Celebrating Diversity Through Puppet-Making
February 23, 2012

Charley from the NYC Family Justice Center in Brooklyn shared a few photos from an anti-bullying project along with these kind words:

I can’t begin to tell you how exciting it was to visit Materials For The Arts on February 6, and have the opportunity to explore, as well as take back some amazing “goodies”  to the NYC Family Justice Center in Brooklyn (BKFJC); these items were immediately put to good use. The BKFJC, an initiative of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, has launched its 2012 anti-bullying campaign in which the children engage in an array of creative activities that are designed to teach tolerance and respect. Two activities in which we used the “goodies” from Materials for the Arts included a puppet display entitled “I’m Happy to Be Me Kids Club” and a “Diversity Quilt”. The children we serve (ages 3 – approximately 15) are witnesses of domestic violence, and creative activities serve as wonderful way for them to feel safe in expressing their feelings, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future.

It’s great that the items from our donors go to such a variety of organizations doing wonderful work. The puppets show a lot of creativity, as well as wonderful diversity – it looks like the children were truly able to express themselves and understand the project. “Happy to Be Me” is a great message and MFTA is proud to support it.

Dr. Jeff Hersh: Kids Don't Know the Dangers of "the Choking Game"
February 14, 2012

Q: I read about this choking game some kids play, and it scares me. Should I talk to my kids about this?

A: In the United States, the leading cause of death in children and adolescents is unintentional injury, mostly stemming from accidents and risk-taking behaviors (such as drug and/or alcohol abuse, “dare-devil” activities, high-risk sexual activities, fighting and others). Strangulation activities (self-strangulation or strangulation by another person) are one of these high-risk behaviors.

There are other names for strangulation activities, such as “the choking game,” “the fainting game” or “space monkey,” as well as many others. Although it is not always clear why some children engage in this behavior, some factors include peer pressure, thrill-seeking and the possibility of a “drug-free high.”

New Grant May Help Young Victims of Dating Violence
February 22, 2012

When the Family Justice Center holds sessions on domestic-violence response for police officers, trainer David Kitts will frequently include a former dating-violence victim on his panel, just to put a face with this crime. The woman shares incidents and her mindset—but she won’t reveal the name of her abuser, or the high school she attended, since she’s still fearful for her safety and wary of retribution from the perpetrator or his prominent Knoxville family.

She’s still scared, and this is 15 years since the experience ended. How much worse must it be for the raft of Knox-area teens and adults currently caught in violent intimate relationships? Both data and anecdotal evidence point up to thousands of teens in our area experiencing violence at the hands of a dating partner intent on control. While the numbers didn’t increase in the two years between the 2009 and the recently released 2011 Knox County Schools Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, 10.7 percent of high schoolers surveyed reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend during the 12 months before the survey—two years ago it was 11.7 percent.

Jr. Women Donate Proceeds From Taste Of Coronado
February 16, 2012

On October 12, 2011 the Coronado Junior Woman’s Club (CJWC) hosted its second Taste of Coronado event. Earlier this month the Taste’s beneficiaries, the San Diego Family Justice Center and Coronado SAFE’s Bully-Free Zone Initiative, reaped the fruits of the Junior’s labors, receiving donations of $10,00 and $2,000 respectively. “We did better than I could have imagined,” said CJWC president Deann Brown.

“The Taste of Coronado raised $16,000 total and none of that would have been possible without the involvement and support of our wonderful community members and local businesses including: Bliss Salon, Burger Lounge, Cafe 1134, Candelas on the Bay, Clayton’s Coffee Shop, Clayton’s on Tenth, Costa Azul, Emerald City, The Fish Company, Il Fornio, Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge, Peohe’s, Lil Piggy’s Bar-B-Q, Primavera, Swaddee Thai, Tavern, Tent City, Village Pizza, Village Pizzeria Bayside, Vigilucci’s and Winestyles,” she said.

Knoxville Family Justice Center Launches New Campaign Against Domestic Violence
February 15, 2012

The Knoxville Family Justice Center is launching a new campaign to combat domestic violence. The first of eight posters was revealed on Wednesday.

To see posters and interview click HERE.