[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 54 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E253-E254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE SPIRITED LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE OF DEBBIE KIEVITS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 2023

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a 
Connecticut hero, Ms. Debbie Kievits of Norwich. As the founder of 
Norwich Bully Busters, Debbie has been relentless in her leadership 
behind a local anti-bullying campaign for more than two decades. Debbie 
will be honored this weekend in Norwich following her recognition in 
USA Today as Connecticut's 2023 Woman of the Year.
  Debbie Kievits has long stood firm in her faith of youth empowerment. 
In 2000, following a string of unfortunate bullying incidents that also 
impacted her own family, Debbie envisioned an opportunity to improve 
her community. She took charge and began to engage with fellow parents. 
In doing so, Debbie came to understand that reducing bullying amongst 
youth is a constant battle that requires town-wide buy-in. She 
obviously continues to courageously pursue this fight today.
  Following the incidents in 2000, Debbie felt inspired to implement 
her own vision after engaging with parents and groups like Youth 
Against Bullying. She created Norwich Bully Busters, a volunteer-based 
organization missioned toward sharing a simple message: ``Kindness is 
magical.''
  At the time this group might have been viewed as benign but 
peripheral to school development. In 2023, we now understand how the 
problems Debbie identified are the central challenge to public 
education today, mainly fostering safe and healthy learning 
environments. The push to strengthen the behavioral

[[Page E254]]

health services in 2023 is honestly a follow-on to Debbie's visionary 
leadership.
  Over the years, Norwich Bully Busters has perfected utilizing cost-
effective strategies to engineer the spread of positivity within a 
community. When she became inspired with the idea of ``Buddy Benches,'' 
as a platform for students to meet new friends on the playground, 
Debbie activated her network of volunteers to help construct and then 
paint welcoming backdrops on benches. By way of her positive, 
purposeful engagement, there are now more than 80 Buddy Benches placed 
throughout Norwich schools. By way of another example, Debbie has 
remained a constant presence in the Norwich school system, hosting 
conversations with students and teachers in the classroom.
  There are countless more cases of Debbie acting as a source of light 
for Norwich youth. Norwich Bully Busters eventually evolved to 
establish summer programming, led by Debbie, which combines community 
service, activities, and ideas for future careers. As a matter of fact, 
Norwich's newly elected State Representative Derell Wilson grew up 
participating in this summer program. When another student felt their 
passion to pursue arts over summer vacation was turned down, Debbie's 
response was, ``What do you need?'' And so, she provided that student 
with a space to develop and ultimately lead an arts program amongst 
other peers. Their production was performed at Norwich's local theatre, 
and that student now has a history of working on Broadway. Clearly, 
Debbie and her organization have had a lasting impact upon those who 
have grown up in Norwich.
  Debbie has also used her position through Norwich Bully Busters to 
stir anti-bullying conversations well outside Norwich. She again 
activated her network to push the envelope at the Connecticut 
legislature, which has since enacted laws including An Act Concerning 
School Learning Environments and An Act Concerning Behavior in Schools. 
The latter of those two laws specifically requires boards of education 
to develop policies on bullying, and I can assure you Debbie played a 
part in the establishment of Norwich public schools' policy for 
bullying behavior.
  Mr. Speaker, Debbie continues to build upon the altruistic energy 
that stands behind Norwich Bully Busters. She has created a self-
nurturing support system, comprised of individuals who have been 
socialized to understand that actions matter, the infectious power that 
exists through positive engagement, and are now pursuing their own 
visions of community development. Debbie is the definition of what it 
means to be a first generation American. We are forever indebted to her 
service. To that end, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in 
recognizing Debbie's legacy of leadership.

                          ____________________