Alabama Guard Youth Learn About KARMA

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MONTGOMERY, AL (04/14/2010)(readMedia)-- On Saturday, April 10th, the children of the members of the Alabama National Guard's 166th Engineer Company, Winfield, Ala., the 117th Air Refueling Wing, Birmingham, Ala., and the 187th Fighter Wing, Montgomery, Ala., received a special visit from 2010 Miss Fountain City, Jessica Brookshire. Brookshire spoke with the children about her anti-bullying campaign KARMA. The acronym stands for Kids against Meanness and Aggression.

The campaign is a part of Brookshire's grassroots initiative to stamp out bullying among Alabama school-aged children. She started the campaign one year ago as part of her personal platform with the Miss America Organization. But Brookshire says that she's been fighting bullying since she was seven years old.

"I remember when I was seven a boy told me that I was too ugly to have a boyfriend," Brookshire explained. "I went home that day and looked at myself in the mirror and I remember thinking – ok – this is what ugly looks like."

Though the teasing and bullying stopped when she went to college, she never forgot the profound effect it had on her personal growth and her self esteem.

Alabama National Guard Child and Youth Coordinator Kelli Hill has been working with military children for more than five years. In that time she has noticed a growing problem with bullying.

"Bullying can have a detrimental effect in a child's emotional, psychological and physiological growth," said Hill. "It is imperative that we teach our children and youth how to circumvent these negative effects."

Brookshire explained to the youth that their words hold merit. "Think of the feelings of others before you speak," said Brookshire. "The bottom line is that it's not up to me to stop bullying. It's not up to your parents or your teachers or even your legislatures. It's up to you to make it better and to put an end to bullying, because you're the ones who are doing it."

Brookshire talked about the recent suicides and school shootings that have taken place in the last few years. According to Brookshire, it has been documented that every single school shooting in the United States has been in direct correlation with a child who has been bullied in school.

"Your words have consequences," said Brookshire. "You have to be very careful of the things you say."

She also spoke to the youth about social media such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. She told them the story of thirteen year old Megan Meier who took her life after being relentlessly bullied on MySpace for two hours.

Brookshire is currently working with Tina Meier, Megan's mom, to help strengthen bullying laws in Alabama.

"It is my belief that no one should be criticized for his or her physical appearance, economic status, race, gender, hobbies or beliefs," said Brookshire. "And it is my dream that one day we will see a generation of children who encourage and help one another rather than tear each other down with words."

Photo One / Alabama National Guard Family Support Director Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steve Missildine (left) and Antonio Bias (center) are pictured here with 2010 Miss Fountain City, Jessica Brookshire (right). Bias met Brookshire during a Yellow Ribbon event in Birmingham, Ala., on April 10th. Brookshire spoke with Bias and other military children about her platform KARMA which stands for Kids against Ridicule Meanness and Aggression.

Photo Two / Alabama National Guard Family Support Director Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steve Missildine (left) and Katherine Thomas (center) are pictured here with 2010 Miss Fountain City, Jessica Brookshire (right). Thomas met Brookshire during a Yellow Ribbon event in Birmingham, Ala., on April 10th. Brookshire spoke with Thomas and other military children about her platform KARMA which stands for Kids against Ridicule Meanness and Aggression.