INDIANAPOLIS (February 2, 2016) – Students at Crispus Attucks Magnet School are learning important life lessons- part of a special club raising awareness about teen domestic violence, called the “No More Club.”
“They are an anti-violence club that promotes healthy relationships and has a goal of ending violence, particularLy dating violence,” said Lindsay Hill Stawick, youth program manager for the Domestic Violence Network.
And here at Crispus Attucks, students are taking that message to heart.
“It’s important because adults can say it and they’re going to shrug it off like OK, but it’s easier to hear it coming from peers and it sinks in more than it does when adults say it,” said club member Dakiya Jenkins.
“We do a lot of different activities to raise awareness against violence, and dating violence and domestic violence,” said Kim Baker, a social worker at Crispus Attucks.
The club meets every week- recently they helped make pillows for the Julian Center- a local facility that helps victims of domestic violence.
“It happens a lot in the community and people try to ignore it and act like it’s not there when it really is,” said Jenkins.
And it’s something students are taking seriously- young women and young men- learning important lessons along the way.
“They feel like they’re trapped because they’re men but they feel like they don’t want to talk to anybody,” said club member Francisco Valle. “I let them know that men can also stand up. We have to defend each other, it’s not just males, not just females, it’s everybody.”
“It makes me feel really good inside,” said Jenkins. “It make me feel like I can actually do something and make a change.”
February also happens to be teen domestic violence/dating violence awareness month.
