Manhattan, NY (October 22, 2018) Today, EVERFI Inc., the leading critical skills education provider, announced the launch of Honor Code, a new digital initiative that takes a practical, values-driven approach to bullying prevention by empowering students to create change, whether they’re experiencing bullying, engaging in bullying, or witnessing it in their school.
The initiative was announced during Bullying Prevention Month at an event hosted at Goldman Sachs’s New York headquarters today, during which EVERFI convened thought leaders, educators, seven veteran Navy SEALs, and 120 New York City schools students around the importance of helping young people develop social and emotional learning skills. EVERFI was joined by executive leadership from the Navy SEAL Foundation and Goldman Sachs, the first industry partner to sponsor the delivery of the program in schools.
“At EVERFI, we are compelled to ensure every student receives the support they need to learn critical life skills, which are often overlooked in the traditional academic curriculum,” said Brian Cooley, EVERFI Global Chief Marketing Officer. “We couldn’t be more excited to introduce Honor Code, a course that will empower students with the knowledge they need to prevent bullying and be leaders in promoting an academic environment that is healthy and safe for all.”
Positive school climates are critically important for students to achieve their full academic and personal potential. But, bullying can negatively impact students’ sense of social, emotional and physical safety – key components of a positive school climate. The Honor Code initiative helps students identify their unique talents, grow their resilience in the face of adversity, and build strong connections with others.
“Supporting the New York City education community is a big priority for us at Goldman Sachs and we’re excited to help make this digital initiative available to schools in the area,” said Anne Black, President of Goldman Sachs Gives. “This partnership gives us a unique opportunity to honor veterans who make incredible contributions to not only our country, but also our own workforce.”
Nearly 1 in 4 students between age 12-18 report being bullied according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Honor Code leverages key elements from the Navy SEAL ethos including integrity, responsibility, teamwork, respect, selflessness and the importance of standing up for others, to empower students to create change. The course helps develop students as leaders and outstanding citizens when confronted with challenges.
“Over the past two years we’ve worked closely with EVERFI to develop this new learning initiative that taps into values that are so important in our community,” said Robin King, Chief Executive Officer of the Navy SEAL Foundation. “We’re excited that students will be able to learn about the importance of leadership, integrity, teamwork and selflessness as they work to create positive school climates.”