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Saturday, April 21, 2007 12:13 AM CDT
Projects help spread awareness of dating violence
By KATE HENDERSON, Staff Writer
khenderson@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Justin Cole has experienced teen dating violence first-hand and is hoping his story will bring the issue to the forefront for his peers.
Cole, an Effingham Pathways student, shared the story of his relationship with a former girlfriend in a video created with I Sing the Body Electric to raise awareness about dating violence in East Central Illinois.
Cole’s relationship started out as a normal one that escalated into one ridden with jealousy. It finally spiraled into fights and physical violence. His story ended with his ex-girlfriend stabbing him in the chest with a pair of scissors.
The video, which depicted the events through re-enactment photos using Pathways student Cassie Sims as the “girlfriend,” was meant to teach teens to walk away from bad and violent relationships or get help.
The video project was one of many highlighted during the news conference. Pathways groups from Charleston, Greenup, Mattoon, Paris, Shelbyville and Effingham all created projects to get the word out about statistics from the 2006 Body Electric survey.
Pathways serves students age 16-21 that have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of high school.
The survey showed that one in eight teens in this area has suffered dating violence by a boyfriend or girlfriend, something Pathways, Body Electric, HOPE and SACIS are hoping to stop by spreading powerful messages about violence prevention.
“We have created art projects and are using them in the media to alert teens and parents,” said Mally Henderson, a Greenup student.
Students presented poetry, flyers, models and other projects that showed facts and solutions to dating violence as well as ways to get help.
The Friday event kicked off what will be a year-long media tour using the Pathways students’ project to raise awareness all over the area.
“We did this to show that it’s a big problem in American and not something we should take anything but seriously,” one student said.
One of the most powerful messages came from a simple poster made by Paris students. “Silence hides violence” it read.
“Teens are so much better at communication with each other to affect their peers’ behavior and attitudes,” said Gaye Harrison, director of Body Electric.
Harrison said the arts are a “perfect vehicle for teen communication.”
She said the next step is to try and get some of the educational materials into high schools in the area. She said community leaders also need to step up and start awareness about the “real things happening very subtly in our culture.”
The projects will be presented again at the Body Electric May 5 Arts & Health Festival at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. The public may visit the gallery 1-5 p.m. in the Education Center.
“It’s a great opportunity for families to look at teen art and then discuss important health and family issues in a non-threatening environment,” said Harrison.
More information and results from the Body Electric survey can be found at singthebodyelectric.org or by calling 348-4570.
Harrison said anyone wishing to display posters to help spread the message can also contact Body Electric.
Contact Kate Henderson at khenderson@jg-tc.com or 238-6858
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