When Dru Ahlborg speaks about bullying, she does so with clarity, compassion, and lived experience. As the Executive Director of the Bullying Recovery Resource Center (BRRC), her work is rooted not in theory, but in a deeply personal journey that began when her son was in middle school.
“When my son was in seventh grade, his behavior started changing,” Ahlborg recalls. “He stopped hanging out with friends. His grades dropped. He became very quiet.” Months later, he finally told her what was happening. “In February, he told me he was being bullied. Verbal bullying. We reported it to the school, and they said they’d take care of it, but it only got worse.”
“Their solution was to put him in a room with the boys who were bullying him and have them work it out,” she says. “Now I know that’s an absolutely horrible idea.”
By Spring, the family made the difficult decision to remove their son from the school. He was later diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. “It was a very challenging time,” Ahlborg says quietly.
What followed was a steep learning curve. After addressing the school board and settling a lawsuit, the family found themselves unexpectedly connected to others with similar experiences. “We were covered in the media, and people from all over the country started reaching out to us,” she says. “Private schools, public schools, charter schools, it was everywhere. That’s when we realized we weren’t alone.”
That realization became the foundation for BRRC, which officially opened its doors in 2017. “We thought, maybe we can be a resource for families just like us,” Ahlborg says.
Through education from a bullying expert and a deep dive into state laws, Ahlborg came to understand a critical distinction. “Conflict is normal,” she explains. “Bullying is different. There’s an intent to harm. It’s repeated or has the potential to be repeated.”
That distinction is central to BRRC’s mission. “Bullying has to be stopped,” she says. “It’s not a negotiation.”
Today, BRRC operates through three core programs: education, community outreach, and advocacy. “Education is about helping parents, schools, and administrators truly understand what bullying is and how to intervene,” Ahlborg says. The organization offers free parenting classes and is expanding efforts to work directly with school leadership.
Community outreach focuses on vulnerable populations. “We work with neurodiverse communities, rural and low-income families,” she explains.
What truly sets BRRC apart, however, is advocacy. “That’s the wraparound support,” Ahlborg says. “When a child is being bullied and the school isn’t responding, we meet families where they are. No two situations are the same.”
BRRC advocates are available beyond traditional hours. “We’re not a nine-to-five organization,” she says. “If a parent calls at nine o’clock at night because they’ve had enough, we understand. We’ve been there.”
Supporting parents is critical. “When parents are supported, the child knows they’re believed,” Ahlborg explains. “They know it’s not their fault.”
Ahlborg’s son is now a college graduate. “He found his people,” she says. “There is recovery.”
BRRC has supported more than 600 families. “These kids can recover. They can go on to live beautiful lives,” Ahlborg says.
Looking ahead, BRRC is launching a pilot program called Stand Together, aimed at creating systemic change within schools. “We want everyone—administrators, teachers, parents, students—to understand bullying and address it properly,” Ahlborg says.
For families seeking help, she emphasizes one thing: “Listen to your child. Let them know they’re not alone.”
More information is available at bullyingrecoveryresourcecenter.org, where families can access support through the “Get Help” intake form.
“We need these kids,” Ahlborg says. “They’re our future.”
“Conflict is normal, bullying is different. There’s an intent to harm. It’s repeated or has the potential to be repeated.”
“We’re not a nine-to-five organization, if a parent calls at nine o’clock at night because they’ve had enough, we understand. We’ve been there.”