Students Against Violence Everywhere presented National Youth Violence Prevention Week

SAVE helped students nationwide create safer schools through daily challenges April 7-11.

Why?

Advocacy and awareness are being drawn to youth violence as national and local needs are revealed in the stark reality of outcomes for teens. In 2010, 4,828 young people ages 10 to 24 were victims of homicide. This is an average of 13 each day, making homicide the second  leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24-years-old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Violence Prevention.

What can be done?

SAVE  partnered with five likeminded organizations to sponsor the 2014 National Youth Violence Prevention Week. Each day during the week corresponded to a specific challenge presented by one of the sponsors and was executed by youth around the country.

Information about each sponsor and an example of suggested daily activities follows:

Promoting respect and tolerance:  Teaching Tolerance

Manage your anger, don’t let it manage you:  American School Counselor Organization

Resolve conflicts peacefully:  Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network

Support Safety Center to Prevent Youth Violence

Unite in action: Youth Service America

The issue of youth violence will not be solved with one event, however the youth and adult partnerships created by events such as these can build a foundation for community success! Empowering youth and building leadership around issues of importance to them will make a difference for all of us.

Michigan State University Extension social and emotional programming collaborates and provides resources, curriculum and trainings around the issues of youth violence including Safe Dates, bullying prevention through the BeSafe initiative and  parenting through Nurturing Families and Building Strong Adolscents.

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