Love is respect - National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline » mpotyrala

Rihanna showing courage and poise as she tells her story

mpotyrala — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:49:23 +0000

We are seeing a third media frenzy over the Chris Brown and Rihanna story. This time, the world is seeing a poised and courageous Rihanna talk about a very confusing and painful time in her life. She is still trying to sort it out for herself.

One thing she has realized is that young girls are watching her and taking her actions seriously. In the Good Morning America interview, she said she could not take that “lightly.”

You may have noticed that some stories refer to her story as domestic violence and others as dating violence. It doesn’t really matter what you call it. Rihanna was hurt by a man who said he loved her. It was not her fault. It was his choice.

We will continue to see more of this story in the news as we all try to understand how this could have happened. It is a good discussion to have. Thank you, Rihanna for your willingness to share with us.

LOVE Mashup wins a gold MarCom Award

mpotyrala — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:13:31 +0000

We are so excited to announce that our LOVE Mashup has won a Gold MarCom Award! We won in the Web Multi-Media Games, Contests, Presentations category and competed against entries from all our the world. It is really great to be recognized for an application that spreads positive messages for teens. The LOVE Mashup was funded by the Avon Foundation for Women through m.powerment by mark, a campaign dedicated to empowering young women. Click here to check out a release with more info. Visit the MarCom Awards site to see a full list of winners.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

mpotyrala — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:24:30 +0000

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and there are a ton of ways you can support the cause. We put together a list of cool things you can do this month to help spread awareness.

Put a purple ribbon up as your facebook/twitter/myspace profile pic to show your support for ending domestic violence.
Post a link on your profiles to www.loveisrespect.org to spread healthy dating awareness and let your friends know about the awesome resources we have if they ever need help.
Send anti-dating violence awareness mass texts to your friends.
Organize an anti-dating violence rally at your school.
Submit an article on teen dating violence awareness to your school newspaper.
Write a letter to get a Teen Dating Abuse curriculum in your school; Dosomething.org has great info on the steps you need to take.
Create an anti-dating violence PSA and post it to your YouTube account.
Print out our Teen Dating Bill of Rights and post it around school (with permission from school officials).
Print out our quiz cards and hand them out at local events.
Create a LOVE Mashup and send it to your friends to promote healthy dating habits.
Create a project for It’s Time to Talk Day. DoSomething.org is offering $250 Grants for your projects. Click here for more info.

Dating Tips from a Peer Advocate

mpotyrala — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:04:45 +0000

Back to school… an exciting time filled with friends, parties, new crushes, and dates. Dating, whether it be with a familiar face, or someone new, can be an exhilarating experience. From the “what to wear” to the “where to go,” going on a date can be both stimulating and panicky. Here are some tips to check out before going on your date…

Dress in a way that makes you feel best about yourself.
Be yourself!
Make sure you let someone know where you are going and who you are going to be with.
Keep your cell phone on you (if you need some help, or feel a little nervous, excuse yourself and call for back up).
If you are over 21, keep an eye on your alcohol consumption (being drunk on a first date is neither flattering, nor safe).
Trust your instinct… if something doesn’t feel “right,” chances are it probably isn’t.
Know your limits: don’t feel pressured to go anywhere or do anything you are not comfortable with.

AllyKatz Tween Summit

mpotyrala — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:58:15 +0000

There’s an amazing opportunity available for all you tweens (ages 9-14) out there! The first ever National Tween Summit is going on October 10, 2009. Tween girls from around the country and even the world are invited, and the best part is, its totally free! If you are 15 years or older you can still take part as a Teen Volunteer. Click here to check out more info or to register.

Sheryl Cates Weighs in on Chris Brown’s Controversial Statements

mpotyrala — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:06:18 +0000

Sheryl Cates, CEO of loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline was recently interviewed by MTV in regards to Chris Brown’s most recent television appearance on Larry King Live. Click here to read the entire MTV article and view her thoughts on the subject.

Mashup Contest

mpotyrala — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:33:20 +0000

We have some exciting news! loveisrespect wants to give you all a chance to showcase your artistic talents! We are going to run a LOVE Mashup contest during the month of September where you will get a chance to submit your awesome creations for a chance to be featured on our website! You can submit entries by submitting them as comments on our blog or by emailing us at contact@loveisrespect.org. Click here to check out our contest page and get more info.

Take the Dating Pledge

mpotyrala — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:54:01 +0000

Have you taken the Dating Pledge? Incorporated from our very own Teen Dating Bill of Rights, the dating pledge is an oath you can take to treat your significant other with the respect they deserve. There is also a contest going on right now; schools with the highest number of dating pledges will be announced on Peace Day, September 21st 2009. Click here to take the dating pledge and enter your school for a chance to win!

A Message to Chris Brown

mpotyrala — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:42:33 +0000

Boston teens have a message to send to Chris Brown in response to the recent apology video he released: your apology is not enough. Teen peer leaders in the Start Strong program decided to speak out as both fans of Chris Brown and young people concerned about the issue of teen dating violence. Check out the response video below, or click here to view the full story. These teens have also created an online petition via Facebook, titled: “A Message to Chris Brown.”

Have a Heart

mpotyrala — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:33:32 +0000

Lauren Conrad from the super popular MTV reality show The Hills has teamed up with mark to launch the m.powerment by mark campaign to end the cycle of dating abuse. Part of the proceeds from this campaign will benefit loveisrespect. Click here to check out the site and watch the PSA. The page will be continuously updated in the next few months anytime something new comes up so be sure to check in every once in a while. You can also support the cause by buying a heart necklace from the website. All proceeds from sales go directly to the cause.