February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAPM) has historically been a time for advocates and violence prevention practitioners to elevate the problem and amplify the solutions of teen dating violence. It has also become an important time for preventionists to reflect on how they are engaging youth in prevention and following the lead of youth activists.

Last spring, PreventConnect hosted a web conference titled Moving Power: Authentically Engaging Youth in the Community to Prevent Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence. Guests described opportunities to engage youth in civic engagement, build trusting relationships with youth for program leadership, and create space for youth to lead social justice efforts. A key reminder from this conversation was that often, youth have solutions to the violence they experience, and adult allies can support these solutions with resources, space, and connection.

To explore the power of youth further, PreventConnect recently talked with Arlene Vassell of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Angela Lee of love is respect about letting the voices of youth activists – especially those from marginalized communities – guide our efforts during TDVAPM and all year round.

As the calendar turns to February, how will you commemorate TDVAPM?