Mask Theater at the Someys

MASK Theater's Grand Prize PSA

On Saturday evening Dec. 10, 2011, MASK Theater was awarded the grand prize at the Someys! The Someys Video Awards are Leadership Somerset's scholarship program which encourages young people who live or work in Somerset County, New Jersey to become trustees of their communities and leadership resources as they work for the common good. Towards that goal, MASK Theater created a Public Service Announcement for the Resource Center of Somerset as their submission in to the category of Health, Wellness and Safety.

Not only did MASK Theater win the grand prize but a gift of $250 was also awarded to the Resource Center! What a wonderful evening filled with great music and community spirit. Congrats to all who participated in the event!

Below is video our Mask Theater members created for the Resource Center.



Do YOU know the signs of Abuse?

TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH

Date/Time:
Location: National
Website: http://www.teendvmonth.org/
Event Sponsor: Break the Cycle
Description:
Teen Dating Violence (DV) Prevention and Awareness Month is a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in youth relationships and promote programs that prevent it during the month of February.
The repercussions of teen dating violence are impossible to ignore – they hurt not just the young people victimized but also their families, friends, schools and communities. Throughout February, organizations and individuals nationwide are coming together to highlight the need to educate young people about healthy relationships, teach healthy relationship skills and prevent the devastating cycle of abuse. (www.teendvmonth.org)
For more information: Break the Cycle
202.824.0707
teenDVmonth@breakthecycle.org
http://www.teendvmonth.org/

TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION 

AND AWARENESS MONTH

Date:	February 2012
Location:	National
Website:	http://www.teendvmonth.org/
Event Sponsor:	Break the Cycle
Description:	Teen Dating Violence (DV) Prevention and Awareness Month is a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in youth relationships and promote programs that prevent it during the  month of February. The repercussions of teen dating violence are impossible to ignore – they hurt not just the young people victimized but also their families, friends, schools and communities.  Throughout February, organizations  and individuals nationwide are  coming together to highlight the  need to educate young people about healthy relationships, teach healthy  relationship skills and prevent the  devastating cycle of abuse.  (www.teendvmonth.org)
For more information:	Break the Cycle 202.824.0707 teenDVmonth@breakthecycle.org http://www.teendvmonth.org/

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Posted by Susan B. Carbon on October 05, 2011 at 09:36 AM EDT

Ed. Note: Cross-posted courtesy of Susan B. Carbon, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, from the Department of Justice blog.

The Justice Department and The Office on Violence Against Women join all our partners in recognizing October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Since the Sept. 13, 1994 passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), there have been significant changes in society’s understanding of and response to violence against women – but there is much more that needs to be done to end domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.

Hundreds of thousands of victims have benefitted, and their lives forever changed, because of the resolve and commitment to end violence. This has been demonstrated not only by Congress, but by all those who have diligently worked so hard over the past 17 years to implement this legislation in their crisis centers, police departments, emergency rooms, prosecutors’ offices, courtrooms and communities. 

But we cannot rest upon our laurels and let slide the progress we have made, or think that we don’t need to maintain our vigilance.  We have an enormous responsibility, to our friends, family, colleagues, communities, strangers, people from all walks of life in every corner of this country, to continue and broaden our efforts to end violence against women, children and men.  Sadly too many continue to be victimized; and as new professionals and volunteers enter the field, we need to ensure that they have access to the best practices and  training as we are faced with new challenges and tools of abuse.

In his proclamation marking October 2011 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, President Obama noted the effects of domestic violence, especially on young people and children:

… The ramifications of domestic violence are staggering. Young women are among the most vulnerable, suffering the highest rates of intimate partner violence. Exposure to domestic violence puts our young men and women in danger of long-term physical, psychological, and emotional harm. Children who experience domestic violence are at a higher risk for failure in school, emotional disorders, and substance abuse, and are more likely to perpetuate the cycle of violence themselves later in life.

Prevention and intervention efforts focused on breaking the cycle of abuse and violence is an important part of OVW’s ongoing work.  Over the past couple of years, OVW has embarked upon the development of a new program to broaden the reach of those working to end violence against women by engaging men and boys to work together as allies with women and girls. 

This is the first time in the history of OVW that a grant program focuses primarily on the prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking by acknowledging the critical role men and boys play in addressing these issues.  That, along with the program’s focus on the creation of public education campaigns through the work of community-based organizations and local community partners, has generated great interest and excitement. With men as partners in this work, we have the potential to reach men and boys in new and creative ways, implementing programs most relevant to them and their communities. 

We continue to work along many paths to convey the message, loud and clear, that violence against women will not be tolerated.  We ask you to do the same in your own communities, at work and at home.  Your efforts and voices are vital.  Please join in this important dialogue.

We remind all those in need of assistance, or other concerned friends and individuals, to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at             1-800-799-SAFE       or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at            1-800-656-HOPE      .

Susan B. Carbon is the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice

October 2011 - Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Local, State and National agencies will be hosting many special events this month highlighting issues concerning us all regarding domestic violence.  

Oct.17th through 21st, is Montgomery High School's Violence Awareness Week, where there will be many programs for students to raise awareness on the problem.


The MASK Theater group will perform during unit lunch on Wednesday Oct. 19th.


The Resource Center of Somerset will be teaching students about teen dating abuse during health periods this week.

1 is 2 Many!!

Thank you Vice President Biden for voicing your thoughts and encouraging the nation to stand out against relationship abuse!


http://www.whitehouse.gov/1is2many Watch the video below!!!! 






What do ya think?! 


Leave your comments!


MASK Theater

Wow!

The statistic that "1 in 3 teens will experience an abusive relationship" seems to be pretty accurate judging by the votes in the poll below..... Keep voting so we can have some hard statistics on this website!


If you have a story that you want to share, a single event in your relationship or the entire relationship, leave a comment below! We need every contribution so we can make our program realistic to our audience. Remember anonymity IS encouraged for YOUR own comfort.


We thank you so much for your support.


Peace&Love

Welcome to the MASK Theater Safe Space!

MASK Theater is a group from Montgomery High School in Skillman New Jersey that educates students about teen relationship abuse. We perform skits based on the stories that are shared with us from teens in our community. We also host discussions and interactive activities with our students. This program is all about "By Students, For Students!" No more adults lecturing to us. We want to communicate this important issue in the most relevant, and captivating method possible. 


If you have a story that you want us to use in one of our skits, or just something you want to get off your chest, leave a comment below. We encourage anonymity in these post for YOUR OWN comfort. If you want to talk to one of the MASK administrators more personally, for advice, or just to have someone to talk to, feel free to email us at MASK.Theater@gmail.com or refer to some of the resources we have around our site. 


The community against relationship abuse is tight-knit: No one is alone. 


Peace&Love

MASK Theater