PAYINGTRIBUTE - Operation Respect

Since Operation Respect’s inception, Peter Yarrow
and our team of speakers and performers
have addressed over 500,000 educators, parents,
students, policy makers and community members
throughout the world. In 2007, Operation Respect
offered 40 presentations to over 25,000 people
throughout the United States, Hong Kong, Canada,
Puerto Rico and Israel.
A highly talented and idealistically motivated
16-year-old Hispanic Houston-based “positive”
rapper, Jonathan “Baby Jay” Gutierrez, continues
to serve as a student ambassador for Operation
Respect. In 2006, Baby Jay adapted the lyrics of
“Don’t Laugh at Me” to create a hip-hop version of
the song, which has been extremely well received
by students and educators throughout the country.
In 2007, Baby Jay and Mark Weiss, Operation Respect’s
Education Director, provided a number of
assembly programs for schools in New York, Texas
and Michigan. These programs engaged students
and staff in a joint effort to create respectful school
climates.
CHRISTINE EVANS
Christine Evans, a 17-year-old Canadian recording
artist of national renown also serves as a student
ambassador for Operation Respect. In the Spring
of 2007, Christine produced a rock-and-roll version
of the “Don’t Laugh at Me” song and video.
Christine continues to share her positive messages
with young people and adults throughout the United
States and Canada. In October 2007, Christine
gave a presentation on behalf of Operation Respect
at a middle school student conference in
Sussex County, New Jersey and was extremely well
received.
BABAY JAY