is only 10% of a person; the other 90% percent is not
easily evident until you get to know a person. This talk prepares students to lower their walls and
be authentic with one another. The talk will lead straight into Step Out of the Crowd.
Affirmation. We can choose to look for the positive in people. The ReDo Staff will model an
affirmation statement. Each group will then go around the circle affirming the person to their right.
This activity starts and ends with the adult leader.
9. Topics Covered
(junior high)
Self-Awareness. The ReDo Staff will help the students become aware that their
words and actions have an impact on the people around them. This section will include
the small group activity “If You Were My Best Friend…” This will be modeled by the
ReDo Staff. The adult leader should go first during this activity.
My House. There are several parts to this section, each designed to help the students think
through they’re style of communication and how they communicate with the people closes to
them. The ReDo Staff will lead you through completing the “My House” worksheet within your
group.
Be a Man/Lady. The ReDo Staff will help the students get an image of the many ways that we
can be our best selves and help them understand that we can allow others the same privilege.
Show Me Your Friends. The people that we choose to spend time with can either enrich our
lives and encourage us to be our best self, or influence us to make choices that are not in our best
interest.
Authenticity. What we see on the outside is only 10% of a person; the other 90% percent is not
easily evident until you get to know a person. This talk prepares students to lower their walls and
be authentic with one another. The talk will lead straight into Step Out of the Crowd.
10. Handling
Difficult
Situations
Students are asked to process information in a personal way. This is pretty
much guaranteed to bring up emotions. Typically we see tears, laughter, anger, frustration and
fear. We aspire to make ReDo Day a safe space where students can experience and process
these emotions. Please do not invalidate a student’s (or other adult’s) emotional experience.
If you do not understand it, that’s okay, but don’t deny it. Offer the person empathy and do
what you can make sure the person feels like they are in a safe space and are being heard.
If you notice that someone is having an extremely difficult time processing the emotions that
come up during the day (to the point they’re not able to participate in the event) please bring
it to the attention of the ReDo Host or ReDo Staff. If there are Guidance Counselors on hand,
give the student an opportunity to talk with him or her. If follow up is needed, please indicate
that on the end of the day attendance sheet (see next slide for more details).
11. Handling
Difficult
Situations
It is possible that students will disclose situations that are concerning.
Abuse situations are required by law to be reported. An abuse situation is one of the
following:
1. Someone is hurting the student
2. The student is hurting someone else
3. The student is hurting himself or herself
If a student discloses one of these things, you MUST report it.
At the end of the day while the students are filling out their surveys you will fill out the
attendance sheet. This is a brightly colored sheet of paper. Go around your group and get the
first and last names of each student. IMPORTANT: do not let the students fill this out. On the
sheet of paper, you will notice a key to indicate whether 1) everything is fine; 2) follow up is
needed in a few weeks; 3) follow up is needed immediately (abuse situation). Label each
student’s name with the appropriate symbol.
12. Stay
Informed
If you would like to stay informed about ReDo events and
please sign up for our monthly e-newsletter on our website:
www.redoday.com
You can also find us on Social Media:
@commit2redo
facebook.com/Commit2Redo
13. Violence Free
Coalition Megan Crouch, VFC Director
Amy Holbrook, VFC Prevention Education Coordinator
Deona Bethart, VFC Prevention Education Specialist
Ohio Department of Health
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Find us at:
www.arcshelter.org
www.facebook.com/ViolenceFreeCoalition
Twitter: @VFCofWarrenCo
“This publication/material was supported by the 5VF1CE001114-3 from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely
the responsibility of the authors and do not necessary represent the official views of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention”