We Aren’t Going Away

Written by Dru Ahlborg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BRRC

At Bullying Recovery Resource Center (BRRC) we are committed to standing firm and unwavering in our support of families and children during these unsettling times. As adults, the news, the changes to policies and ideals, and the reduction and elimination of guidelines that provide inclusion and safety have caused many of us anger, stress and apprehension. The same angst and emotion is felt by our youth. We recognize that the world around us may feel tumultuous and our dedication to help families navigate through the trauma and struggle of bullying remains stronger than ever.

The BRRC mission remains the same: we defend bullied children and help rebuild lives. Through our programs we provide a safe, compassionate and understanding space for families to be empowered, find guidance and begin recovery from bullying. Our services are free of charge and provide emotional support, practical tools and education. In 2025 BRRC is building a robust resource area on our website to provide additional tools for our families. We know that a strong community helps us all persevere in challenging times.

Our organization also acknowledges that bullying trends continually change and that with the internet, there is no longer a time where a child can shelter against the bullying they are enduring. Our team is dedicated to continuously learning and growing to ensure our resources best serve the families who need our help. We will continue to take an individualized approach with each family we assist and offer tailored guidance and support to best help them move forward with strength.

Now, more than ever, we must come together as a community and all support one another. At BRRC we are proud to be part of the journey torward healing, understanding and empowerment. We remain steadfast in our mission to uplift families and ensure every child and their caregivers have the tools and resources they need to move beyond the bullying. Together we will weather this storm and create a brighter, safer and inclusive future for all.

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb

Written by Dru Ahlborg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BRRC

At the Bullying Recovery Resource Center (BRRC), we are humbled by the incredible growth we’ve experienced as an organization dedicated to empowering individuals and their families impacted by bullying. Our journey has been defined by a steadfast commitment to education and advocacy offering resources and tools to help individuals heal, and reclaim their confidence. Beyond providing knowledge, we are proud to foster meaningful community connections reaching more families and more organizations and individuals who serve families across Colorado. As we reflect on our progress, we remain inspired by the strength of those we serve and are motivated to continue expanding our impact, one connection at a time.

In 2024, BRRC is proud to share the following milestones on our journey:

• BRRC launched a FREE Parent Education class – Navigating Bullying Together: Partnering for Prevention. This class is available to any group of parents in Colorado who are interested in learning about bullying and bullying prevention. This can be taught in-person or online. For more information, please reach out to us: https://bullyingrecoveryresourcecenter.org/contact-us/
• We hosted our first BELONG Gala and celebrated inclusiveness and bullying recovery with over 150 of our supporters! The event exceeded our expectations and we are thrilled to announce the second BELONG gala is scheduled for October 2, 2025 – Save the Date!
• We assisted over 90 families across the state of Colorado and a few families who reside in other states. We are honored to walk shoulder to shoulder with families who are striving to end the bullying impacting their family. 
• We are actively working with an intern and Colorado State Representatives to create potential legislation to help all Colorado students.
• In 2024, BRRC was featured on podcasts, news stations, newspapers and radio stations this year. The word is out and we are grateful for the various communities who are spreading the word about our services and expertise. You can listen to any of these interviews here: https://bullyingrecoveryresourcecenter.org/blog/news/
• BRRC partnered with various organizations across Colorado to participate in events and trainings that highlight the autistic and neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, mental health and family communities.

As we close the chapter on an extraordinary 2024, we at the Bullying Recovery Resource Center are filled with gratitude and pride. This year has been a testament to the power of education, connection, and tenacity. Through the unwavering support of our community, we’ve expanded our reach, deepened our impact, and witnessed countless stories of recovery and growth. The challenges we’ve faced have only strengthened our resolve to continue this vital work. As we look ahead, we are excited to build on this momentum, knowing that together, we are creating a brighter, more compassionate future for everyone affected by bullying.

Written by Dru Ahlborg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BRRC

Yes indeed, it is the Thanksgiving season and a time that many take time to reflect and practice gratitude. At BRRC, we find ourselves incredibly grateful. This past year we have served 93 new families across the state. We have met hundreds of new families at events we attended that serve families and children in the mental health, LGBTQ+, immigrant/refugee and neurodivergent communities. We hosted our first incredibly successful BELONG Gala and raised money to keep growing and serving bullied children and their families in many different ways. We are working on potential legislation and have launched a parent education class to reach more caregivers before the bullying gets out of control.

Practicing gratitude is a proven strategy for improving mental health for anyone. Studies show that it leads to better psychological health, greater life satisfaction and lower levels of stress and anxiety. A 2014 research study found out that students who keep a gratitude journal on a regular basis experienced an increase in optimism and found more and more reasons to be grateful. The act of identifying gratitude improves relationships, increases social support, and improves mental and physical health.

Practicing Gratitude in Schools:

Research suggests that students who practice gratitude tend to have lower anxiety, stress and depression and feel more satisfied in their life and in their relationships. A school that makes the act of thanking others and expressing gratitude a regular practice can create a culture where students and educators thrive!

A number of schools in Hawaii are taking gratitude to heart and implementing a gratitude program. These programs have led to improved culture, greater feelings of belonging for both students and staff, and addressing mental health concerns that provide nurturing for personal and academic growth. It should come as no surprise that when the culture of schools encompass belonging, support and gratitude, bullying will be less.

Here are the recommendation that these schools have identified to build a gratitude practice within a school:

1.  Identify behaviors to appreciate and recognize. The leadership of the school should recognize behaviors they feel complement the framework of the school and focus on community values. Students can and should be involved in this as well. Behaviors should both support academic positive characteristics as well as social characteristics.

2.  Talk about the valued behavior(s) with the student body. Speaking about the expected behaviors in the classroom helps the students look and identify the positive behavior and come up with their own ways of recognizing or practicing the behavior. Schools often start with a single behavior for a set time period. Students and staff should all be tasked with defining different ways to identify the behavior(s).

3.  Make time for students to write private notes expressing thanks and gratitude. Encouraging one-to-one thank you notes removes the stigma of an audience and assists students with expressing themselves more easily. The act of exchanging the notes not only aids in students learning to express gratitude and thanks, but also the receivers can be recognized for their contributions to the school.

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Expressing gratitude may be quite challenging for students who have been relentlessly bullied. Bullying reinforces feelings of isolation, self-doubt and hopelessness that many children deal with. Starting a practice of gratitude no matter how small can slowly help break the cycle of negativity and help children see good in their lives. Practicing gratitude can aid children recovering from bullying to begin to rebuild and foster positive relationships and not be defined by their past experiences.

In conclusion, there are many studies and mental health professionals who tout the wide array of benefits of identifying gratitude. It can be a practice that starts out slowly and grows. It can be adopted by schools to help positively shift cultures for the students and the staff. Gratitude helps improve the physical and mental well-being of those who make it part of their lives. It is a win-win for all and another speed bump against bullying.