A Survivor on Why It’s Time to Talk

February 01, 2017
I was a junior in high school when I met him.  You know the guy that turns your head and makes you almost want to drool.  Yeah, that’s right.  Not only was he a senior, one year ahead of me, but he was also a football player, popular with all the girls AND he liked me!  Perhaps… Read More
Real Stories: Leaving Isn’t Simple
February 01, 2017
This is Real Stories – a blog by Let’s Be Real members about their experiences with relationships, dating, and more. LBR is a movement by young people for young people about relationships.

*all names have been changed

“Is this what you want for the rest of your life- to live this… Read More

Meet Our Youth T-Shirt Designers!
January 14, 2017
This year for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we wanted to do something special for our community of activists and our young people. In November, we hosted a design contest exclusively for our national youth movement, Let’s Be Real (LBR), to create a t-shirt for teen DV month that answered… Read More
What a Year! 2016 in Review
December 30, 2016
Break the Cycle started out 2016 with a resolution to engage youth like we never have before. This year you, our amazing supporters, donors, volunteers, board members, and partners, helped us do just that. We’d like to specifically thank some of our biggest partners and funders: Verizon, Mary Kay,… Read More
Real Stories: School, Counseling, and Court Dates
November 30, 2016
This is Real Stories – a blog by Let’s Be Real members about their experiences with relationships, dating, and more. LBR is a movement by young people for young people about relationships.

I never could have imagined I would be juggling time between school, counseling, and… Read More

Young People Will Change the World – Will You Help Them?
November 28, 2016

In this week of Thanksgiving, we should all reflect on the goodness in our lives. I am struck by – and very thankful for – the tenacity of young people.  Young people across the country have a vision of what they want which is a world free from violence, hate, and fear.  They are my… Read More

Young People Will Change the World – Will You Help Them?
November 28, 2016

In this week of Thanksgiving, we should all reflect on the goodness in our lives. I am struck by – and very thankful for – the tenacity of young people.  Young people across the country have a vision of what they want which is a world free from violence, hate, and fear.  They are my… Read More

Passion + Advocacy = Change
October 21, 2016
Love Is Not Abuse Ambassador, Natasha Johnson, talks about using her talents to raise awareness and make change with her passion: pageantry.

As a Love Is Not Abuse (LINA) Ambassador and reining Ms. Woman North Carolina, I know a thing or two about fusing my passions together to… Read More

Real Stories: #YoungerThanYouThink
October 13, 2016
This is Real Stories – a blog by Let’s Be Real members about their experiences with relationships, dating, and more. LBR is a movement by young people for young people about relationships.

He was sweet, the signs were hidden…I didn’t even know there were signs…. Read More

Back 2 School: Why LGBTQ* Inclusivity is Important
September 12, 2016
It’s the start of a new school year, which means reuniting with old friends, adjusting to new classrooms, and everyone’s favorite – homework! Prepping to go back to school isn’t just something that students have to do though; parents and teachers have a lot to do too. Just like students have to get…
Real Stories: Back 2 School
September 02, 2016
This is Real Stories – a blog by Let’s Be Real members about their experiences with relationships, dating, and more. LBR is a movement by young people for young people about relationships.

Going back to school means new possibilities at every corner – new classes, new friendships, new… Read More

Back 2 School: Why A+ Relationships are Important
August 29, 2016
A message from Break the Cycle CEO, Amy Sánchez

As the CEO of Break the Cycle and the parent of a college freshmen and a high school junior, I have learned a lot over the years about A+ Relationships and D- ones as well.  We know that 1 in 3 young people will experience dating… Read More

Real Stories: The Text that Ended It
August 12, 2016
This is Real Stories – a blog by Let’s Be Real members about their experiences with relationships, dating, and more. LBR is a movement by young people for young people about relationships.

So many feelings bounced around my mind. Scared. Embarrassed. Stupid. I felt so stupid… Read More

The Love Is Not Abuse Coalition Sparked Change in My Community
July 18, 2016
Have you ever felt like a flower trying to grow through concrete? Sometimes that’s how I feel as a teen dating violence and domestic violence advocate.

My name is Natasha: I am a sports fanatic, an animal lover, random movie quoter, bass fisher, silly & nerdy, and a pageant queen. I am… Read More

CEO Amy Sánchez on the State of Women Summit: Changing the Culture for Young Girls
June 28, 2016
Nearly two weeks later, I am still sharing messages I heard at the White House’s State of Women Summit with the staff here at Break the Cycle.  Women’s advocates of all races, gender identities, sexualities, religions, and careers unified to show the world that women will not be silent, they… Read More
Termite Invasion: Your Mental Health after Dating Violence
May 16, 2016
Bad news. You had termites in your house. They ate at the walls for a while, but you called the exterminator and the pests are out. Unfortunately, there are still remnants of the termites’ presence – marks in the wood, a weakened wall in the living room. For survivors of intimate partner violence… Read More
College Student Debunks Sexual Assault Myths with Compelling Photo Series
April 22, 2016
“Well, What Were You Wearing?” is a photo series capturing the clothes survivors were wearing when they were sexually assaulted. The mission? To prove that what a person is wearing has NOTHING to do with why they were assaulted. As creator, Kat Cambareri, says in the artist statement… Read More
How Break the Cycle Celebrated Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
February 24, 2016
This past month was Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, and to celebrate healthy relationships, we planned some fantastic activities throughout the entire month alongside loveisrespect, our partnership with the National Domestic Violence Hotline. In case you missed it, here are… Read More
How Love = Setting Boundaries
February 17, 2016
This year’s teenDVmonth theme is how love means setting boundaries, so we decided to share some of the basics on how a healthy relationship means that both dating partners set boundaries with each other.

What are Relationship Boundaries?

When we talk about boundaries, we mean all kinds of… Read More

What Makes a Dating Relationship Healthy for Young People?
February 10, 2016
For young people, dating relationships are new and exciting uncharted territory. What does a healthy relationship mean, exactly? What skills should young people work on together with their dating partner? And what makes a relationship unhealthy or abusive?

Communication in a Healthy… Read More