Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks

In the center of Downtown Rochester is an ornate building that has stood since the start of the city and is now the home of our county offices, I met with County Executive Maggie Brooks to discuss anti-bullying efforts in the Rochester area. Also attending todays meeting was County Youth Bureau Executive Director Bob Zinck. We talked about my work and local efforts and programs already underway, many of which focus on peer-to-peer support (the best kind!) We will be working together over the coming year, which means even more time in my hometown! Thank you to both Maggie and Bob for taking time to speak with me this afternoon and for your continued efforts to improve the social climate and safety of the Greater Rochester Area.

A Rochester Radio Morning

This morning I was upstate in Rochester, and went in for some radio time with The Wease Show 95.1 The Fox, 106.7 KISS FM, and Randy Gorbman on WHAM 1180.

Anyone who knows Wease knows he can be a bit bombastic. Before going in my friend grabbed me and asked "Do you know this guy? Are you ready?" After walking half naked in a bikini and stilletoes on stairs without looking down, there's nothing that scares me. To our delight, Wease not only played nice but took a strong liking to my platform. When he showed off his Little Mermaid tattoo which he got for his little girl, I realized that as a parent this issue hit close to his heart. We had a great time talking and answering calls for almost a half hour. Also in the room was comedian Chet Wylde, musician Elvio Fernandez, Pauly Guglielmo, and a girl I spent countless theatrical hours with in grade school: Miss Emily Jenson aka EJ the DJ!

Best of all, the man who has refused to watch the Miss America competition his entire life now plans to tune in this January. I'll wink to ya, Wease!

After hanging with that morning crew I jumped over to the 106.7 KISS FM studio to talk with Pauly and then over to WHAM 1180 with Randy Gorbman.

Thank you to Wease and crew, Pauly and Randy for welcoming me into the studio and letting me spread the word about bullying.

P.S. I got a call from Cat while at Wease who invited me to a Dance Flash Mob on Sunday for bullying awareness. 3pm at Frontier Field, you know you want to join us!

Coming Up: Bullying Awarness Event in NYC

Come out with me next Tuesday the 18th to support Bullying Awareness at the Recess in Manhattan to benefit the We're Kickin' It Campaign against Bullying.

All proceeds from this cocktail mixer, held at The Ainsworth, will go towards helping We're Kickin' It continue to support teens and children dealing with bullying. A great cause, and a great event!

See you there!

Senator Klein and I Proudly Present: New York Cyberbully Census!

This morning I was invited to join a press conference with Senator Klein to announce the launch of the New York Cyberbully Census program.

The online survey is the first of its kind andallows students to log on and report experiences with online peer attacks.The final information - gathered at the end of this year - will provide modern statistics that will aid lawmakers in properly understanding the needs of our state's online community.

It's innovative, informative, and empowers students to have a voice and be heard.

Also attending the press conference was Assemblyman Will Scarborough (sponsoring Klein's bill through the New York Assembly), Senator David Carlucci, Florence Simmons (Founder and CEO of Teens Against Crime, Inc.), Jamie Isaacs (Jamie Issacs Foundation for Anti Bullying), Parry Aftab (Internet safety specialist, lawyer and founder ofSTOPCyberbullying.org), the Ursuline Teen Angels (TeenAngels.org) and a number of other supporters.

I must say that one young woman stood out today. After her personal 6 year battle with bullying, Jamie Isaacs started a foundation to help other kids handle peer agression. This 15 year old approached me when I arrived and introduced herself, promptly handing me a wrist band and handout before telling me that - among her many accomplishments - she has saved over 8 kids from suicide. Why is this girl not Miss New York? Her commitment to this cause is evident in her work and she exemplifies everything that the Miss America Orgaization aims to teach and support in young women. She and I talked and I look forward to working with her this year.

First time I met Parry Aftab was from the audience at the New York City Cyberbullying Summit this summer. She is the first internet lawyer and a leading name in the fight against online bullying. I am excited to announce that Parry and I will be partnering up, and I will be bringing her top-of-the-line cyberbully curriculum to schools and organizations across New York State over the coming year. Keep your eyes here for more updates coming soon!

Thank you to Senator Klein for inviting me to join him in these exciting efforts, and thank you to all the supporters who came out today!

Remember, you can still add your voice and continue to support the discussion on cyberbullying in Albany by signing the petition. It is what got Senator Klein's attention, so let's keep it growing and get the attention of all New York lawmakers.

First Partnership Meeting with Soundview Academy

A few years ago there was a program called "Principal For a Day" by the Pencil Program. What started as a one-day opportunity for professionals to step into the hot seat at schools across the city has developed into a year-long partnership program.

Today I met with the Pencil team and Principal William Frackelton to begin my partnership with Soundview Academy for Culture and Scholarship. Over the next year, Principal Frackelton and have set a goal to improve the social environment of the school in order to improve issues of bullying, parent involvement, and public image.

Here is the best part of this experience: there is no outline or rules on how we are to accomplish our goal. The entire experience is experimental, meaning we will get to design our own plans and see how they do. This school has previously been listed as one of the twenty 'persistently dangerous schools' in the state. This was hard to believe as I walked the hallways with Frack (the nickname staff and students so adoringly bestowed upon him.) Everything looked positive. Art was hanging everywhere and decorated signs with words like 'respect' and 'dignity' were pasted on every wall. Apparently some bad press has left the community with a sour taste in their mouth. No problem. The PR background in me is squealing with joy at the chance to help this school spread its positive image to community members. The performer in me is thrilled at the chance to work with one of the only middle schools with such a comprehensive arts program (everything from theater to graphic design is included in student curriculum.) The Kaitlin in me cannot wait to help these students find a renewed sense of school identity and decrease student aggression through positive programs and opportunities.

I look forward to the coming year and will certainly keep you updated on our work to bring Soundview to the top. Now, it's time to get my hands dirty...

In the meantime, check out this video made by the 6th grade class. Time to brush up my dance moves.

Staten Island Cabaret

With the Miss Staten Island Pageant just around the corner (November 13th) it was time to take part in the annual Cabaret For The Crown at the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn on - where else - Staten Island.

The evening event is a fund raiser for the Miss Staten Island Organization which is one of the largest local scholarships in the country. Former titleholders came out to share their musical talents and contestants vying for this year's crown joined in one of their first formal outings. The Miss Staten Island Organization begins working with contestants over a month before the actual pageant, aiming to enable contestants to learn and practice the skills necessary for competition through events just like this. I met each young woman tonight. Many are first time competitors and all of them impressed me with an undeniable sense of grace. At the same time, they were real girls.

Highlights included performances by Miss Staten Island 2011, Maria DeSantis, and Miss Richmond County 2011, Amanda Alicea. We concluded with my first public performance of "Disneyland" since it's showcase on the Miss New York stage this summer. In between songs I had chats with some of the contestants.

Ok, ok, I'm bad...in the rush of interacting with the contestants I didn't take a single picture all night! My priority was speaking with them and watching them during the night (I'm a habitual people reader.) I wanted to see if anyone in the room was the girl I would crown next summer. Did I find her? Come on...do I ever spoil the surprise?

NYC 67th Annual Columbus Day Parade

In the ultimate showcase of Italian American pride, I hopped on a Ferrari and rode in the New York City Columbus Day Parade. Thousands of New Yorkers lined Fifth Avenue to watch one of the largest Italian Heritage events in the nation.

What can I say except that this was like a scene from a dream. Crowds screamed as if they they had known me for years! At one point, I looked to my right and saw an Italian woman squealing with joy. It was my neighbor, Mrs. DiMaggio. She owns the building next door and has seen me in everything from sweats and no makeup to my Sunday best. Always she will say, "Oh, the model! So gorgeous!" There she was on the sidelines, smacking everyone around her to look as she pointed with the biggest smile across her face!! Had my car not moved onward I might have jumped right out to hug her!

At one point the parade stopped for a minute and a little girl next to my car said, "Oh! Are you a real princess?" Of course I said yes, and we started talking. I turned to wave to a group across the street when I heard, "I LOVE YOU MISS AMERICA! I LOVE YOU!" I turned back and saw my little friend with her arms stretched out to me. Talk about a mental picture to last a lifetime. The car took off but not before I asked where she was from and found out she lives 3 blocks from me! I hope I find her someday on my walk to the train!! If she ever happens to read this: I love you, too!!

Funniest story came at the end of the parade. My purse had gotten into the trunk of another car and disappeared over the course of the day along with my director, Linda. Yes, this means I was cell phone-less for the day (I know, seems impossible in this era!) We got to the end of the route and the head of the Columbus Citizens Foundation told me to come with him to his club. I stopped him and asked that I find my purse and director before going anywhere. He didn't seem to know where to send me, but a police officer offered to take me to, "where the food is," which is all I remember her saying about where she would be. Long story short: it took us over 30 minutes to walk three blocks because every two feet I stopped to snap a picture with guests. He asked, "How do you handle this? Do you ever say no?" My answer: no, I would never tell a New Yorker that Miss New York cannot take a picture with them. I did tell him that he was welcome to pull a 'bodyguard' which he eventually did. So there I was getting rushed through the crowd by an NYPD Officer just like a scene from a movie.

The whole day was cinematic; from the colorful parade participants to the cheers of the onlookers. It was an honor to participate and I thank every single New Yorker and visitor who came out to celebrate!!