FIRST LADY JUDGE KATIE O’MALLEY TO VISIT STUDENTS AT GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Will meet with students who have created a PSA on bullying awareness and prevention

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 18, 2011) – TODAY, First Lady Judge Katie O’Malley will meet with students from George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology to view a PSA created to promote anti-bullying efforts. This event previews the First Lady’s Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week ahead, May 23-27. This year, the Governor and Lt. Governor will join the First Lady by participating in events across Maryland.

As a mother of four, Judge O’Malley is committed to addressing bullying in Maryland. Though Maryland is the seventh state to enact an anti-bullying law that protects all students, there are still many instances of bullying throughout communities and schools. During the 2009-2010 school year in Maryland, a total of 3,318 incidents of bullying were reported, an increase of 2,132 over the previous year. Last year, the First Lady teamed up with the Maryland State Department of Education to declare Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week in May to encourage schools across the state to engage students in events to stress non-tolerance towards bullying. The First Lady also recorded a video for the It Gets Better campaign to give hope to LGBT youth and other young people facing bullying and harassment.