Las Candelas Assembly at Hillsides

Las Candelas ladies (from left) Sharon Anderson, Anna Brewer and Jeannie Flint with Reverse Order band members.
Las Candelas ladies (from left) Sharon Anderson, Anna Brewer and Jeannie Flint with Reverse Order band members.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Las Candelas hosted an assembly at Hillsides Educational Center. The band Reverse Order visited the school performing upbeat popular music that immediately engaged students. Most recently Reverse Order was a producer’s pick and semi-finalist on “America’s Got Talent.” From that point, they have been on a national tour reaching out to students around the country.

“Reverse the Trend” is an anti-bullying concert and assembly created by the young band to help combat bullying across America. The band starts the program by performing a few songs to excite and engage the students using popular music. Reverse Order then shares their individual stories of how they overcame bullying in a safe and productive way.

Students are often shocked to hear that even “celebrities” are bullied and it’s comforting for them to know that they are not alone, and they too can overcome and accomplish great things in their own lives.

The Hillsides main auditorium was filled to capacity with students and staff who clapped and sang along to music they knew well. They listened intently to the band members’ powerful stories of bullying. After the program, the students were still interacting with the musicians asking questions and getting autographs on photo cards the band passed out.

Funding for these assembly programs and other activities through the year is made possible from the Las Candelas biennial fashion show luncheon. This year’s benefit was held on March 2 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel.  All of the funds raised from this event go to support activities at Hathaway/Sycamore, Didi Hirsch Mental Health in Glendale, Glendale YWCA’s Domestic Violence Program, Glendale Healthy Kids and Ascencia, which provides services to the homeless.

Submitted by Sharon ANDERSON