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Watch / Listen to our previous episode with Rachel Van Alstine
Note: We believe that community wellness includes the safety and well-being of our children. This episode contains difficult but necessary conversations about bullying, child loss, and systemic gaps in our schools and communities. We share this not to alarm, but to inform, because awareness is where change begins. We are grateful to Rachel Van Alstine for her courage in speaking truth, and we stand alongside every parent, educator, and community member who believes our children deserve better.
In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Van Alstine, MA, child and parent advocate and founder of the Speak Our Truth Project and Parent Coalition for Child Safety and Wellness. Rachel is leading a growing grassroots movement right here in Indiana, one sparked by heartbreak, fueled by community, and rooted in a simple but urgent belief: our children deserve better.
We talk about what is really happening inside our school systems, the systemic gaps that are leaving kids vulnerable, and what parents and community members can do right now to create meaningful change.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- What the Indiana Child Safety Campaign is and why it was created
- How bullying, neglect, and insufficient mental health support are showing up in our schools and communities
- What the school-to-prison pipeline looks like in our own backyard, including data from Elkhart County
- How to read and request a Student Incident Report if your child has experienced a bullying or safety incident
- What it looks like when parents show up together to hold school boards accountable
- How you can add your voice to a statewide movement calling on Indiana legislators to make child safety the top priority
Why You Should Listen:
Whether you are a parent, educator, faith leader, or simply a community member who believes every child deserves to grow up safe, this conversation is for you. Rachel offers a clear, grounded, and deeply human look at what it takes to turn grief into action and silence into change.
Take Action — Get Involved
- Sign the Petition — Help reach 100,000 Hoosier signatures and compel Indiana to make child safety its top priority: https://c.org/XgkX5ppNGP
- Share Your Story — Register to participate in the Speak Our Truth Project: www.speakourtruthproject.com
- Organizations & Businesses — Show your support by completing the Community Partnership Form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mCgdcSpy9h3AG9WYrIQQjKJcyLyiBlvYyXfSBchF2Ao/edit?tab=t.0
Upcoming Events
- Indiana Child Safety Campaign Back-to-School Virtual Meeting
Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 6:00 — 7:30pm via Google Meet
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1154159216875382 - Speak Our Truth Project: Courage & Comedy Open Mic
Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 3:00 — 6:00pm
LangLab, South Bend, IN
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/4664501270444264
Resources Referenced in This Episode
- Indiana State Bullying Data by school and district: https://www.in.gov/doe/students/school-safety-and-wellness/student-safetybullying-reporting/
- Example Student Incident Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WAYfCKDOAlI5hwb3ZemfltZWftdmNTcTnBAt4fQd21k/edit?tab=t.0
- Elkhart County School-to-Prison Pipeline Data: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/3/folders/1qplYaQpkJrDioPSIs0buWmxy5mkWouAO
- July 14, 2026 Elkhart Community Schools Board Meeting (Full Video): https://www.youtube.com/live/_riGjLxXvNA
- Rachel Van Alstine ECS Board Accountability Video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DY8pnDt6J/
- Tiana Batiste-Waddell ECS Board Accountability Video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/193J9cZUo2/
Connect with Rachel & the Movement
Website: www.speakourtruthproject.com
Parent Coalition for Child Safety & Wellness: “Creating child safety and culture change through advocacy, education, and empowerment.”
If you or someone you know needs support, please call or text 988. You are not alone.
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🎶by Gary Cope
