Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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September 15, 2024
WHEREAS, Michigan is committed to ensuring that students feel safe and supported in schools so they can reach their full academic potential; and,
WHEREAS, a decade ago, the OK2SAY student safety program was established in Michigan to provide students and community members with a safe and confidential platform to report potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools; and,
WHEREAS, under the leadership of the Michigan State Police, the OK2SAY student safety program operates a robust communication system staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, by skilled technicians trained to receive, analyze, and disseminate tip information; and,
WHEREAS, the OK2SAY student safety program has successfully brought school officials, law enforcement agencies, mental health professionals, and community organizations together to collaborate in ensuring the safety and well-being of students across Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, the OK2SAY student safety program has played a pivotal role in fostering a culture of safety and accountability by empowering students to speak out and take necessary action to safeguard themselves and their peers; and,
WHEREAS, the OK2SAY student safety program has a team of presenters dedicated to educating students and the community about school safety, having presented approximately 30,000 seminars to nearly three million citizens over the past ten years; and,
WHEREAS, the OK2SAY student safety program provides real-time alerts to aid schools and law enforcement in swiftly identifying and addressing a student in crisis, socially isolated, and at risk of hurting themselves or others; and,
WHEREAS, over the past decade, the OK2SAY student safety program has received nearly 60,000 tips, leading to the intervention and resolution of threats of violence, bullying and harassment, fights, drug and alcohol use, dating violence, sexual assault, child abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation, assault, sexting and sextortion, and vandalism;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 15-21, 2024, as OK2SAY Student Safety Program Week in Michigan to honor and celebrate the remarkable impact and enduring success of the OK2SAY Student Safety Program in Michigan. I urge all citizens to join me in acknowledging the significance of this program and its positive influence on the safety and well-being of our students.