Connecting the Dots – an art exhibit created by Wichita Youth, shows how violence evolves from elementary school playground teasing to teen dating violence and bullying to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Wichita Teens Celebrate February, Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month, with a City Wide Art Exhibit for Final Friday

WICHITA, Kan. – START STRONG WICHITA CHOOSE RESPECT , a project of Catholic Charities Wichita, will feature the third annual Art Exhibit as part of Final Friday, February 24 from 6-10 p.m. at the Shopkeeper’s Gallery (228 N. Market).  This year’s event “Connecting the Dots:  bullying…teen dating violence…domestic violence” constructs a narrative that violence evolves with students as they grow up.  This continuum can be prevented if we as a community possess the necessary prevention tools and promote what we call UPSTANDERS – someone who stands up to violence. All across the Wichita Public Schools student leaders in Choose Respect Clubs are sharing the message that this continuum of violence needs to stop.

This year’s exhibit will feature Art from almost every Wichita Middle School and High School.  Students were asked to reflect on one question – What does being an UPSTANDER mean to them?  They were then asked to create art that best represents UPSTANDING when it comes to any form of violence, but especially the ones on the continuum. 

·       Choose RESPECT works to create a ‘culture of respect’ that permeates every level of middle school and high school.

·       58% of 300 Wichita middle school students surveyed say they have been in boyfriend/girlfriend relationships

·       65% of middle school staff surveyed believe teen dating violence is a big problem at their school

In addition to youth art, local artist Jordan Tarrant will be creating “live’ art during the show.  Jordan specializes in word and symbol art used to create an image.  He will be using words and symbols to create a picture of Jana Mackey.  Jana Mackey was well-known throughout Kansas for her advocacy for women’s rights. She had spent years volunteering to aid victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Jana also served as one of the youngest lobbyists at the Kansas state capitol supporting issues important to women. The most unlikely of domestic violence victims, the 25 year-old University of Kansas law student was found dead in her ex-boyfriend’s home on July 3, 2008.  Jana’s parents will be on site to share Jana’s story.

“Wichita accounts for almost 22% of all reported sexual assaults in the state of Kansas, and of those; nearly 50% involved a victim under the age of 19,” said Cynthia N. Colbert, Catholic Charities Wichita Executive Director.  “Through our Harbor House domestic violence shelter and outreach services we see first-hand the devastating results that domestic and dating violence has on families, children, women and men.  Prevention is key to ending domestic violence to strengthen families and strengthen our community.  Through our START STRONG WICHITA project we seek to end domestic violence before it starts by educating teens on having healthy relationships to prevent themfrom not only becoming victims of domestic violence but also from becoming abusers.  Catholic Charities has been a community leader in building coalitions to end dating and domestic violence.”

For the past 2 years Mayor Carl Brewer has read a proclamation declaring February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month and spoke at the event.  Mr. Brewer joined over 500 patrons last year, which featured over 180 works of art from middle and high school students. This year’s event is shaping up to be even larger.

This year’s art exhibit will feature multiple mediums of art to spread the word to the community including paintings, sketches, sculptures, poetry readings, music, live theatre, and even some student films.

Admission to this event is FREE.  For more information on this and other events, please visit START STRONG WICHITA on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and find out how to get involved in stopping dating and domestic violence.

For more information on START STRONG WICHITA, please visit us online at http://www.StartStrongWichita.org

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About START STRONG WICHITA

START STRONG WICHITA is a project of Catholic Charities and builds on the existing work of Choose Respect.   We are proud to partner with the following organizations: Wichita Public Schools, Wichita State University, WASAC, the Y, the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas, and Catholic Charities Harbor House.  Start Strong Wichita is the largest national initiative ever funded to target 11- to 14-year-olds to promote safe and healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence and abuse.  The project educates not only teens but parents and the community at large on preventing teen dating violence by forming healthy relationships. The ultimate goal of START STRONG WICHITA is to stop domestic violence by preventing teens from becoming either victims or abusers.  Catholic Charities was chosen as 1 of 11 community organizations nationwide to receive funding through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s national program, Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships (www.startstrongteens.org).  Learn more about START STRONG WICHITA at www.startstrongwichita.org.

About Catholic Charities
Celebrating 67 years of service, Catholic Charities, Inc. – Diocese of Wichita stabilizes families in crisis and strengthens families for life…. The mission of Catholic Charities is inspired by God’s love, Catholic Charities alleviates poverty and builds strong families in the Diocese of Wichita. The result is more than 25,000 lives touched with needed encouragement and support each year. Catholic Charities expresses the belief that each person should be “treated equally with respect and compassion” through its programs and services in the areas of family and relationship strengthening, domestic violence services and advocacy, food and support assistance, homelessness, multicultural services, and senior and disability services. The agency empowers individuals through education about their personal strengths, rights and options to make informed decisions. Since establishment in 1943, Catholic Charities has remained focused on making a positive difference in the lives of families and individuals. For more information, visit www.CatholiCharitiesWichita.org.

About Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, we work with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change.  For more than 35 years we’ve brought experience, commitment and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those we serve. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, we expect to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information visit www.rwjf.org.