The Voice of America’s Bullied and author of the seminal New York Times bestseller Please Stop Laughing at Me… One Woman’s Inspirational Story
Survivor, expert, and activist Jodee Blanco is one of the country’s most trusted voices on the subject of bullying. She is the author of The New York Times best-selling memoir Please Stop Laughing At Me… One Woman’s Inspirational Story. The book, a chronicle of her painful school years, was a cultural catalyst and helped victims of all ages reclaim their lives and dignity.
Jodee’s essential work as a school bullying survivor who revisits the issue through an adult lens has been recognized by The National Crime Prevention Council, The Department of Health & Human Services, the National Association of Youth Courts, Special Olympics, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and state and local entities from governors’ offices, PTAs, and law enforcement to school safety coalitions, mental health groups, and drug prevention programs.
Her award-winning sequel, Please Stop Laughing at Us…, was written in response to the demand for more information from her core audience—schools, parents, and other Adult Survivors of Peer Abuse like herself, who have come to know Jodee as the champion of their cause. It provides advice and solutions set against the backdrop of her dramatic personal and professional journey as someone who unexpectedly finds herself the spokesperson for what would become a movement. Jodee released a companion journal to the Please Stop Laughing at Me… series, and a third installment, entitled Bullied Kids Speak Out, inspired by true stories of kids she’s met while working on the frontlines.
Jodee has presented her message of hope and resiliency to thousands of people nationwide and implemented her anti-bullying program, “It’s NOT Just Joking Around!”™, in hundreds of schools. She focuses on the human element of bullying, incorporating the matrix of students, educators, and parents into each aspect of her program, and offers a realistic, practical plan of action for saving lives. No matter where Jodee goes, people open up to her because they see in her a kindred spirit, someone who’s willing to crawl down inside the hole where they’re trapped and guide them out the same way she did for herself.
Organizations that have brought Jodee in to keynote events include The United States Department of Interior, United States Department of Justice, The National Catholic Educational Association, The American School Counselor’s Association, The Washington School Counselor’s Association, The Kentucky Association of School Administrators, The Illinois Association of School Boards, and numerous universities. Because of her emphasis on compassion, many dioceses also turn to her for professional development for their school leaders and prevention of bullying in their classrooms.
On the international front, Curacao, Guam, Guatemala, Trinidad/Tobago, and the Aboriginal schools of Canada have all flown Jodee in to speak and implement her program in their countries, and she has been published in multiple languages including Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Danish, and others.
In addition to her anti-bullying work, Jodee is a crisis management and communications consultant for schools and frequent expert guest on national broadcast and cable television. She has bylined for CNN.com (front page) and, The Huffington Post, and her story has been featured on CBS Evening News, in USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, and many other outlets.
A tireless advocate for the shunned and forgotten, Jodee’s rare understanding of why kids abuse other kids comes from a deep personal place. From fifth grade through the end of high school, she was rejected and tormented by her peers simply for being different, and she knows firsthand the long-term consequences. As an adult, she decided to go public with her story and turn her pain into purpose. One of the most sought-after keynote/motivational speakers and seminar presenters, Jodee is redefining the scope of possibilities for curbing suffering in our schools, corporations, and communities worldwide.
In addition to the Please Stop Laughing at Me series, Jodee has written numerous books for educators. Non-bullying-related works that she’s authored include: The Evolving Woman, which was presented an award by then senator and current President Joe Biden for its contribution to domestic violence awareness; The New York Times best-selling memoir Both of Us, that chronicles Ryan O’Neal’s love affair with Farrah Fawcett, which Jodee co-wrote with O’Neal, and her first sojourn into fiction, I, John Kennedy Toole, a New York Times “New and Noteworthy” selection.
Prior to her anti-bullying work, Jodee owned an international PR firm that specialized in handling high-visibility individuals, often considered “bullies or challenging,” that other firms couldn’t help, many of whom were stressed Hollywood celebrities. She taught them the power of dignity, humility, and grace in communication, changing not only how they interact with others, but how others respond to them.