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For all media inquiries, please contact 310.286.3383 or
media@breakthecycle.org
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E-Newsletter Spring 2007
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Message from the Executive Director
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Dear Friends,
As I am sure many of you do, I follow with great interest the
news stories—both good and bad—about online communities like MySpace and
Facebook. I cannot help but marvel at the role they play in
social interaction among today's youth.
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It is clear Break the Cycle must capitalize on the promise of these
online communities to connect with the youth we serve. We must do this
in a way that fosters safe and supportive online interaction and helps
youth avoid the potential pitfalls and dangers posed by online communication.
With the help of our most youthful, creative and tech-savvy interns, we
have recently launched Break the Cycle’s MySpace
and Facebook pages. And
our most comprehensive online presence to date can now be found at
TheSafeSpace.org.
The online threats to young people are real. In fact, a new study from the
Pew Charitable Trusts reported that 32% of online teenagers (43% of social-networking
teens) have been contacted online by complete strangers and 21% of those teens have
engaged online with the stranger to find out more information about him or her.
However, the study also reported that online safety is on the minds
of teens using social networking sites: 63% of teens protect their online profiles
from strangers.
We still have a long way to go to educate young people about safe and healthy
relationships, but with this news I see a window of opportunity. I invite you
to explore our website to learn how you can help us build our online programs
for youth.
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| Online Spring Cleaning Auction |
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Spring is here! It is time to join Break the Cycle's Spring
Cleaning Auction. From May 9-15, you can bid on items donated
by Break the Cycle supporters.
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Click here
to view our Spring Cleaning Auction on eBay.
When you win an item, Break the Cycle will ship it to you promptly.
Now you can shop to empower youth to build healthy relationships! Visit
our Spring Cleaning Auction now.
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Break the Cycle's New Interactive Learning Tool
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We are pleased to report on the progress of Break the Cycle’s Ending Violence
DVD project, an interactive learning tool that will connect young people and the
youth-serving community with information and resources essential to preventing domestic
and dating violence. We have designed this unique program with long-term domestic
violence prevention in mind.
As you may already know, teens have begun using technology as their primary means of
communication and obtaining information. In response to this trend, Break the Cycle is expanding our
classroom-based program into an interactive, educational DVD that will be enhanced
and supported through our online resource, TheSafeSpace.org.
Break the Cycle’s Ending Violence DVD pioneers a new solution to youth
violence by providing vital information that truly engages young people in the
learning process. Because the DVD is designed to be easy to use, it will increase
Break the Cycle's capacity and those of other organizations, schools and service-providers
so we all can better serve the community.
With the generous support of Verizon and Blue Shield of California Foundation, Break the
Cycle’s Ending Violence DVD will be available for pilot distribution by early
2008. Click here
to check out a preview and user demo of the interactive curriculum.
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Action Alert! |
Break the Cycle Proposes Amendment to Protect Minors' Rights
While the legal system can be a powerful tool against domestic violence,
it fails our youth all too often. In the District of Columbia, the DC
Intra-Family Offenses Act governs all domestic violence policy. Currently,
the act does not explicitly allow minors to seek protection orders without
parental involvement. With these legal obstacles in place, teens cannot
always use the legal system to protect themselves.
In collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the DC Attorney General’s
Office, the Children’s Law Center and other domestic violence service
providers, Break the Cycle Director of Public Policy Juley Fulcher is
drafting an amendment that will comprehensively protect the rights and
well-being of minors in abusive relationships. The amendment ensures that
DC minors, age 12 and up, have the right to petition for a protection order
without parental accompaniment, consent, or notification. Additionally, the
amendment will clarify the Act to ensure that a protection order can be filed
and enforced against a minor. The DC City Council will consider the
amendment starting in June.
Break the Cycle actively encourages all state governments to better protect
youth in abusive relationships. Currently, very few states allow minors to
seek protection orders on their own. To view a summary of protection-order
laws in each state, visit TheSafeSpace.org.
If you are not happy with your state’s law, consider writing a letter to your Senator.
Contact Break the Cycle
to learn how to get more involved with our policy efforts.
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| Thank You Run/Walkers |
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See Break the Cycle's 2007 Run/Walk Participants Below!
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On Sunday, April 1st, Break the Cycle supporters walked in solidarity with
twenty local service agencies at the 3rd Annual City of Los Angeles 5K
Run/Walk for Victims’ Rights.
Sixty-five Break the Cycle run/walkers raised nearly $4,500 to support our
life-saving work of domestic and dating violence prevention. Special
congratulations go out to Kaitlin Crier and Elizabeth Fedler who had two of
the shortest times in their age division!
In addition, Break the Cycle is pleased to recognize our Top 5 Fundraisers:
- Carol Aronoff
- Rosa Rodriquez
- Patrice Gonzales
- Grace Rosales
- Rachel Wilkes
Break the Cycle greatly appreciates all our fantastic run/walkers! To view a
complete list of participants and photos of the event, click here.
We would like to send special thanks to the LA City Attorney’s office, the
many sponsors of our run/walkers, and our volunteers who helped make the event
run as smoothly as possible. We had a great time and hope to see you next year!
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