SAN ANTONIO – Motivational youth speaker Gabe Salazar kicked off a week-long citywide Bully Prevention Tour Monday at Alamo Heights High School.
The tour, funded by donations made to David's Legacy Foundation, is in memory of 16-year-old David Molak, who took his own life Jan. 4 after he was cyberbullied, according to his family.
"This community just happens to have some spotlight because of this young man named David Molak. I think the way the community's responded says so much about this Alamo Heights community. They have come together," Salazar said.
Salazar's messages are often given in assembly format. He spends the first few minutes, warming the crowd up with jokes before the message gets more serious.
"To talk about such a heavy subject as bullying, teen suicide, we want kids to have solutions," Salazar said. "We want kids to feel good about themselves."
Alamo Heights Independent School District didn't allow news cameras into the assembly in order to allow the freshmen students to focus on the message being given.
Salazar is speaking to nearly 8,000 students across San Antonio this week. He's promoting the message of kindness and respect for kids' differences.
Cyberbullying, as well as all forms of bullying, is something AHISD Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Frank Alfaro said the district continues to tackle.
"The term bullying is not a helpful term to use, so rather you say, 'I was name called,' or 'I was put down' or 'I was excluded.' That term provides clarity in terms of both learning and addressing issues," Alfaro said.
Salazar has eight other area schools to visit this week, plus a family night at Tri-Point Event Center, 3233 N. St. Mary's St., from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday.
Below is the remaining school assembly schedule:
Tuesday, May 24
8:30 - 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Heritage Middle School - East Central ISD
8004 Sulphur Springs Road
San Antonio, TX 78263
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Salado Intermediate School - East Central ISD
3602 South W.W. White Road
San Antonio, TX 78222
Wednesday, May 25
9:45 - 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 - 11:45 a.m.
South San High School - South San ISD
7535 Barlite Blvd.
San Antonio, TX 78224
2:30 - 3:35 p.m.
Dwight Middle School - South San ISD
2454 W. Southcross Blvd.
San Antonio, TX 78211
Thursday, May 26
8:45 - 9:30 a.m. and 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
Stevenson Middle School - Northside ISD
8403 Tezel Road
San Antonio, TX 78254
12:15 - 1 p.m.
Christian Academy of San Antonio
325 Castroville Road
San Antonio, TX 78207
Friday, May 27
9:00 - 9:45 a.m.
Barnes Middle School - Seguin ISD
1539 Joe Carillo Street
Seguin, TX 78155
10:40 - 11:30 a.m.
Seguin High School - Seguin ISD
815 Lamar Drive
Seguin, TX 78155
David's Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to raising awareness of cyberbullying and cyber abuse; protecting today’s youth from the harmful effects of improper social media usage; and aiding in the passage and implementation of David’s Law that would ensure cyberbullying is a punishable offense.