A renowned anti-bullying and drug use prevention speaker will share a special presentation for parents this Friday in Oak Harbor.

The Brandon Graham Foundation, a Whidbey-based organization devoted to anti-bullying education, will host speaker Fabian Ramirez at 5:30 p.m. at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge April 14 in an event geared toward Oak Harbor School District parents, staff and educators.

Ramirez has spoken to thousands of students across the country. As someone who has faced bullying in his own life and is intimately familiar with the psychological effects bullying can have on youth, it is his mission to share his message with as many students as possible.

Ramirez will speak on kindness and living a drug-free life in an assembly at Oak Harbor Intermediate School during the day on Friday before the event with parents and district staff that evening.

The topic of his evening presentation is “parent empowerment hour,” according to foundation President Michelle Armstrong. It will cover how to recognize the signs of bullying and the importance of parental involvement in addressing bullying and drug-use incidents.

The event is free for district educators with their school IDs, and $15 for parents or interested members of the public without school IDs. The event includes dinner and a raffle drawing.

Armstrong said youth and parents can find mental health, drug prevention, anti-bullying and community building resources on the foundation website, thebrandongrahamfoundation.com.

Brandon Graham, a 2007 Coupeville High School graduate and husband, father, son and brother, died by suicide in August 2021. His family members created the foundation in his honor after his death. The foundation’s mission is to raise money for mental health, anti-bullying and suicide prevention resources for Whidbey Island schools, including speakers, assemblies and trainings for teachers and parents.

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