Hope Squad

And I'm all for National Bullying Prevention Month.

And so these folks, be a buddy, not a bully, anti-bullying walk and pep rally will be Wednesday, this Wednesday, October 21st, starting at 9 a.m., The district has joined the statewide Be a Buddy, Not a Bully pledge to spread kindness, and this event brings together elementary students alongside student leaders from Redford Union High School and the Junior High with a special emphasis on members of the Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention and anti-bullying program with over 100 student members across the Junior High and the High School.

Student leaders from the Hope Squad will speak directly to elementary youth during the pep rally to share actionable ways to practice kindness, stand up to bullying, and create an inclusive school environment.

So I can't be there.

They've invited me to be there, but it's at 1030 in the morning on Wednesday, October 2nd.

Next, let's turn to News from the Nest, the newsletter from Lawrence High School.

During the Week of Respect, the Hope Squad hosted a school-wide activity called Clip Someone with Kindness.

Students wrote positive, uplifting messages on clothespins and clipped them onto classmates' backpacks to spread positivity and strengthen connections.

The class of 2027 and Project Graduation thank everyone who supported their Cardinal Thrift Shop fundraiser.

Polling suggests it could pass in November.

And I spoke with Spokane area administrators and students about Hope Squad.

It's a national suicide prevention program with a foothold in Eastern Washington schools.

Those stories and more coming up on SPR News Today.

Like the other workshops, this one will take place at Spokane Falls Community College, Building 24.

[upbeat music] Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in the US.

A national organization called Hope Squad is guiding local schools as they tackle the problem.

Recently, I went to find out more about the program's work in Eastern Washington.

My name is Dr. Greg Hudnall, and I'm a former high school principal and associate superintendent in the Provo City School District.

I'm also the founder of Hope Squad, which is a school-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program.

We'd like to thank you for joining us.

We're so excited.

And a lot of my emphasis on my work is student advocacy and just working with the different campuses that are in our district and the counseling department.

I'm also over the Project Heartbeat, which is our homeless population.

So lots of hats that I wear, but one of my favorite things that I get to work with is the campuses on our Hope Squads.

Great.

through it alone.

So yesterday, Erin, we actually had someone from Hope Squad on.

Not sure if you're familiar with that organization, but they go into schools primarily and they try to build that sense of community.

And the one thing that the gentleman said that stuck with me that kids who suffer the most are those that are lonely.

Just head on over to Supertalk TV.

You may have heard your kids talk about their Hope Squad in their school.

Well, joining us today is Noah Cannon.

He's the regional outreach director for Hope Squad to tell us a little bit more about the good work they're doing.

Welcome, Noah.

Hey, thank you very much.

I'm grateful to be here today and sharing a message of hope.

Yeah, and I think that's always something people need and a good thing, and I love that whether we recognize it or not, uh, the message is getting out to our kids within our schools.