Black youth activist smilingBy Breckan Winters, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

February is both Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) and Black History Month (BHM). This month and always, we’re uplifting the connections between preventing relationship violence and honoring Black history, as we center the wisdom, vision, and leadership of Black youth in our work today. As Patty Branco states, “we know that Black youth carry the defiance and brilliance of our ancestors, and we honor them as producers of knowledge and creators of social change.”

Love Is Respect’s theme for TDVAM 2024, Love Like That, emphasizes that “love is more than a feeling; no matter how you define it… the essential aspect of ‘Love Like That’ calls on us all to create a world of positive actions to express and show healthy love in various ways.” At NRCDV, this reminds us of the teachings of beloved ancestor bell hooks that love is an action, a force for transformation. Consent: An important note to remember: everything except a yes, is a noThe act of radical self-love and love for each other and our communities is key to creating a world where we can all be safe and healthy in our relationships.

Want to learn more? We’re excited to share the following resources this month:

HIGHLIGHTS: National Prevention Youth Summit - Health Equity Matters: Making Connections through Experiences - This youth-led event centered the voices, experiences, and wisdom of youth leaders engaged in social change work. Over two days, participants learned how positive pleasure-based sexuality and fostering racial equity are connected and necessary to creating conditions where youth can thrive.

Technical Assistance Guidance Series: Serving Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

NEW TA GUIDANCE SERIES: Serving Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence - The goal of this 4-part Technical Assistance Guidance (TAG) series is to give advocates the tools and practical strategies to identify, reach, and effectively serve Black women-identified survivors of intimate partner violence.

PREVENTION TOOL OF THE MONTH: Pride Peace Prevention – This 3-year social norming campaign in Louisville worked to cultivate positive racial identity and foster community dialogue around difficult issues, in order to promote racial justice and reduce youth violence. Subscribe to the PreventIPV Newsletter for updates on prevention activities and resources.

CAMPAIGN: By & For: Stories of the Beauty, Power, & Wisdom Within – Launched for TDVAM 2023, this social media campaign centers Black youth’s lived experiences and focuses on storytelling and prevention. Follow @NRCDV on social media to see more!

And be sure to check out these upcoming opportunities to engage with us!

  • Youth Advisory Board – Applications are now open for NRCDV’s Youth Advisory Board! The youth advisory board aims to uplift youth voices, while also giving youth the opportunity to gain leadership skills, build relationships, and more. LEARN MORE
  • Serving Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Webinar Series - Black women-identified survivors have been disproportionately harmed by the triple pandemics of COVID-19, intimate partner violence, and racial injustice. As a field, we must boldly design and create innovative approaches to service provision. This 2-part series will give advocates the tools and practical strategies to identify, reach, and effectively serve this population.
    • Part 1: Tuesday, 2/27 at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific – REGISTER HERE
    • Part 2: Thursday, 2/29 at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific – REGISTER HERE
Serving Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence