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START TALKING IN SCHOOLS

Utilizing the Start Talking curriculum with Mecklenburg County CSS, we spoke in area high schools and middle schools providing education in health classes on healthy and unhealthy relationships. The curriculum was interactive and challenged students to engage in discussions. At the end of our sessions, students knew the warning signs of Teen Dating Violence, how to make healthy decisions, and where to find help for themselves or a friend.

 

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS AT SHELTERS

Through creating a reading and empowerment program, Word in Action, we were able to provide reading books, school supplies, and tutoring to children housed in a domestic violence safety shelter. With weekly visits, our goal was simply to provide love and attention to kids through various activities like arts and crafts, playing sports outside, and reading to children while their moms attend counseling or simply have alone time. We also provided brand new toys to the children as they often have little to no personal belongings.

 
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LOCAL AND NATIONAL ADVOCACY

As a member of the Teen Dating Violence Awareness Committee of Mecklenburg County, we worked with several agencies in order to provide education and awareness to our community. Our co-founder, Natasha, was a National Ambassador for the Love is Not Abuse Coalition with Break the Cycle, the leading national nonprofit organization providing comprehensive dating abuse programs exclusively to young people ages 12 to 24. 

With One Word also served on the Art with Heart Committee and was allied with the NO MORE campaign.