Message of violence: People respond to popular music video
August 16, 2010 | Vision Hispana

Experts on relationship violence and young people from the Bay Area and across the country are reacting to the violent behavior portrayed in the new “Love the Way You Lie,” music video by Eminem, featuring Rihanna. Starring actors Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox, the video depicts an abusive relationship and violent acts.Tatiana Colón is the director of Education and Youth Services at the Family Violence Law Center in Oakland, which is also the local office for Start Strong (a national youth violence prevention initiative). Colón is concerned about the video and its potential contribution to relationship violence and teen dating violence.“I am concerned that it sensationalizes dating and domestic violence - that it is OK to be in an abusive relationship,” she says. Youth who Colón speaks to about the video feel it tries to say that it’s sexy to be abused. Unlike other experts, Colón sees the video offering no benefit to awareness or understanding of relationship violence. “Rihanna sings that ‘that’s alright you make me cry’ and ‘I like the way it hurts’ – not only it is OK but almost that she likes it,” she says. “I was surprised to hear that, instead of saying that this is not OK.” › more

Start Strong Brings Youth Voices to Prevent Teen Dating Violence
August 2, 2010 | CALCASA

At the Start Strong Annual Meeting in July 2010, the 11 sites funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Blue Shield of California met to learn from each other. Each site brought teen leaders who spent the meeting sharing with each other and developing a PSA, learning to tweet and writing OpEd pieces. This teen dating violence initiative is one of the most exciting new developments in teen dating violence prevention as each site has developed a campaign that integrates education for 11-14 year olds, the engagement of teen influencers (including parents and older teens), communications campaigns and policy development. › more

State's girls at higher risk of violence
July 29, 2010 | The Indianapolis Star

More than 17 percent of high school girls surveyed in Indiana last year -- some as young as 14 -- said they have been forced to have sex. It's a startling statistic, especially when you consider that makes Indiana the state with the second-highest percentage of the 42 states surveyed, behind only Wyoming. The information is part of a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance covers a wide range of behaviors among high school students that put them at risk for illness and death. › more

IndyFringe Festival show spotlights teen relationships
July 17, 2010 | Indiana Business Journal

The IndyFringe Festival, for the most part a lighthearted, wacky event, this year will shine a light on the sober topic of manipulative teen relationships.The festival has added a play called “don’t u luv me?” by Linda Daugherty, to the lineup. The play, which will be performed by Young Actors Theatre, explores how signs of affection can morph into controlling abuse through text messages. › more