The Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals (GGFYP) puts on numerous events to help educate the public and make Grand Forks an even greater city. One of these events in particular is the Earn Your Green Dot Lunch & Learn that has caught the attention of many UND students and the Grand Forks community.
This event teaches community members how to become active and proactive members in society and to help prevent and protect against violence. This topic is important to many and can help keep Grand Forks the safest and greatest it can be.
“This event stood out to me because it’s an opportunity to learn how to make not only my community safer, but also can help me leave a positive impact on the world anywhere I go by teaching me a skillset I can hold on to for a life time,” said event attendee Amelia Strong.
The goal of the Green Dot program is to create a community where violence is not tolerated and help everyone learn how they can actively contribute to a safe community and eliminate all red dots on the Grand Forks map. The red dots on the map represent any choice that an individual makes to cause harm, and each green dot on the map represents an individual’s action or behavior that promotes safety and shows intolerances against any and all types of violence. Through attending this event, individuals will learn how to fill our community with green dots and hopefully replace all of our red dots.
“This event means a lot to me because I strongly stand against community violence, and want to foster a safe, loving and proactive environment here at both UND and Grand Forks,” said Strong. “Through attending this event I will be able to do my part in creating a greater Grand Forks, and in adding green dots to the map.”
Student organizations are also encouraging their members to attend this Lunch & Learn due to its direct impact on making the UND community a safer place. One student organization in particular is the UND sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. This event is listed as one of their mandatory educational events where the entire sisterhood gets together and educates themselves.
“This education will teach members how to be active bystanders and take responsibility for keeping our community safe,” said VP of Education, Kayce Fix. “It also gives practical tools that empower students to step in, speak up and support others”
This event not only includes an educational opportunity but also a free lunch and chance to get to know other proactive members in the community. Throughout this event attendees will have opportunities to network with like-minded individuals in their community and learn and grow together
“Through attending this event I am most excited to learn bystander strategies where intervention can make a difference,” said Fix, “I also am excited for our members to gain confidence in knowing how to safely step in and help others.”
The Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals Program hosts numerous educational events throughout the year that all contribute to community building, growth and connecting with others in the community. If these topics are of interest to you, head over to their website to learn more about how to make Grand Forks even more grand.
Sonya Skar is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].
