‘Good Guys Don’t Bully’: The Former Gary Teen Who’s Protecting Kids Online

At 13 years old, Terrence “TJ” Harvey has already learned how cruel the world can be.

The taunts came first. Name-calling, teasing, the kind of juvenile insults meant to wound but possible to ignore. Then, the physical harassment. And then, the shame.

One day, something private — something never meant to be shared — was spread from one phone to another. Screens lit up with his humiliation. In the lunchroom. In the hallways. In class. There was nowhere to hide. Laughter followed him like a shadow.

He could have absorbed the mockery and did nothing. But instead of retreating, TJ fought back — not with fists, not with revenge but with activism.

Last year, the Gary native launched Cyber Bros Against Cyberbullying, an organization dedicated to preventing bullying and equipping people with the resources to report incidents and stand up against digital harassment. His advocacy does not stop there. TJ co-authored an interactive activity book, Cyber Bros Against Cyberbullying: Good Guys Don’t Bully, filled with prayers, puzzles, and stories to help kids battle bullies and stay safe online.

“It’s an organization where we stop bad people,” TJ said.

Sadly, TJ’s bullying experience is far from unique. Cyberbullying is a growing crisis. Nearly half of U.S. teens between ages 13 and 17 have experienced one of six forms of cyberbullying in their lifetime, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. In a yearly survey, the Cyberbullying Research Center discovered that 31% of the surveyed students across K-12 have been victims of cyberbullying in their lifetime.

TJ’s mother, Janell Harvey, has seen how these experiences shape children.

“Sometimes young children come from households where they see abuse or [parents] doing things they shouldn’t because that’s their habitation; they’re acclimated to that and feel that’s normal,” she said. “Whatever you see, you’re going to do and portray out in the world.”

While attending public school, TJ was not just bullied — he was isolated.

He had skipped a grade, making him younger than most of his eighth-grade classmates — and an easy target.

“You just don’t know what somebody’s temperament is when you say something to them that could trigger them into something else,” Janell said.

She and TJ’s family tried to intervene when he was bullied. They reached out to the school, asking for a conversation or some accountability for what had happened. Unfortunately, nothing changed, and she wanted to do what was best for his mental health.

“I think that they should create an environment where kids can thrive, and provide them with resources if they’re dealing with emotional trauma or depression or low self-esteem,” Janell said, referencing what more could’ve been done by teachers or administrators to help. “I know they can’t do everything, but they can implement systems to help them.”

Then, his mom transferred him to a private school in another city, but she wished the school had done more for her son before doing this.

Pushing ahead

Keeping the idea of retaliation and negativity out of her son’s head, Janell wanted to put a spin on his experience to help him help others in similar situations.

So, she enrolled him in Purdue University Northwest’s Make It Count! Summer Intensive Bridge Boot Camp. This weeklong boot camp encouraged high school students to determine how they want to positively impact the world around them.

There, TJ met Danielle Starks, a university instructor who led the intensive camp for children at this school.

“You could tell it came from his heart and wanting to help kids,” Starks said.

In the intensive boot camp, where students had to hit the ground running, she saw the rawness of his project ideas.

She said she could see how much he cared about helping other kids who’ve also been bullied.

“Sometimes when he would speak about it, we were on the verge of tears because you could just see in his heart how much this project meant to him,” Starks said.

One of the camp’s goals is to pair students with mentors from similar backgrounds who could help bring their vision to life.

For TJ, that mentor became Shagmond Lowery, a former educator and the developer of MyPal Schools, a safety program designed to prevent bullying in schools.

“It was nice to see the work we do kind of plant the seed in these kids, and seeing them take it and impact people with what we taught,” Starks said. Through their work, she hopes they inspire students to feel empowered after dealing with bullying.

The camp and Lowery’s help thrust TJ ahead in his journey and helped him find a lifelong mentor.

Hope for TJ

SInce launching Cyber Bros Against Cyberbullying, TJ has been making moves.

His organization now has two regional ambassadors — one in the Midwest, another in the South — who create online content, advocate for responsible digital behavior, and mentor other young people facing bullying. Together, they are amplifying TJ’s message, ensuring more kids know they are not alone.

His impact has not gone unnoticed.

TJ was honored by the Ministerial Alliance of Hammond and Vicinity for MLK Day. With the theme of “The Unifying Power of the Dream,” he was recognized for his time, dedication, and commitment to changing his community.

“I think real change starts in your backyard,” Starks said, reflecting on TJ’s success with publishing the book and promoting his work against bullying. “We might not be able to fix the bigger problem, but just starting small and impacting those people around you can be powerful.”

Lowery, TJ’s mentor, agrees.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “He’s focused and gonna make a difference in life.”

But TJ’s dreams don’t stop here. One day, he said, he wants to be a doctor.

“I want to be a doctor so that I can help people and save them from dying,” he said.

More information about Cyber Bros Against Cyberbullying can be found on their website cyber-bros.org, or on Instagram.

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