[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – GABLife 2020 Pre-Event” _builder_version=”4.3.3″ text_font=”|||on|||||” header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_font_size=”46px” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”46px” header_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_font_size_phone=”” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n
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February 28th, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.2.2″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_video _builder_version=”4.3.3″ admin_label=”Katherine’s Speech” hover_enabled=”0″ src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LFDuetOTIKM” thumbnail_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” image_src=”\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/LFDuetOTIKM\/hqdefault.jpg”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.3″]<\/p>\n What a Spectacular, Unbelievable, Amazing, evening in Texarkana, Arkansas at the Municipal Auditorium for GABLIFE2020! Featuring Justin Furstenfeld, Blue October and a panel of experts on bullying.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s difficult to describe in words how powerful the entire evening was!\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n GAB Board of Directors Member Katherine McClerkin and Award Winning Producer John Vutech are the people responsible for this spectacular event at the Texarkana Municipal Auditorium.\u00a0\u00a0They made this evening a night never to forget!\u00a0\u00a0Thank you Katherine , John and Jamie Finley for making the impossible – possible!\u00a0\u00a0Thank you!<\/p>\n The event started with Justin Furstenfeld, the lead singer of the musical group Blue October. It\u2019s hard to choose one word to describe what Justin revealed about his life from his early days of starting a band that lead him into a hard core drug addiction and the horrific depths of depression and loneliness.\u00a0\u00a0One minute you were crying and the next minute you were laughing.\u00a0\u00a0It was such a range of powerful emotions that everyone was experiencing.\u00a0\u00a0Justin\u2019s journey of drug addiction, alcoholism, failed relationships, depression, loneliness and anger, led him to write his songs.\u00a0\u00a0Justin told various episodes of his life story mixed with touching songs that stirred every emotion.\u00a0\u00a0It was almost as if we were riding this emotional and terrifying journey with him.\u00a0\u00a0It was like the MAXX Force Roller Coaster! The climax was not just an intervention but also the time he found his higher power that changed his life to recovery.\u00a0\u00a0You must\u00a0\u00a0see Justin\u2019s life story – documentary coming out soon on Netflix.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n After Justin\u2019s incredible performance, John Vutech hosted several panel discussions concerning bullying and GAB.\u00a0\u00a0The first panel with Justin opened the doors for a great\u00a0\u00a0discussion.\u00a0\u00a0Justin was bullied as a young boy in elementary school, he described himself as different.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He was creative, musical, theatrical and sometimes just odd.\u00a0\u00a0If only Justin had an Upstander for him during this time, things might have been different.\u00a0\u00a0We are happy Justin is alive to share the torment of drug addiction and how he came out the other side.\u00a0\u00a0His story can save many lives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n It was an amazing group of professional panelists who discussed the real issues of bullying.\u00a0\u00a0They discussed bullying from varies perspectives,\u00a0\u00a0law enforcement\/forensics for digital media, sexting, psychology,\u00a0\u00a0mental\u00a0\u00a0health,\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you to the exceptional and professional panelist who shared their expertise about our bullying epidemic.\u00a0<\/p>\n Billy Eldridge, Child Psychologist who had many great insights and started the discussion with Justin Furstenfeld that led to 2nd panelist Randy Thompson, an Addiction and Substance abuse Therapist along with NFL player Byron Williams,\u00a0\u00a0he spoke about sports hazing.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Next was Nick Ross, First Assistant District Attorney, Cass County and Rick Cockrell, Detective and Investigator for the District Attorneys office. Brandy Hedrick Eldridge, former school administrator shared perspectives from the educational\u00a0\u00a0institution. \u201cSchools are desperately working hard on this epidemic.\u201d This is where GAB can help!Through all this dialogue we are looking forward to the future and working with\u00a0\u00a0Texarkana schools to implement the GAB Upstander program along with Gooseberry Planet.\u00a0<\/p>\n Thank you Texarkana for your wonderful hospitality!\u00a0<\/p>\n Our Special Thank You to Justin Furstenfeld for sharing his journey and being the beautiful human being he is today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Justin\u2019s words \u201cbe positive everyday and only send out positive messages, and keep positive. people around you\u201d.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.2.2″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8316.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8415.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8321.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8437.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8423.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8446.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.3″][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.2.2″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8355-rotated.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8410-rotated.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8405-rotated.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8376-rotated.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8378-rotated.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gabnow.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/IMG_8395-rotated.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.2.2″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What a Spectacular, Unbelievable, Amazing, evening in Texarkana, Arkansas at the Municipal Auditorium for GABLIFE2020! 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