The main way to understand what conditions permit or inhibit bullying is to ask How and Why? through qualitative research: observing, listening, and comparing. The main way to understand prevalence is to ask How many? and count, or estimate through a sampling process, the number of locations with bullying and compare it to the total number, which for public and subsidized housing in Massachusetts, is 1,400 residential developments, with over 92,000 units.

• Commission survey opens
• Background to survey
• Success through collaboration
• Chairwoman Linn Torto recognizes the Stop Bullying Coalition
• Announcing meeting of the Commission on Bullying

October is National Bullying Awareness Month, and on October 19 the National Workplace Bullying Coalition will host an online conference. http://www.workplacebullyingcoalition.org/ I have been invited to speak on the role of advocacy and legislation, and will give an update on the work of the Massachusetts Commission on Bullying and the impact of advocacy by the Stop Bullying Coalition.

• Mobbing explained by Janice Harper
• Update on work of the Commission on Bullying
• Research: qualitative, survey, evaluation of protections
• What are best practices in other settings?
• Outreach and community input
• One person's search for justice

Read more: http://stopbullyingcoalition.org/collaboration

Pamela Goodwin, a 69-year-old woman living in public housing has challenged what she sees as poor management and disregard of the rights of tenants at her housing development at the housing authority in Upton Massachusetts. Goodwin has argued that the housing is dangerous for elderly persons as well as those with disabilities because it is not ADA compliant with regard to the stairs at each apartment because the entrances lack ramps or handrails, and the development lacks adequate parking, with limited parking for persons with disability. Instead of dealing with those issues, members of the housing authority and the manager have portrayed Goodwin as a danger to the community.

• First Meeting
• Commission on Bullying, research effort update
• Social and Demographic Trends Affecting Bullying
• Thoughts on Shaming

The committee to assess the prevalence and scale of bullying will meet on July 17 from 10:30am-12pm

Purpose

Where

100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA. Second Floor Conference Room B

I am enjoying the challenge of being a Commissioner, because it gives me a chance to work on your behalf, partnering with dedicated public servants. We need your input and support to solve the problem of bullying and thus make our public and subsidized housing healthy and safe places to live.

The Commission on Bullying of elderly and disabled persons in multifamily public and subsidized housing will hold "listening sessions" in the framework of hearings for the Olmstead plan in Boston on Monday, June 26 and in Springfield on Wednesday, June 28.

• Testimony and comments wanted on Olmstead plan, bullying
• Advise study of bullying
• New elder abuse phone reporting system