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Melrose Alliance Against Violence
The Communicator March 2010 

McCarthy's
Honor Your Mother

Sponsor the Melrose Run for Women in honor or in memory of your mother, grandmother or other important female role-model in your life. $100 sponsorship includes her name printed on the back of the T-shirts, a complimentary T-shirt, and a specially-designed card sent to honorees.
 
Click here
to become a sponsor

(we'll contact you to obtain additional information)
or call us at 781-662-2010
In Brief... 

"Thank you so much for this excellent presentation. The information was very powerful and will stay with me for a long time. I want everyone I know to experience this program."
 
-Participant in MAAV's training, "Recognizing & Responding to Intimate Partner Violence," led by Training Specialist Alice Wadley for School Nurses in Stoneham on March 16

Sexual Assault Prevention
MAAV's Student Action Board will sponsor an assembly for  seniors at Melrose High School on March 30, featuring speakers from the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, the Mentors in Violence Prevention Program at Northeastern University, and a video created by the students, "Every 2 Minutes."
 
Self-Defense Workshop for females ages 15-18
Saturday, June 19
9:00 am-2:00 pm
North Shore Martial Arts Center in Melrose
For more info or to register call 781-662-2010
 
It's Officially Spring! Here at MAAV that means gearing up for the annual Mother's Day Melrose Run for Women, organized by the Melrose Running Club to benefit MAAV. We are also gearing up to offer new trainings on bullying prevention and our annual assembly  for high school seniors on sexual assault. As always, please contact us with any questions, comments or feedback- we'd love to hear from you!
Leach family
Join the Fun on Mother's Day!
What do you get when you combine over 900 women, cheering crowds and a beautiful 3.5 mile route through the Swains Pond area of Melrose? A Mother's Day tradition like no other! The 13th Annual Melrose Run for Women is Sunday, May 9 at 9:00 am starting at Pine Banks Park in Melrose. Walkers welcome! We are still looking for race sponsors- click here to learn about the benefits for businesses and organizations. For more information about the event or to register for the race, click here.

A huge thanks to the Melrose Running Club for their energy, commitment and generosity in sponsoring this spirited event for 13 years running!
Director Rebecca Mooney read "My Secret Bully" by Trudy Ludwig to 3rd graders as part of the Community Read-In on March 2.
Snowman
MAAV Launches Bullying Prevention Trainings
Bullying is in the forefront of the news in our state, with the tragic bullying-related suicide of a 14-year old student in South Hadley and the pending anti-bullying legislation. MAAV has worked to address the issue of bullying for the past 10 years. We are currently launching 3 new trainings designed for schools, PTO's, community groups and other youth-serving organizations.

For Staff: Recognizing & Responding to Bullying at School
For Parents: Preventing Bullying: What Parents Need to Know
For Students: Peer Power: From Bystanders to Allies

Please click here to learn more, or contact us at 781-662-2010 for more information and our fee schedule.
SnowmanTeen Dating Abuse Storyline on General Hospital
As part of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February, writers of the popular soap opera General Hospital consulted with the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline to create a realistic and accurate portrayal of violence in a teenage dating relationship. A PSA addressing teen dating abuse aired immediately after the first episode. We encourage parents to learn the early warning signs of abuse and to contact us if your family needs help.

MAAV works with the Melrose Veterans Middle School to teach students about abuse in relationships, offering the Healthy Relationships Program to 8th graders through Health class. The 6-session program was offered in December and will be repeated in May. We have recently added new information on "sexting" and "textual harassment" to the curriculum.
Chief Mike Lyle leads mentoring group on tour of the Melrose Police Station 
Snowman
Mentors Step Up for New 6th Grade Group

Last month, the Melrose C.A.R.E.S. Community Mentoring Program launched a new group for 6th grade students, comprised of 9 students and 9 mentors. With this new group, over 50 students have now been served by the program, including  25 current active matches. Mentors in the 6th grade group come from Melrose as well as Medford and Winchester. Our mentors come from all walks of life, but share a common desire to help young people and give back to the community. These dedicated volunteers are the key to our program's success, and we applaud their caring and commitment to youth! To learn more about MAAV's Mentoring Program, please contact Coordinator Sharon Loveridge.