Overweight, Gay, or different from the crowd are just a few of the reasons children and teens are being bullied — sometimes to death — in America’s schools and on the internet. Bullying leads to depression, social isolation and suicide, the latter of which is now the third leading cause of death among young people, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Studies have shown that the most effective way to reach teens, especially regarding bullying, is through other teens, on a peer-to-peer level.
The Teen Nation Tour (TNT) is a peer-to-peer community service program and campaign to educate youth about bullying. The anti-bullying message is delivered in a medium that students relate to – through music. The powerful 90 minute school assemblies for middle and high school students feature young, emerging recording artists from around the country who perform Top 40, country, pop, and rock hits. Artists volunteer their time to be on the tour and share personal bullying experiences, discuss the types of bullying, and prevention options.
TNT will kick off its 2014 fall tour on September 8 in Raleigh, NC and will continue through North Carolina cities, Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta, and will finish out the year throughout cities and towns in Texas. The tour will also perform at some major events this year including a televised NASCAR Race in Charlotte and at a benefit concert for The Stand Up and Speak Out organization.
This year’s tour features many new performers, including former Disney Radio artist Celeste Kellogg, as well seasoned TNT singers like J. Ryan from the X-Factor. Other artists on the tour include Zach Matari, Katie Belle Akin, Dylan Rey, Simply Rayne, Rylie Lynn, Colton Jacobson, Mason Mercer, Rebelmann, Kristina Lachaga, Gracie and Joey and many more. For more artist information visit http://teennationtour.org/artists/
The tour also features a new campaign called Timeout for bullying awareness, to help students cope with and overcome bullying.
For more information on the tour please visit our website at www.teennationtour.org and for media interviews with TNT and its artist please email cathy@teennationtour.org.
About Teen Nation Tour
The Teen Nation Tour was founded 3 years ago by Lee Wilson, whose son was badly beaten due to bullying. He recognized the importance of reaching youth through a peer-to-peer program for schools. With this idea in mind, Wilson created the concept for The Teen Nation Tour assembly. The assembly combines well known teen musicians who share their personal bullying stories and share their love of music on a peer-to-peer level that is having a significant effect on the youth who hear the message. Some teachers are calling it the “Anti-bullying program that finally works.”
TNT’s Upcoming cities: (not including all surrounding cities and towns)
- 9/8/14- 9/13/14 – Raleigh, NC
- 9/15/14 – 9/20/14 – Durham, NC
- 9/22/14 – 9/27/14 – Asheville, NC
- 9/2/14- 10/1/14 – Charlotte, NC
- 10/2/14 – 10/4/14 – Hickory, NC
- 10/6/14 – 10/11/14 – Charlotte/Concord, NC.
- 10/9/14 – 10/10/14 – NASCAR Sprint Cup series at The Charlotte Motor Speedway
- 10/13/14 – 10/18/14 – Knoxville, TN
- 10/19/14 – 10/25/14 – Nashville, TN
- 10/26/14 – 11/8/14 – Atlanta, GA
- 11/10/14 – 12/31/14 – San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Houston, New Braunfels, San Marcos and more….
