There is a really cool symposium taking place this week in preparation for the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. The Squeaky Wheel Project Symposium on Teen Dating Violence takes place January 27th in Cypress, Texas at the Lone Star College Cy-Fair Branch Public Library. The Symposium is designed to raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence and discuss prevention strategies that can be taught in schools. Those attending will be comprised of school district trustee presidents and directors of guidance and counseling. A panel of experts will be presenting the information including representatives from loveisrespect. Those wanting to attend to or receive more information can email registrar@squeakyspeaks.com.
Have you guys been keeping up with MTV’s “A Thin Line” campaign? It has been so much fun being a partner in this amazing initiative and we hope you have had a chance to check out their awesome website. They have a ton of videos, banners, a quiz, and lots of great resources. We embedded some of our favorite videos from the website on our own site, which you can check out here. Also, be sure to enter their “Redraw the Line Challenge” for a chance to win $10,000! Click here for the details, and hurry because applications are due February 19!
Ohio is on the right path to helping prevent teen dating abuse. A Bill has been passed requiring Ohio schools to try to help stop dating violence. Local school boards will be required to adopt policies to prevent and address abusive relationships and train staff on the subject. Lessons in dating violence prevention will also be added to seventh through 12th grade health classes. The new law has been called “Tina’s Law” named after an 18-year old in Ohio who was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1992.
Back in March, Break the Cycle released a report card grading states based on their laws related to domestic violence and teen dating violence. Ohio had received an “F” but with these new changes, they are well on their way to passing with flying colors this year. Check out more about this story here.
This Thursday, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships national initiative to prevent teen dating abuse is launching a campaign to take “healthy relationships to the streets.” On October 22nd, teens all across the country are putting together local events to get the conversation going on developing healthy relationships before the violence and abuse can even start.
Want to take part and make a difference? Help spread the word by sending out the following email from Start Strong to all your friends and family, and also be sure to follow the steps listed yourself :
BE PART OF A RECORD BREAKING DAY ON OCTOBER 22nd AND STOP ABUSE
On October 22nd, we are on a national mission to define a healthy relationship. It’s urgent, and we need YOUR input. Too many people are finding themselves in violent, abusive and damaging relationships. By looking at what a healthy relationship is — how to have them, build them and keep them — we can end abuse.
Be a part of this RECORD BREAKING day. Start Strong’s goal is to get as many people as we can across the country (teens, adults, parents, grandparents, anyone and everyone!) tell us what they think about healthy relationships.
Below are ways that you can participate on October 22nd. A few minutes of your time can make a lasting difference in someone’s life.
1- Help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends and family.
2- Go to www.startstrongteens.org and give us your relationship feedback. We need to know what you know.
3- IMPORTANT! Post a conversation starter to your Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/yfxr7yl) or Twitter profile. This will have a major impact.
Angels Against Abuse is a student lead club at East High School in Denver, CO. Their mission is to raise awareness about teen dating violence and educate their peers about healthy relationships. The club plans and sponsors a number of awareness events including assemblies, outdoor events, poster campaigns and fundraisers.
They have been featured in educational videos, local media and recently participated in the making of a PSA in collaboration with the Denver District Attorney’s Office. This year Angels Against Abuse will be partnering with Project PAVE to facilitate prevention education programs in the community. Check out their Sexting PSA below:
The rules are there and so are last year’s winners… Can you make a game about teen dating abuse without using violence? We can’t wait to see what you come up with for this great group.
February 2nd to the 6th is the fourth annual Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week. Here at loveisrespect we are busy creating new LOVE Mashups and responding to calls and chats.
What are you doing? Is your school hosting an event? Can you add us to your Facebook or MySpace profile? Check out our GET INVOLVED page to see all the ways you can show your support of loveisrespect and join the efforts to end teen dating abuse. There are also tool kits for teachers to download and share with their classes. Check them out!
If you have pics or videos an event or project for Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week send it in. We love to show the great things teens are doing across the country.
Congratulations to the winners of the Tennessee Coalition AgainstDomestic and Sexual Violence video contest!These gifted students put a lot of hard work and effort into these videos, and they definitely deserve the credit they received.Each video does a great job of discussing one or more aspects of dating violence.
“Somebody Say Something” by Sabrina Morris is a great example of how friends and family can help those who are in abusive relationships.“Run Girl Run” by Courtney Pennington is a great illustration of how difficult and scary life can be while in an abusive relationship.“Make a Difference” by Ciara Gray demonstrates how everyone has rights in their relationships and that everyone has the right to end a relationship.“Somebody Say Something” by Kevin Scott Page shows that abuse is real.Abuse should be discussed and dealt with and not be covered up.
It is great to see how teens are spreading the word about dating violence in their communities.Not only are these teens getting the message out, they are doing it in creative and impactful ways.Think about all the things you like: do you like to act, make videos, sing, write, or play music? Then you can help to end dating violence too!Perform a skit, make a movie, sing a song, write a poem or short story, or play a song, or do something else… there is no limit on your creativity!
We are always eager to hear about what you are doing to end dating violence in your community and would love to hear from you.Also, if you are having trouble coming up with a creative project, talk to us and we will help get started.
Below is a link to check out all the winning videos.Keep up the great work and congratulations!
Have you ever designed a shirt?Do you like free prizes?Have I got your attention yet?BOM411.com has just launched its Design Not Drama campaign.The campaign is a T-shirt contest that helps get the word out about domestic violence.What a cool way to tell people about dating abuse!The purpose of the campaign is to emphasize that “relationships come in all shapes and sizes… and they will involve some sort of drama.How you decide to deal with that drama is up to you.”
The contest is open to all California residents ages 15-19, and all entries are due December 5, at 11:30 p.m. (for all you procrastinators, I recommend starting on your design before 11:29).If you are not a resident of California, you should check out the T-shirt design anyway.
CAUTION: The T-shirt design is highly addictive.You may lose track of time while making your T-shirt, so make sure to have a clock nearby (in case you have to go to school, or in my case, get back to work).
The winner of the contest receives a $1000 Apple gift card, 20 prints of his/her winning design, and a posting on the BOM411 website!In other words, you could get a lot of cool stuff for expressing yourself.We always have posted ways and tips for you to express your creativity to tell people about dating abuse, and we are ecstatic to hear that BOM411 knows that you guys are as creative as we have been saying!(Also, free stuff never hurts.)Below is a link to the contest.Good luck to all participants… design your hearts out.
To Write Love on Her Arms is an awareness campaign for the prevention of self injury, suicide, addiction, and depression. These things are all big aspects of dating abuse, and things we hear every day form callers and chatters. The stress and trauma of abuse can lead to depression and addiction in teens. We want to keep destructive decisions out of the equation and encourage teens to seek help and an outlet that is healthy and will allow for the greatest chance of recovery and success. Help spread the awareness for To Write Love on Her Arms project, by simply writing the word “Love” on your arm and spreading the word about this worthy cause.
