A panel/discussion led by anti-bullying expert Walter G. Meyer will be held at BLKBOX Theatre at 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest from 2- 3 p.m. Saturday March 9, prior to the 4 p.m. matinee performance of Punk Rock by Simon Stephens. Punk Rock is the fourth production in Ion’s current Season 7. For reservations and discounted tickets to the 4 p.m. show, call Ion theatre at 619-600-5020.
SDUSD School Board President Richard Barrera, Ion producing artistic director and director of Punk Rock, Glenn Paris and a representative from the production will join Meyer on the panel.
The panel will focus on major themes in the play: issues of bullying, violence and mental health, particularly in the school environment.
Meyer’s most recent novel Rounding Third powerfully addresses the bullying/suicide crisis. He has been asked to speak and write about the topic for numerous newspapers and web sites including the San Diego Union-Tribune and he has spoken throughout the U.S., including at Penn State, Arizona State, SUNY-Jamestown, the Cleveland LGBT Center, and libraries in California and Pennsylvania.
Meyer coordinated an anti-bullying program with members of the San Diego School Board and City Council and he has been a guest on many radio programs to discuss the issue. Meyer has become recognized as an authority in the field and works as a consultant for Civility Partners, a company that does bullying prevention; he was asked by the nonprofit “No Bully” to become certified to do their in-school bullying interventions, and he has created webinars for SafeSchools and the nonprofit Acheiva.
