(Charleston, W. Va.) – On Thursday, teens from around the Charleston area will rally together to learn about and discuss healthy relationships. The goal of the event, entitled “Celebrate Respect,” is to promote teen relationships based on mutual love and respect, rather than control and violence.
All teens ages 12-18 are invited to attend and enjoy free food, door prizes, music, workshops, expression through art, and more on Thursday, July 31 from 5-7 pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, located at 314 Donnally Street in downtown Charleston. This event is hosted by the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program’s Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program and is sponsored by Verizon.
In response to the alarming increase in teen dating violence, many organizations are launching national as well as local initiatives like the “Celebrate Respect” rally to educate teens on this crucial issue. According to a 2005 survey conducted by Liz Claiborne, Inc., 13% of teen girls who were in relationships reported being physically hurt or hit, while 26% of teen girls who were in relationships reported enduring repeated verbal abuse.
Each year, YWCA Resolve’s Teen Dating Violence Prevention Specialists provide over 100 educational workshops to more than 3,000 students and teachers at middle and high schools in Kanawha, Clay and Boone Counties. During these workshops, students learn about healthy relationships, warning signs of abusive relationships, what to do if a friend is experiencing abuse, myths and facts about teen dating violence, and additional resources for students, teachers and parents alike.
For more information on the Celebrate Respect rally, call (304) 342-6552.
The YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program offers 24/7 shelter and supportive services for victims of domestic violence. YWCA Resolve reaches more than 3,000 individuals each year in Kanawha, Boone and Clay counties through shelter and emergency services, case management, court advocacy, counseling, support groups, safety planning, and programs for children, teen dating safety and batterers intervention/prevention.