The Park University Dorothy Harper Watson Literacy Center continues to celebrate its 10th anniversary with the series event “Powerful Texts.” The newest event will be presented by Dr. Blanche Sosland Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Sosland, co-author of “Banishing Bullying Behavior: Transforming the Culture of Pain, Rage, and Revenge” will discuss her work and how the power of kindness and through its success can prevent bulling.
“Dr. Sosland used to be a professor here, she retired from Park,” said Dr. Kathy Lofflin, director of the Watson Literacy Center. “Dr. Sosland wrote this book with SueEllen Fried who is a well known expert in Kansas City and nationally about bulling.”
According to the website “Banishing Bullying Behaviors,” Sosland and Fried intent to reduce what they call the “pain, rage and revenge cycle” that is present in bullying through the combination of their knowledge from working with educators, parents and students.
The event will take place at 5 p.m. at the Mabee Learning Center, room 221A. It is open to the public and will be followed by a reception where books will be available for sale and signed.
Powerful Texts started in Fall 2012 and will have its final event on Friday, Oct.18, and Saturday, Oct. 19.
“We’re celebrating the Literacy Center 10th anniversary,” said Lofflin. “We opened in 2003 and we have had a year of events, our theme is Powerful Texts.”
The series brought together authors who have a connection with Park to present their work to the Park community. The last event will present Lester Laminack who is doing a two-day presentation. On Oct. 18, he will discuss his work and Oct. 19, he will conduct a conference next to previous speakers who have presented their work at Powerful Texts.
“Laminack has also written about bullying which is interesting, we didn’t plan it that way,” said Lofflin. “But with Powerful Texts, bullying keeps coming up so there must to be something there, something important to talk to about.”
The events have had positive results in the past, according to Lofflin, with around 40 people attended and they are invited everyone interested to attend the final series events.
