To be held Wednesday, May 28th, 7 p.m. at the Legion
Regular readers will recall a story we published last June by our High School Intern Reporter, Elizabeth Wastell, about the Humanity Launch Program designed and spearheaded by Kim Bartling and Greg Talcott. Bartling is a Garretson native and is a retired University of Sioux Falls professor. Greg Talcott also spent a lifetime career in education, and they began this project as a way to put their years of education experience to use, growing positive community identity and to help create an environment of mutual respect and for students, staff and community.
At the time when we published the story, Bartling told the Gazette that she would love to bring the program to her hometown of Garretson, but that so far, they had not been able to make it a reality. That reality has now changed thanks to the cooperation of community organizations St. Rose of Lima, the United Church of Garretson, the Garretson Food Pantry, and local citizens. They have teamed up to sponsor the Humanity Launch for a town hall meeting on Bullying Prevention and Building a Positive Community Culture at the American Legion Post. #23 on May 28th at 7 p.m.
Organizers say that this Town Hall Meeting will be focused on creating a safer and more supportive environment for our children. The collaborative discussion will focus on:
•The Humanity Launch’s current data and lessons learned from working with over 50,000 students and 20,000 teachers in South Dakota, SW Minnesota and NW Iowa post COVID.
•How to address bullying in our schools through acceptance, compassion, and communication.
•Strategies to build a positive and inclusive school culture combined with positive values.
•Practical steps we can take together to make our schools and community better for everyone.
Organizers tout this as a chance to listen, learn, and contribute ideas that will shape the future of our school environment and the community of Garretson. They invite anyone interested in productive discourse and for the goal of community working as one – parents, teachers, school board, administration, and concerned citizens to create a community where every child feels safe, valued, and respected.
For more information, please contact Kim Bartling at The Humanity Launch (thehumanitylaunch.com).Â
The Humanity Launch is owned by Kim Schetnan Bartling, a Garretson School alumni. She and her business partner, Gregg Talcott, have worked directly with students, faculty and staff at these neighboring schools: Arlington; Baltic; Canistota; Colman – Egan; DeSmet; Deubrook; Deuel; Edgerton; Elkton; Estelline; Hills – Beaver Creek; Lake Preston; Luverne; Madison; Montrose; Pipestone, Rutland – Ramona, Sioux Valley; Viborg – Hurley, just to name a few.
Read the Bartling/Talcott & the Humanity Launch story E. Wastell wrote for us last June. Â
