75 Days Until BLLX: Why I Created the Bullying, Literacy, & Leadership Experience

We are officially 75 days away from the first Bullying, Literacy, & Leadership Experience.

On Saturday, October 31, 2026, adults who teach, parent, mentor, coach, counsel, advocate for, and otherwise support children will gather at The Morrow Center in Morrow, Georgia.

And I want to tell you why I created it.

Children Need Equipped Adults

I am the author of the Landon Learns early reader series, created for children ages 7–10.

When I wrote Landon Learns About Bullying, I wanted children to have language for what they were experiencing. I wanted them to understand the difference between bullying and conflict. I wanted them to recognize harmful behavior, know when to ask for help, and develop the confidence to speak up for themselves and others.

But writing the book reinforced something important for me:

We cannot put all of the responsibility on children.

A child can learn what bullying is.

A child can learn what to say.

A child can learn how to seek help.

And a child who is exhibiting bullying behaviors can learn to recognize those behaviors, understand their impact, make different choices, and repair harm.

But children should not be expected to navigate these situations alone.

When a child turns to an adult—or when an adult recognizes concerning behavior—the adult needs to know what to do next.

That adult might be a parent.

A teacher.

A coach.

A counselor.

A mentor.

A principal.

A youth leader.

A community advocate.

The adults surrounding children need practical tools, shared language, resources, and confidence too.

That realization is at the heart of BLLX.

Why Bullying, Literacy, AND Leadership?

At first glance, bullying, literacy, and leadership may seem like three separate subjects.

I don't see them that way.

Literacy gives children language.

Children need the ability to understand, describe, question, communicate, and make sense of what is happening around them.

Leadership helps children develop confidence and agency.

They learn that their choices matter. Their voices matter. How they treat other people matters.

Understanding bullying helps adults and children respond appropriately.

Not every disagreement, conflict, or unkind interaction is bullying. Knowing the difference matters because each situation may require a different response.

These areas intersect in the real lives of children every single day.

BLLX brings them together intentionally.

This Is an Experience, Not Just an Event

I didn't want to create a day where people sit in chairs, listen to speakers, take a few notes, and go home.

I want participants involved.

I want them thinking.

Talking.

Practicing.

Connecting.

And sometimes being placed in situations that make them consider what they would actually do.

That is why we call it the Bullying, Literacy, & Leadership Experience.

Participants will learn from professionals and people with lived experience, participate in interactive learning experiences, engage in an immersive bullying simulation, connect with other adults who care about children, and leave with resources they can actually use.

My goal is simple:

Experience. Practice. Apply.

What happens on October 31 should continue making a difference on November 1 and beyond.

The Adults Are the Participants. Children Are the Beneficiaries.

BLLX is intentionally designed for adults.

That distinction matters.

There are many wonderful programs that work directly with children. We need them.

BLLX addresses another part of the equation:

What happens when we strengthen the adults surrounding those children?

Imagine a teacher recognizing a situation sooner.

A parent asking a better question.

A coach knowing how to respond.

A mentor helping a child find the words to explain what happened.

A school leader understanding the distinction between bullying and conflict.

A community advocate connecting a family with the right resource.

One equipped adult can influence many children.

Now imagine a room full of them.

Why Now?

Because children are navigating complicated environments—in classrooms, neighborhoods, activities, group chats, gaming platforms, and social media.

The adults supporting them need more than good intentions.

We need information.

We need practical strategies.

We need conversations across professions and roles.

And we need opportunities to learn from one another.

BLLX creates space for that.

75 Days and Counting

On October 31, we will gather for the first Bullying, Literacy, & Leadership Experience.

This isn't something I want people simply to attend.

I want them to leave better equipped.

Better equipped to recognize.

Better equipped to communicate.

Better equipped to respond.

Better equipped to advocate.

Better equipped to lead.

Because ultimately, BLLX isn't about filling a room.

It's about what happens when the people who leave that room return to their schools, homes, organizations, teams, churches, programs, and communities.

That's where the impact begins.

Equipping adults so children can thrive.

Join Us at BLLX

Bullying, Literacy, & Leadership Experience
Saturday, October 31, 2026
10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Doors open at 9:00 AM
The Morrow Center
6225 Maddox Road
Morrow, Georgia 30260

General Admission: $95

Reserve your seat: angelaodom.com/bllx