A newly-formed Albuquerque company, launched just two months ago, is taking on a timely “back-to-school’ community problem. www.QponABQ.com provides registration-free online and smartphone coupons to consumers as well as local event information.
The new company is making a positive impact on area youth, even before most people know the company name. www.QponABQ.com is a major corporate supporter of an anti-bullying effort now underway, encouraging youth between 8 and 18 to create their own “Bully-Free Zone” Video.
Amos Roady, the owner of QponABQ.com says, "Yes, we’re a new company but we are native New Mexicans and we want to be a driving force for good in our hometown. We’ve learned that bullying is an issue that affects 160,000 American students each day, who actually miss school for fear of being bullied. By encouraging kids to make a video about this issue, they also are learning how to help stop this problem.”
As an online source for consumer savings at many local businesses, QponABQ.com is also offering online access to anti-bullying information, including the video contest details. To learn about the contest, visit www.QponABQ.com. More information about how to prevent bullying and the Bully-Free Zone video contest can also be found on the community Facebook page: “Don’t Just Stand There: Stop Bullying Now”.
Experts say students’ peers play an important role in either preventing or promoting more bullying. Boys tend to partake in physical forms of bullying—punching, hitting, tripping and kicking, Girls’ bullying more often involves gossip, or excluding and withdrawing friendship to manipulate others. Cyberbullying involves sending hurtful or threatening text messages and images with a computer or cell phone, in an attempt to damage the target’s reputation and relationships. Being a target of bullying during adolescence is linked to higher levels of depression and anxiety in early adulthood.
Youth who make a “Bully-Free Zone” PSA or music video can submit it online by Sept. 18, 2011, at www.newmexicoscw.tv. Four winners will receive a Netbook computer and have their videos broadcast in October, National Bullying Prevention Month, on the CW, KWBQ-TV, in Albuquerque. Other prizes will be awarded to runners-up at the video Premier Night, Sept. 29th, 6pm-8pm at the Wool Warehouse in Albuquerque.
The contest is sponsored by www.QponABQ.com and Bernalillo County Parks & Rec, who has established a hotline for youth to report bullying at any county park, pool or community center. The hotline is 505-933-1113. Prizes donated to support this video contest have been received from MHS Law; Sandia Area Federal Credit Union; Sam’s Club; and Dion’s Pizza. Media sponsors for this effort include New Mexico’s CW, My50 TV, KISS 97.3FM, and Albuquerque the Magazine. The media effort has been coordinated by Edit House Productions, LLC.
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