About
A group of organizations, leaders, caregivers, and community members across MetroWest Boston committed to working together to address bullying and hate
MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition (ABC)
The MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition is a key initiative of Spark Kindness. At Spark, we aim to bring community together to focus on Identity Based Bullying and hate speech by identifying its causes (which include systemic bias), its harmful impact, and potential solutions so that we can work to address it together.
The MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition Advisory Board is a group of organizations, leaders, caregivers, and individuals from across MetroWest Boston committed to working together to address Identity Based Bullying. The annual MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition Forum took place in May 2024 and May 2025 in Natick, MA, where community leaders convened to address identity-based bullying and hate speech.
Join the MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition
The MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition offers leaders and organizations opportunities to explore ways to harness the strengths in your community and do “hard things’ together by building trust and connecting with others. HERE you can find the framing and values of the coalition. This coalition will offer:
- Comprehensive Resources for You + Based on your needs (for students, educators, counselors, and parents/caregivers) available in multiple languages
- Easy-To-Navigate Website so that schools and community partners can easily access resources, programs, data, and more
- Annual Anti-Bullying Coalition Forum - These meetings showcase resources and offer support for how the whole community can help combat Identity Based Bullying
In Africa, there is the concept known as ‘UBUNTU’ - the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.
— Nelson Mandela
Definition: Identity-Based Bullying
"Identity-based bullying resides in the intersection of bullying and bias. It is defined as any form of bullying related to characteristics considered part of a person’s identity or perceived identity group, such as race, religion, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical appearance, etc. Because identity-based bullying targets who the student is—a core part of their identity—it can be especially harmful. It impacts not only the individual student but everyone else around them who identifies in the same way and who worries that they may be the next target."
from - What is Identity Based Bullying, and How Can I Stop It?
Logo Acknowledgement & Recognition
The MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition gives special thanks to Kyle Gould, student at Framingham State University, for designing the logo for the Coalition. We would also like to thank Professor Laura Osterweis and her entire “Branding & Identity” class at Framingham State who worked diligently on proposed logos. It was an honor to work with them and witness their talent, creativity, and unique insights about logo design related to Identity Based Bullying.
Sponsors
Since 2023, this Initiative has been made possible through the generosity of many caring partners including the MetroWest Health Foundation, Becca Schmill Foundation, Patrick's Promise Foundation, Call2Talk, The MetroWest Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention, the Natick Education Foundation, and Mutual One Bank Charitable Foundation. Additional funds from grant and corporate partners and donations from community members help to sustain the Initiative.
Interested in partnering to support the MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition Initiative? Please reach out to Michele Marotta at mmarotta@sparkkindness.org for more information.
