Last night, the Baltimore City Health Department's (BCHD) Office of Youth Violence Prevention's (OYVP) Dating Matters program joined the Baltimore City Police Department and other organizations focused on preventing domestic violence at the Shake and Bake Family Fun Center to promote awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

The event themed, "Shining a Light on Healthy Relationships" featured speakers William Kellibrew IV, director of OYVP, BCHD; Aisha Burgess, director of Dating Matters, (BCHD) Marilyn Mosby, Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City; Lyn Twyman, Baltimore City Police Department's Community Collaboration Division; and representatives from many other domestic violence organizations as far away as Greensboro, North Carolina.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of 3 women have experienced domestic violence in her lifetime. "Most teens involved in dating abuse do not tell their parents," says Hazelden Foundation, "in fact, teens go through great lengths to hide it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Kellibrew shared his story of watching his mother, Jacqueline, and brother, Anthony killed by his mother's ex-boyfriend in July of 1984 at age 10,and how his work has come full circle at the health department. Actor, Julian Brittano, known for his work on Greenleaf(2016), Bring Out the Lady (2016) and House of Cards (2013) shared his story of child sexual abuse at age 8 by an older male and female. Other survivors including men and women courageously shared their stories of survival and thriving. 

One could hear a pin drop listening to survivor after survivor share their stories. Attendees also repeated a pledge to bring awareness to domestic violence. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A crowd of advocates, police officers and survivors listened intently as Marilyn Mosby, Office of the State Attorney for Baltimore City recounted a story of a survivor who was stabbed while on a 911 call. The perpetrator was prosecuted and convicted.)

Dating Matters was developed as a comprehensive public health approach to the primary prevention of teen dating violence (TDV). According to Dating Matters, when we teach skills for healthy relationships now, we create safer, healthier communities for everyone in the future. For more information, visit health.Baltimorecity.Gov/datingmatters.