CHICAGO, October 21, 2003

Students, teachers and principals from 11 Southwest area
Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago will gather today at St. Bede the Venerable School, 4440 W. 83rd St., Chicago, to celebrate the official Chicago area launch of an initiative to create awareness of the power of words to both hurt and heal.

The 11 schools are the first Catholic elementary institutions in the United States to launch the Words Can Heal Schools Program, an initiative of Words Can Heal, a non-profit organization devoted to providing educational solutions to reduce verbal violence, bullying and gossip for American youth. The schools are also the first elementary institutions in the Midwest – private or public – to introduce the Words Can Heal character education program into their curriculums.

“The safety and well-being of our students is a priority in all our schools,” said Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Ph.D., superintendent of schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago. “By pledging to avoid gossip and harsh words our students are not only promising to help make their classrooms
safe and enjoyable places, they are also upholding the Gospel teachings – to love and respect others – that are the cornerstone of a Catholic education.”

The program is collaborative, designed to bring the Words Can Heal message to schools and communities to reach the hearts and minds of children and teens. The program promotes establishing “violence-free and gossip-free zones” by discouraging students from engaging in verbal abuse, bullying and perpetuating rumors, creating safer and more civil environments. Through the program, students learn to become sensitive to the effect that their words may have on others and are urged to make a pledge to choose words that encourage, engage and enrich. The curriculum consists of lesson plans, in-classroom collateral, certificates, a pledge and a music assembly platform featuring hip-hop artists. It is designed for elementary, middle and high school children of all ages, races, backgrounds and cultures.

“Every day, millions of Americans – children and adults alike – are hurt by verbal intolerance, insensitivity and gossip,” said Richard Guerin, principal of St. Bede the Venerable School and coordinator of the Words Can Heal program in Archdiocese of Chicago schools. “While the purpose of this initiative is not to counter any specific trend toward verbal abuse by Chicago area Catholic school students, we believe it important that children learn how to speak with truth, compassion and decency so they may become empowered with the ability to create a civil, respectful environment – whether at school, at home or in their community.”
Guerin said a recent national poll revealed that a significant number of Americans suffer as a result of gossip and that 90 percent of Americans surveyed in the poll agreed that verbal violence and gossip is a problem in schools, homes and workplaces. “We can all recall moments when we, or someone close to us, has been affected by hurtful words,” said Guerin. “We believe this program is a way to help our students better recognize that words truly have the power to heal and to help them develop skills to build people up rather than tear them down.”

The Chicago area Words Can Heal pilot program has nine schools on Chicago’s southwest side and two schools in Evergreen Park, Ill. In addition to St. Bede the Venerable, other Chicago schools are: St. Barnabas, 10121 S. Longwood Drive; St. Cajetan, 2447 W. 112th St.; Christ the King, 9240 S. Hoyne Ave.; St. Christina, 3333 W. 110th St.; St. John Fisher, 10200 S. Washtenaw Ave.; Queen of Martyrs, 3550 W. 103rd St.; St. Thomas More, 8130 S. California Ave.; and St. Walter, 11741 S. Western Ave. The Evergreen Park schools are: St. Bernadette, 9311 S. Francisco Ave., and Most Holy Redeemer, 9536 S. Millard Ave.

The launch event will feature high-energy live performances by the Words Can Heal music group, a spirited team of young professional singers and dancers who will emphasize for students the importance of using words carefully to avoid hurting others.

The Words Can Heal program at the 11 schools is being underwritten by a grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Trust.

Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools
The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago play a critical role in the life of the community by providing academic excellence and faith formation for approximately 117,000 students of many races, faiths and backgrounds in the 283 elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties. There are more than 6,400 teachers in the Catholic school system who instill values, teach discipline and achieve strong, consistent academic results in the Archdiocese of Chicago's 242 elementary and 41 secondary schools. Visit the Archdiocese of Chicago Web site at www.archchicago.org/schools.

Words Can Heal
Words Can Heal (www.wordscanheal.org) is a non-profit, multiethnic, non-sectarian nationwide organization to strengthen America through the power of words. Its programs and initiatives aim to create awareness of use of words as a vital force for enhancing all human relationships – to help others use words that encourage, engage and enrich. A core focus of the initiative is that communicating – be it speaking or hearing – supportive, positive and healthy expressions fosters happiness, health and productivity.