True Love, True Reality Reception

In Reach Raises Awareness about Teen Dating Violence
 

 

 

Hyattsville, MD |  On February 15, 2013, In Reach’s Youth Ambassadors held True Love, True Reality, a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Reception and Program to recognize National Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month which included awarding the winners of their first county-wide poetry competition.

Statistics show that nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience abuse from a dating partner in a single year, or roughly 1 in 3 teens.  “The Youth Ambassadors are amazing and have worked really hard to raise awareness about such an important issue. The poetry contest and the reception have allowed us to reach communities throughout Prince George’s County.” said executive director Ms. Toni Smith.

Congratulations again to our True Love, True Reality Poetry Contest winners and Honorable Mentions:

First Place - Justina Molokwu, senior, Parkdale High School, for Broken Cycle of Tears

Second Place - Marie Iyomahan, sophomore, DuVal High School, for Dashuri (Albania for Love)

Third Place - Bethel Babayemi, freshman, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, for The Many Faces of Love

Honorable Mentions - Amber Patton and Maria Lorditch of Bowie High School and Damilola Adeyemi of Largo High School

In addition to the winners, congratulations and thank you to the Parkdale artists who provided the beautiful artwork for the awards: José Lima Rosas, Joshua Newman and Jamilet Cordan.

A special thank you Dr. Judy Dubose, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Family Services - Children, Youth & Families Division for bringing greetings and Ms. Dannielle Glaros, Chief of Staff, Prince George’s County Council Member Eric Olson’s (D-3) office for presenting the Youth Ambassadors with a Proclamation and making our program a successful and memorable event. We could not have done this without your support. 

In Reach would like to thank all 23 of the Poetry Contestants:

Bowie High School - Maria Lorditch, Amber Patton, Coco N. Terry

Frederick Douglass High School - Noelia Cruz

DuVal High School - Marie Iyomahan

Fairmont Heights High School: Karim Kambo          

High Point High School - Karina Escobar

Largo High School - Damilola Adeyemi, Nnedi Agubokwu

Laurel High School - Cierra Major

Parkdale High School - Christian Bautista, Elvin Cruz, Elmer Hernandez, Deon Magnus, Justina Molokwu, Jissella Urquilla

Potomac High School - Ja’Kwan Craddock

Eleanor Roosevelt High School - Bethel Babayemi

Suitland High School - Gabrielle Durant

Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr., High School - Gilberto Hernandez, Maryam Siddique, Patrice Sykes, Diamond Ward

Read more about the True Love, True Reality Project, view event videos and pictures, download the poetry souvenir book, and sign up for the mailing list on our informative teen dating website, www.truelovetruerealitypgc.inreachinc.org.

The Youth Ambassadors, based at Parkdale High School, offers students a variety of opportunities to become college and career ready, build financial literacy life skills, and engage in meaningful service learning projects, like this one, to address the issues that directly impact them.

Based in Cheverly, MD, In Reach, Inc., is a tax exempt 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization designed to prepare students for college, work and life. Founded in 1999, In Reach envisions healthy, productive and prepared young adults in every family.  

 

 

True Love, True Reality

“One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit,

slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.”

By Toni A. Smith

Although Domestic Violence Awareness Month has ended, the work to prevent domestic violence continues. In Reach’s Youth Ambassadors at Parkdale High School are gearing up to implement the initial stages of their Crossroads Project. The Crossroads Project addresses teen dating violence and teen parenting. At full implementation, the Crossroads Project will consist of an awareness assembly, educational and outreach materials, and an informative and engaging resource and referral website focusing on Prince George’s County teens.

Staggering statistics tell us

§  Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence -- almost triple the national average.

§  Violent behavior typically begins between the ages of 12 and 18.

§  The severity of intimate partner violence is often greater in cases where the pattern of abuse was established in adolescence.

§  About 72% of eighth and ninth graders are “dating”.

§  Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.

The Youth Ambassadors selected dating violence and parenting issues out of concern for the dating experiences and choices their friends are making. Research tells us that only 33% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse and a teen’s confusion about the law and their desire for confidentiality are two of the most significant barriers stopping young victims of abuse from seeking help. Incidents of dating violence are happening in their peer group more than adults know. Eighty one percent of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue. Youth Ambassadors also feel that the young parents they know do not receive enough support to keep them in school, even when they want to be there.

Using the performing arts and technology, Youth Ambassadors will launch the Crossroads Project with their True Love, True Reality Awareness Assembly. The assembly will highlight the warning signs of domestic violence, where teens can go and who they can talk to if they are currently in a domestic violence situation, and information on making better and healthier lifestyle choices.

In preparation for the Crossroads Project, Ambassadors disseminated a survey to their peers in 2010. A follow-up survey is currently underway. Based on 188 responses, when asked

§  if they knew someone who has experienced dating violence, half (51%) of the students responded “yes”  

§  about the gender of the person experiencing the dating violence, almost half (45%) reported female

§  do you think your school/community would benefit from having a “safe” place for teens experiencing or who have experienced dating violence, 68% responded “yes”

§  do you know someone still in high school who has a baby, an overwhelming 92% responded “yes”

The True Love, True Reality Awareness Assembly will be presented in 2012.

For more information on teen dating violence, visit www.loveisrespect.org (@loveisrespect). If you know a pregnant or teen parent who is in need of help, contact St. Ann’s Teen Mother-Baby Program, 301.559.5500, www.stanns.org.

Data from www.loveisrespect.org, except where indicated.