Red Cross and Ottawa musicians team up to prevent bullying
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Breanne Lawrenson and Braiden Turner | |
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Peers sharing experiences with each other is powerful. Knowing that they are not alone makes a world of difference in a young person’s life. This is why the Canadian Red Cross introduced Breanne Lawrenson & Braiden Turner, two talented young musicians from Ontario, to thousands of children, teenagers, and adults throughout Canada.
In September, 2007, Lawrenson & Turner, fondly known as the “Black & Purple Girls” began a three week tour of Western Canada. Turner & Lawrenson are the youth ambassadors for RespectED and visited schools and community centers in Western Canada to talk about the importance of the bully prevention. This was the second year that they toured schools to talk about bullying.
Turner & Lawrenson were bullied when they were younger and the effects were devastating for them and their families. Both girls struggled throughout adolescence to overcome the pain of bullying. Luckily Brea & Braiden are talented musicians and had music to help them heal.
These gifted young women co-wrote a song called Black & Purple, which was written from the bully’s perspective. “We wanted to give the bully a voice,” says Turner. “I have been both a victim and a bully so I know that sometimes people hurt others to make themselves feel better because they are going through something at home or school.”
When the girls perform for youth they bring with them the gift of song and experience. Some of the songs they perform relay the pain they went through and also the way they felt as they began to overcome this pain. In addition to singing, Lawrenson & Turner share their stories, thoughts, and feeling towards bullying and the need to reach out for help when it is occurring.
“I had music and my mom to help me through the hard times. I tell kids to make sure they have someone to talk to like a parent, counsellor, or even an aunt or uncle; someone they trust. I also tell them to use a hobby, such as music, soccer, or art, to get out their frustrations,” explains Lawrenson.
At the end of each concert Turner & Lawrenson open up the floor to questions allowing the performance to be truly interactive. After the show, as they are packing up to leave, young members of the audience often join them onstage to shake their hands, tell them they too have struggled, or to ask for an autograph.
During their three week tour they visited eight cities and towns in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Along with several school performances, they also performed at community centres, such as the North Central Community Centre in Regina. Their presence at the Imagine...No Bullies fundraising barbeque in Regina and a community event in Prince George had a huge impact on those in attendance, such as the Minister of Education for BC. Overall, the girls reached over 7000 youth on this tour.
Turner & Lawrenson’s performance is not simply entertainment, nor is it simply information. What the girls offer is a shared experience, a youth’s point of view, and most of all, they offer hope; hope that the effects of bullying, although painful and sometimes long lasting, can be overcome.
Breanne Lawrenson has released her newest CD No Regrets and her first single, “First Day of School” has hit radio stations across Canada. Brea is having tremendous success on her My Space website where she is now in the Top 10 Artists in Canada. She recently won the Songwriter Universe Magazine’s Best Song Contest for her song “If I’m Not Here Tomorrow”. She is in her final year at Algonquin College in Ottawa where she is studying Police Foundations. For more information on her CD visit www.breanoregrets.com.
Braiden Turner is currently in preparation for the release of her first CD entitled “I Need You Tonight”. This CD sets the stage for Braiden’s career as a pop- hip/hop artist. Braiden is enrolled in her second year at the University of Ottawa, in the Communications Department.
Visit Brea's website: www.breanoregrets.com
