Save the Date!

You are Beautiful!

Stand up and hold your head high, "You Are Beautiful!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3jcvgdbvo8&feature=youtu.be

Be Part of NO MORE Day A National Day of Awareness for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault MARCH 13, 2013

We’re pleased and excited to announce that March 13 is NO MORE Day, the public launch of the country’s first unifying awareness symbol for domestic violence and sexual assault. Join us to launch NO MORE and participate in one of the most concerted and collaborative efforts to raise awareness for these issues. WHAT IS NO MORE? NO MORE is a groundbreaking symbol (like the pink breast cancer ribbon and the red AIDS ribbon) designed to galvanize change and radically increase the awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault in our communities. WHAT IS NO MORE DAY? On March 13, NO MORE Day, thousands of advocates and supporters across the country will unite to officially launch NO MORE. WHY NO MORE? Domestic violence and sexual assault are not easy to talk about, although they impact millions of men, women and children every year. Because of the stigma and shame, these issues often remain hidden in our society. NO MORE seeks to bring domestic violence and sexual assault into the national spotlight to generate more attention, more resources and more action to prevent them. NO MORE aims to empower bystanders of domestic violence and sexual assault in every community to break their silence around these issues and get involved.   WAYS TO TAKE ACTION: • KNOW MORE. Learn the signs of domestic violence and listen without judgment to victims/survivors of   sexual assault. Get the facts and know the resources available. • Say NO MORE. Break the silence. Speak out. Seek help when you see this problem or harassment of any kind in your family, your community, your workplace or school. • Share NO MORE. Share the NO MORE symbol with everyone you know. Facebook it. Tweet it.Pin it. Instagram it. Email it. Wear it. Help to increase awareness about the extent of domestic violence and sexual assault. Visit the NO MORE Shop at nomore.org. • Ensure NO MORE. Get involved. Volunteer in your community, or donate to a local, state or national domestic violence or sexual assault organization. THINGS TO DO ON NO MORE DAY: • Request the NO MORE Toolkit at nomore.org to get the symbol and start using it • Start following NO MORE on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram • Take a picture of how you’re using NO MORE in your community, or tell us why you say NO MORE. Share photos on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #NOMOREday • Participate in the #NOMOREday Twitter Chat on March 13th, 2013, 3 pm EST • Help make #NOMOREday a trending topic on Twitter by participating in our Thunderclap • Forward this email to 5 friends! Events will be taking place nationwide in celebration of NO MORE Day, including: • Washington Wizards Game (open to the public) – Come support NO MORE, get free products and see the debut of our new PSA (Purchase tickets, here. Promo code: nomore)  • Invisible War Screenings (open to the public) – Find one near you • A National Press Club Luncheon Hosted by Founder and President of the Joyful Heart Foundation, Actress Mariska Hargitay in Washington D.C. (sold out) • Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. (Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 538 at 9 am EST. Please RSVP with your name and number of guests) – Results of the new Avon Foundation-funded NO MORE Study: Teens and Young Adults on Dating Violence and Sexual Assault, to be presented by Ashley Greene, Actress and Ambassador for Avon's mark Brand. CONNECT WITH US Hashtags: #NOMOREday & #NOMORE Questions? Contact nomore.org. (source: nomore.org)

Sound Relationships

What’s playing on your iPod? Music, like food, can feed our brains and give us energy. But, it can also make us think of bad things that can affect us negatively. Some music could also change our health and the health of our relationships. Just like food we eat, it is important to have a balanced “song” diet that includes things for a healthy relationship. Knowing the mixture will help you make a wise choice about which songs will promote good healthy relationship.

Do the love songs you listen to promote happiness, enjoyment, support, respect, and trust? Or do they cause drama, disrespect, jealousy, and fear? The songs we listen to can affect our relationships, so it’s important to cut out anything unhealthy so we can have a balanced “diet” for a sound relationship.

(source: http://www.bphc.org/Newsroom/Pages/TopStoriesView.aspx?ID=132)

We are all different with different characteristics.  You are unique, there's no one else like you.

Watch this music video by One Direction "What makes You Beautiful".  An inspiring song for being YOU.

Helping a Friend

It is sometimes hard for a person in an abusive relationship to leave or end the relationship. It is also hard to know what you can do to help someone you care about who is being abused. Even if you want to do everything you can to protect that person, the choice to leave an abusive relationship or not can only be made by the person going through the abuse. But, there are some ways you can help the person you know find their own way to escape abuse and be safe.

The serious and painful effects of domestic violence could impact the victim wanting to end their relationship. They may have been told the abuse was their fault and they feel responsible. Even though the relationship was abusive, they might feel sad and lonely when it’s over. And there are many different reasons why victims stay, they may break up with and go back to the abuser many times. Remember that it may be hard for them to talk about the abuse.

Here are some tips that can help you safely use your cell phone:

                         Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who you think needs help. Tell them you are concerned

                         for their safety and want to help.

                         Be supportive and listen patiently. Acknowledge their feelings about their relationship.

                         Help them recognize that the abuse is not “normal” and is not their fault. Everyone deserves a

                         healthy relationship without violence.

                         Focus on your friend or family member, not on the abuser. Even if the person stays with their

                         abusive partner, it is important that they still feel comfortable talking to you about it.

                         Be respectful of your friend or family members’ choice about the relationship.

                         Give them resources in their community that can give them information and guidance.

                         Help them develop a plan to end their relationship safely.

                         If they break up with the abuser, keep being supportive of them after the relationship is over.

                         Even when you feel like there’s nothing you can do, don’t forget that by being there and by being

                         supportive and caring-you are already doing a lot.