For more than a decade, the Boston vs. Bullies program run by The Sports Museum has relied on familiar faces across the city’s professional sports landscape to facilitate productive conversations in classrooms throughout the region.
Recently, Version 4.0 of the program was released, continuing the program’s 13-year effort to connect with students about the issue of bullying through sports, and it features some of the biggest names in Boston.
The video-based educational production, which has featured 35 Boston athletes since its launch in 2013, now includes Derrick White (Celtics), Christian Gonzalez (Patriots), Garrett Crochet (Red Sox), Hampus Lindholm (Bruins), Will Sands (Revolution), Megan Keller (Fleet), Pono Kayoshi (Free Jacks), Veronica Burton (WNBA), and Kate Mitchell (New Balance Track).
“The power of the uniform is enormous,” said Rusty Sullivan, the museum’s executive director. “We’ve seen it over and over again. When you’re dealing with fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders, of course many of them are huge sports fans and know who these people are.
“When kids see someone wearing those colors, and who are a part of those organizations, they listen. Athletes, like it or not, are role models.”
The Boston athletes who participated have embraced the role.
“Athletes should feel the responsibility to uphold the values of their community, and I think this is a great way to do that,” Sands said.
Sullivan said it doesn’t seem to matter if students are sports fans, because the highly recognizable brands of Boston’s teams are so deeply woven into the community that children respond to pro athletes’ words regardless.
Boston vs. Bullies has impacted more than 300,000 elementary and middle-school students across more than 600 schools and organizations in New England. Sullivan believes the newest edition will increase that number to 500,000.
Choosing the right athletes to represent the program is more complicated than it may seem. Beyond genuine passion for the cause, age and contract status matter in a business where rosters are ever-changing.
While picking players who will remain in Boston for years to come is the intent, the ultimate goal is to take a meaningful stand against bullying that transcends tenure.
“It’s good to spread a message, to educate kids and help them because I feel like the honest truth is, in this world, there’s always going to be struggles,” said Lindholm, a Bruins alternate captain. “But you can try to help those kids out and give them some perspective that they can always find a way through.”
Sometimes, it can even be the smallest gestures that carry the most weight.
“The biggest reward is in the little things you do when no one’s watching,” Lindholm said.
Through the voices of athletes, Boston vs. Bullies teaches students how to rise above challenges and act with courage.
“You’re not alone,” Sands said. “If you’re going through tough times, it’s very important to stand up for yourself, but know there are people in your corner rooting you on.”
Cameron Pellegrino can be reached at cameron.Pelegrino@globe.com. Follow him on X @cam_pellegrino.
