Recognizing and congratulating students from the Benjamin B. Comegys Elementary School Afterschool Program on their impressive Be a Buddy, Not a Bully production featured on YouTube.

WHEREAS, Studies indicate that more than a half million students nationwide, or seventeen percent of students beyond second grade, were bullied two or three times a month over a period of several months; and

WHEREAS, Bullying and violence in the City's public schools have been a persistent problem over the years; and

WHEREAS, Experts report that the incidence of bullying goes down significantly, only when schools implement consistent, well-organized, long term programs; and

WHEREAS, Students from Benjamin B. Comegys Elementary School in West Philadelphia created a phenomenal song and video production entitled

Be a Buddy, Not a Bully

during their afterschool program; and

WHEREAS, Fourth Grader Diamond Houston wrote the hook for the song and seventh grader Keion Marshall wrote the verses. They give special acknowledgement to Grandmaster Flash and P. Diddy for lyrical inspiration; and

WHEREAS, Comegys elementary school students acted and performed to the lyrics in a video which is now on YouTube and has over 3,000 views; and

WHEREAS, After seeing the video on March 20, 2015, United States Secretary of Education tweeted the video clip from his social media account stating, “Awesome lyrics and hook by Comegys School in Philly reminding us all to be #BuddiesNotBullies!”; and

WHEREAS, It is without a doubt that the efforts and talents applied by these young men and women, the future leaders of our City, are phenomenal and deserve recognition; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL, Recognizes and congratulates students from the Benjamin .B. Comegys Elementary School Afterschool Program on their impressive

Be a Buddy, Not a Bully

production featured on YouTube.

End