 |
|
For more news, check out our most recent
newsletter.
|
|
Youth Facilitating Dating Violence 101
|
|
November 30, 2007
Break the Cycle has sold over 600 variations of our curriculum and video in at
least 44 states. Each person who purchases Dating Violence 101
grows his or her commitment to educating youth about dating violence. Now these
leaders can involve youth in their efforts by downloading It's Their Issue,
a step-by-step guide to finding, preparing and conducting a youth-led project
using Break the Cycle's curriculum.
Dating Violence 101:
Educating Youth about Dating Violence and Healthy Relationships is an innovative
dating violence prevention tool developed by Break the Cycle for teachers,
community members, and social service providers to educate teens about dating &
domestic violence.
It's Their Issue
walks the adult presenter through preparing youth to present Dating Violence 101.
Having youth present the material benefits both the teen facilitators and the audience:
- The youth facilitators gain public speaking and leadership experience.
-
Teens often feel more comfortable talking to their peers than to adults about
relationships. If youth present the curriculum, the audience may be more honest,
engaged and open-minded.
-
All the youth learn that they can make a difference by taking action on social
issues such as teen dating violence.
-
Teens facilitators bring knowledge about their peers and their local community
that enriches the written Dating Violence 101 curriculum.
|
|
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
|
|
November 16, 2007
In 2001, October became Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Now an enormous
amount of activities takes place each October to help victims of domestic
violence. This year, Break the Cycle was once again in the thick of things
having one of our busiest Octobers ever.
This October, one staff member alone provided a three-hour training course
for domestic violence service providers, gave a two-hour training course for
parents, and spoke in front of 650 youth about dating violence at 3 different
high schools � all while operating out of Wheeling, West Virginia! A public
housing facility in Maryland last month also reached out to us during Domestic
Violence Awareness Month. To address the growing number of dating violence
incidents at their facility, we ran a series of preventative classes.
In Los Angeles, we hosted our 3rd annual Savor the Season on October 7th. With
over 300 guests in attendance, Savor the Season was a great triumph for
everyone involved. Not only did Savor the Season raise substantial funds, but
it also educated people in attendance about teen dating violence.
October also marked the completion of our new toolkit, "It�s Their Issue:
A simple and straightforward guide to turning youth into facilitators of Dating
Violence 101." This comprehensive toolkit helps adults locate and develop
youth leadership at their schools and organizations. Their efforts culminate with
the teens facilitating our award-winning curriculum, Dating Violence 101.
Break the Cycle enjoyed a productive October. With national attention on domestic
violence, we could reach more teens, raise more funds and foster stronger leadership
than is normally feasible. Help us make every month as fruitful as October.
Join us in our mission to engage,
educate and empower youth to end domestic violence.
|
|
Thanks for Making Savor the Season a Success
|
|
October 15, 2007
Break the Cycle would like to thank everyone who attended this year�s
Savor the Season and those involved with making this year�s event a remarkable
success! Over 15 restaurants offered beautiful and delectable food to more
than 300 wonderful guests at Savor the Season 2007.
See the photos!
When you purchase prints, a portion of the proceeds benefit Break the Cycle.
Many thanks to the Savor the Season Host Committee that helped generate buzz
in the community and make a great event even better.
Thanks to Chuck Craig, this year�s Food & Beverage Chair, Slife PR and
CRPR Media for helping secure a great catalogue of restaurants, chefs and
Tasting Garden participants.
Break the Cycle thanks the participating chefs, restaurants and vendors that
participated in this year�s event for providing dazzling food, beverages and
tasting experiences.
A special thank you to Barbara Jacobs Events. Barbara and her dedicated team ran
the event beautifully and ensured that everyone had a great night. Break the Cycle
also thanks the team from Catering by Field for their second year of professional
service and excellent food.
Thanks to our volunteers who went above and beyond expectations by tackling any
project directed towards them.
Finally, we are pleased to thank our sponsors, donors and guests. We cannot thank
you enough for your generous contributions and support towards our fight against
domestic and dating violence.
We hope you enjoyed this fantastic evening. See you at Savor the Season 2008!
|
|
Youth Activism & Technology
|
|
September 17, 2007
Fall is an exciting time at Break the Cycle; we are busy helping youth
activists complete their summer projects and begin new projects for the
school year. This year our youth activists raised the bar of innovation
by using technology to raise awareness of teen dating violence.
This summer, we were pleased to work with Chris Ballard, a high school
student at Harvard Westlake.
Chris not only raised nearly $2000 for Break
the Cycle, he is launching his own website about teen dating violence in
a matter of weeks. Break the Cycle staff provided guidance, but Chris
envisioned and completed his own project. By combining his technical knowledge
with a commitment to providing useful information to his peers, Chris became
an inspiration to other youth looking to take a stand against teen dating violence.
Now that summer vacation is over, the peer helpers at the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
are ready to get back to work. Last year they
created a campaign, Unmask the Truth, to spread awareness about
teen dating violence. Armed with posters, glossy post cards, buttons and
stickers, the students are now completing the technology component of
their campaign. Unmask the Truth is scheduled to launch before
the New Year.
Break the Cycle engaged another talented group of young people, our interns,
to use technology to meet our mission. Our summer interns have
almost all left us, but a new crop is swelling their ranks. Like their
predecessors, they are busy creating web content and tools. Look for the
new, youth-generated features on www.breakthecycle.org
and www.thesafespace.org.
|
|
Break the Cycle Finalizes Strategic Plan
|
|
August 31, 2007
We are pleased to announce that Break the Cycle has launched a three-year
strategic plan. The plan affirms that Break the Cycle�s most vibrant,
important and sustainable future lies in building our role as a national
advocacy organization. From that vision, three goals arose:
- Educating teens and young adults about domestic and dating violence,
- Encouraging youth activism, and
- Advocating for systemic change to increase and protect the rights of young people.
Break the Cycle employed the services of Executive Service Corps of Southern California
consultant Harold Bock to help with the plan�s design and development.
With more than 35 years management experience, Harold brought invaluable
skills and knowledge to Break the Cycle�s strategic planning process.
In February, the planning launched with a staff and board retreat in
Los Angeles. Patience and dedication to the long-term vision helped guide
the discussions and six months later, we are proud to announce we have an
exciting and dynamic strategic plan! We know the real work is just
beginning. The board and staff are committed to using the strategic plan
as a tool to guide future decision-making and measure operational and
programmatic successes. We look forward to the work ahead.
If you would like to know more about the strategic plan or the process we
used to create it, contact Break the Cycle�s Executive Director Jessica
Aronoff at [email protected].
|
|
Thank You Summer Interns
|
|
August 1, 2007
Beginning in May through the end of August, Break the Cycle's offices are
filled to capacity with remarkable summer interns. Individually, they are
dynamic, thoughtful and smart. As a group, they bring a renewed energy to
our work and remind us why we must continue to work to protect the rights
and promote the health of young people nationwide.
This summer, Break the Cycle had 22 interns--13 in Washington, DC and 9 in
Los Angeles. Among them, 19 were female and 3 are male. They were high
school, college, graduate and law students who hail from more than 15
different schools including Tufts, UCLA, Georgetown, Pepperdine, University
of Pennsylvania, University of Connecticut and Stanford. Combined, they speak
more than ten languages including Russian, Teluga, Mandarin, Farsi, French,
Hindi, Tamil and Portuguese.
Throughout the summer, our interns managed projects large and small and their
efforts literally double the volume of work we were able to accomplish. They
helped us educate youth, train peer leaders, provide advice and advocacy to
young victims of violence, conduct research, create new resources for
TheSafeSpace.org,
write grants, solicit donations . . . you name it, they helped make it happen.
In return, Break the Cycle staff provided the interns with real-world work
experience, professional development and training and hopefully an all-around
rewarding summer. The summer intern program is a win-win. Thank you
summer interns!
|
Verizon Wireless Supports
Latino Public Education Campaign
|
|
July 6, 2007
Verizon Wireless West Area Hopeline
supports Break the Cycle�s work to prevent domestic violence in Los Angeles.
We are pleased to recognize the Verizon Wireless West Area Hopeline for
their continued support of Break the Cycle�s life-saving work with young
people in Los Angeles.
Verizon Wireless is committed to raising public awareness of domestic
violence - they generously awarded Break the Cycle $17,000 to conduct
a public awareness campaign that will educate and motivate Latino teens and
young adults to better understand the available domestic violence resources
in our community.
As you may know, teens experience abuse at higher rates than any other
age group. Domestic violence has reached epidemic proportion in Los
Angeles, where, according to a survey of Los Angeles high school students,
almost half of respondents�46% of girls and 43% of boys�reported having
experienced some form of physical aggression at the hands of a dating
partner.1
Nearly 60% of the under-18 population in Los Angeles County is Latino.2
Funding from Verizon Wireless will support Break the Cycle�s broad-based
outreach and education campaign for the prevention of domestic violence
among Latino youth. The campaign will promote available resources,
encourage youth to take action, and provide preventative education.
We truly appreciate the continued support of Verizon Wireless and look
forward to continuing our rewarding relationship, particularly as
Break the Cycle meets the increasing need for domestic violence services
among teens in Los Angeles.
|
1 O�Keefe M. & Treister, L. 1998. "Victims of dating violence
among high school students." Violence Against Women, 4, 193-228.
|
2 Census 2000
|
|
Staying Safe Online
|
|
June 22, 2007
The ever-growing popularity of online communities like MySpace and
Facebook are raising concerns and eyebrows of parents everywhere, like
a California couple whose teenage daughter developed a relationship
online with a much older man.
When Kristen�s mother discovered that she had been talking romantically
with a man on MySpace, she confiscated her computer and denied her
internet privileges, hoping their relationship would end. However,
Kristen continued to speak with him using computers outside of her home.
The romance escalated to secret meetings for sex before it finally ended.
The broken-hearted teen slipped into depression. Drawing further away
from friends and family, Kristen committed suicide.1
New studies have linked teen suicide with dating violence.2
The danger is real. With so many youth communicating in ways their
parents never did, it is difficult for parents to moderate, let alone
intervene in, their teens� online interactions. Below are some tips to
help you communicate with your hi-tech teen:
-
Talk to your teen about what type of information they are sharing
online. Ask them to make their profile "private" so only
approved people can see it.
-
Remember that most communication on sites like MySpace and Facebook
is perfectly harmless. In fact, teens can learn important information
about building healthy relationships online. Try not to demonize
these sites so your teen will feel comfortable talking to you about
what is happening online.
-
Ask what your teen would do if communication between online friends
became uncomfortable. Encourage them to report inappropriate behavior
to the website or a trusted adult.
-
Talk to your teens about how much communication is too much. Even with
all these modes of communication at their fingertips, they should not
feel like their partner is watching their every move or constantly
checking in on them.
If you suspect your teen is involved in an unhealthy relationship online, talk
to them about it. One of the best ways to maintain awareness about your
teenagers� activities is by keeping the lines of communication open. You can
also visit and encourage your teen to visit TheSafeSpace.org
for more information.
|
1 Hanley, Christine. "I Had No Idea the Worst was yet to Come."
Los Angeles Times 18 Jun 2007 21 Jun 2007 www.latimes.com
|
2 Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161:539-545. Available pre-embargo
to the media at www.jamamedia.org.
|
|
Savor the Season with Break the Cycle this Fall!
|
|
June 8, 2007
Break the Cycle is excited to announce our 3rd annual Savor the Season
extravaganza. The festivities will take place Sunday, October 7th at the
California Science Center in downtown Los Angeles. Featuring the city�s
best chefs and wonderful wineries, Savor the Season will highlight Break the
Cycle�s work over the past year, celebrate more than 10 years of service, and
share our achievements against domestic and dating violence.
On that fall evening, no plate will be empty and every glass will be full!
Those attending the fundraiser will be entertained with a silent auction of
luxury items, innovative food experiences, and the beauty of the Annenberg
building all while supporting our efforts to engage, educate, and empower youth.
Food will range from the simply sophisticated to what could only be created by
culinary artists. With over 700 vendors, donors, chefs, and wineries asked to
participate, everyone is sure to have something to savor this season.
Throughout the summer, Break the Cycle�s staff will continue to confirm
participants, facilitate support committees, and publicize the event to ensure
that the 3rd annual Savor the Season is the best one yet! Check the website
for updates on this fall�s event.
|
|
Northrop Grumman Supports Preventative Education
|
|
May 25, 2007
Northrop Grumman supports Break the Cycle�s work to teach teens that
they have a right to safe and healthy relationships.
We are pleased to recognize Northrop Grumman Corporation for their
continued support of Break the Cycle�s life-saving work with young people
in Los Angeles.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is committed to strengthening youth to meet
tomorrow�s challenges. In support of this commitment, Northrop Grumman
generously awarded Break the Cycle $10,000 to aid our effort to engage,
educate and empower youth to build healthy relationships and homes.
As you may know, teens experience abuse at higher rates than any other
age group. Domestic violence has reached epidemic proportion in Los
Angeles, where 70% of all calls for police are domestic violence
related.1
According to a survey of Los Angeles high school students, almost half of
respondents�46% of girls and 43% of boys�reported having experienced some
form of physical aggression at the hands of a dating partner.2
Funding from Northrop Grumman Corporation will provide general operating
support over a one-year period, and will help Break the Cycle to continue
and expand our proactive, law-based work with youth to prevent domestic
and dating violence in Los Angeles and beyond.
We truly appreciate the support of Northrop Grumman Corporation and look
forward to continuing our rewarding relationship, particularly as Break the
Cycle grows to meet the increasing need for domestic violence services among
teens in Los Angeles.
|
1 Cunningham, III, David S., Los Angeles Police Commission President. 2004.
Status of Domestic Violence in Los Angeles Report. Los Angeles, CA.
|
2 O�Keefe M. & Treister, L. 1998. Victims of dating violence among high
school students. Violence Against Women, 4, 193-228.
|
|
Tips and Tools for Parents
|
|
May 4, 2007
Family Circle magazine�s June 2007 edition courageously tackles the difficult
issue of what a parent can do to help a child experiencing dating violence.
Contributing writer Richard Laliberte interviewed experts for the article
including Break the Cycle�s director of national programs, Liza Lorenz who
offered this advice: �Parents need to talk to young teens about what a
healthy relationship is, what an abusive relationship is and how to tell
the difference.�
Break the Cycle also suggests concerned parents should:
- Tell your teen that you are concerned for his or her safety
- Be supportive and understanding
- Help develop a safety plan
- Remember that ultimately your teen must be the one to make the choice to leave the relationship
To learn more about what you can do as a parent,
download What Parents Need to Know.
To read the Family Circle article, check out their June
2007 issue on newsstands now.
|
|
Break the Cycle Featured by XM and Lifetime
|
|
April 25, 2007
During the month of April, Lifetime Television and Take5 on XM 155, a
women�s talk and lifestyle channel, are partnering to stop violence
against women.
This year, Lifetime�s campaign features a new Lifetime
original movie, A Life Interrupted,
the story of rape-survivor Debbie Smith, who helped change the law to
better protect fellow victims. The movie re-airs Saturday, April 28 at
9PM Eastern.
In conjunction with Lifetime�s campaign, Take5 on XM Satellite Radio
produced a month-long series featuring interviews and voices of women
standing up against violence. Break the Cycle is thrilled we were invited
to share our voice for the project. Supervising Attorney, Brandy Davis,
is one of the women speaking out on XM 155. The radio spots are airing
throughout April. Along with the radio coverage, Break the Cycle�s
resources and TheSafeSpace.org
were featured on Lifetime�s campaign website.
Lifetime�s ongoing campaign to stop violence against women has been
recognized for its success with the Golden Beacon Award and the Academy
of Television Arts and Sciences �Governor�s Award.�
Want to learn more? Visit Lifetime�s End Violence Against Women
site or XM Radio.
|
|
Latest News: Cries for Help Often Go Unanswered
|
|
April 17, 2007
Recent headlines about 22 year-old domestic violence victim, Clara Lee Riddles,
(read full story on CNN.com)
have sparked a call for action against abusive relationships.
According to accounts from close friends, Clara repeatedly told them she was
being stalked and abused by her ex-boyfriend. In 2005, a TRU report indicated
that 78% of young women experiencing violence in a relationship reach out to
their friends first. Break the Cycle educates young people and those closest
to them so they are better equipped to help a friend or family member in need.
Last year, in addition to the tens of thousands of youth who benefited from
our prevention programs, Break the Cycle trained more than 2,000
first-responders�parents, teachers, social workers, doctors and other adults
who interact closely with youth�to recognize certain behaviors as warning
signs that a young person is in an abusive relationship. We aim to ensure
that adults are able to respond sensitively and confidently to the unique
needs of teens experiencing abuse.
If you are concerned about a young person you know, Break the Cycle�s
TheSafeSpace.org
provides information and tips. Here are a few:
-
Do not be afraid to tell them that you are concerned for their
safety and want to help.
-
Acknowledge and validate their feelings about their relationship.
-
Help them recognize that the abuse is not "normal" and
it is not their fault.
-
Reassure them that everyone deserves a healthy, non-violent relationship.
-
Be supportive and listen patiently.
-
Be respectful of their decisions.
For more information, visit TheSafeSpace.org,
download this helpful handout,
or contact Break the Cycle.
|
|
Donor Spotlight: The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
|
|
April 2, 2007
Sharing in a commitment to improve the quality of life for residents of
the Washington, D.C. area, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
generously awarded $10,000 of general operating support to continue Break
the Cycle�s critical work to prevent domestic and dating violence in the
District of Columbia.
As you may know, teens experience abuse at higher rates than any other age
group. One in three teens know a friend or peer who has been hit, punched,
kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by dating partners.1
According to Centers for Disease Control, Washington, D.C. has one of the highest rates
of teen dating violence in the country.2
In 2005, the Metropolitan Police Department received over 27,000 domestic
violence-related crime calls (one every 19 minutes) an increase of 22% over
the past three years.3
DC Superior Court heard over 8,000 domestic violence cases, an increase of
3.7% over the previous year.4
The one-year award from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation will help
Break the Cycle connect hundreds of DC teens and teen service providers with
important information and tools to build safe, healthy relationships and homes.
Funding will be used to increase accessibility to Break the Cycle�s life-saving
prevention and early-intervention services, and strengthen our efforts to
further promote the health and protect the rights of young people around issues
of domestic and dating violence.
We truly appreciate the continued support of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
Foundation and look forward to a rewarding year as Break the Cycle continues to
grow to meet the need for domestic violence services among teens in the
District of Columbia.
|
1 Teen Research Unlimited, February 2005
|
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, �Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United
States, 2003,� 53 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, SS-2 (May 21,
2004) at 40, available at: www.cdc.gov.
The CDC study does not attempt to explain the prevalence of the targeted risk
behaviors in the jurisdiction surveyed.
|
3 Metropolitan Police Department, 2004-2006.
|
4 DC Superior Court Annual Reports 2004-2006; District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General, 2006
|
|
"Act Now. Choose Respect." Teen Conference
|
|
March 30 & 31, 2007
Break the Cycle, The DC Rape Crisis Center,
My Sister�s Place
and Women Empowered Against Violence
present the 4th Annual City-Wide Teen Dating Violence Conference, "Act Now.
Choose Respect� in Washington, DC.
The mission of the conference is to inform teens about dating violence and
provide resources so that teens could make more empowered decisions about
their relationships.
Adults will attend intense training seminars on supporting teens from
diverse backgrounds, and learn effective tools to apply in their own work
with teens experiencing abuse. Service providers, community members,
parents, guardians, and teachers are encouraged to attend.
The conference is a half-day for adults on March 30th, 2007, and a full-day
for teens on March 31st, 2007. The conference will be held at the Equality
Center at the Human Rights Campaign
Building at 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, DC.
There is an amazing line of speakers and workshops for both days with
interactive activities, educational workshops and food!
Registration is free for adults, and teens that register and attend have
the opportunity to receive a $25 stipend!
Please contact Shiwali Patel at 202.232.0789 Ext. 6007 or via e-mail at
[email protected]
for registration forms and/or questions.
|
|
Break the Cycle Launches New Website
|
|
January 22, 2007
Thanks to generous funding from the
Avon Foundation
and Verizon Wireless HopeLine,
Break the Cycle proudly launches a new website�seamlessly
integrating technology with its mission to end domestic and dating violence.
Responding to the trends of teens and young adults, Break the Cycle engaged
the talented multi-media services of
The Cannery,
an interactive agency with a strong reputation for combining online and offline media.
The new site streamlines information about Break the Cycle and provides
interactive prevention and intervention tools through our innovative
online community for teens and young adults, TheSafeSpace.org.
Phase one of TheSafeSpace.org project launched in January, just in time for
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week. Phase two is slated to launch mid-year 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Youth Facilitating Dating Violence 101 November 30, 2007
Domestic Violence Awareness Month November 16, 2007
Thanks for Making Savor the Season a Success October 15, 2007
Youth Activism & Technology September 17, 2007
Break the Cycle Finalizes Strategic Plan August 31, 2007
Thank You Summer Interns August 1, 2007
Verizon Wireless Supports Latino Public Education Campaign July 6, 2007
Staying Safe Online June 22, 2007
Savor the Season with Break the Cycle this Fall! June 8, 2007
Northop Grumman Supports Preventative Education May 25, 2007
Tips and Tools for Parents May 11, 2007
Break the Cycle Featured by XM and Lifetime April 25, 2007
Latest News: Cries for Help Often Go Unanswered April 17, 2007
Donor Spotlight: The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation April 2, 2007
"Act Now. Choose Respect." Teen Conference March 30 & 31, 2007
Break the Cycle Launches New Website January 22, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
