They are part of the A Line in the Sand exhibit, which has toured for two years and is making its final stop this month at Sinai. Against the backdrop of this exhibit, House of Ruth Maryland, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence, held a press conference at Sinai Thursday to announce two important initiatives.
The first is a teen-focused website, youlovemeyoulovemenot.com, which encourages teens to take an interactive "Rate Your Relationship" quiz. This website, funded in part from a grant from Verizon Foundation and CoverGirl, encourages teens to define, in their own words, what "you love me" or "you love me not" means by uploading video clips, texts and photos. The site also provides the warning signs of an abusive relationship and gives tips on staying safe.
The second is a new partnership with Alpha Chi Omega, which is working with the House of Ruth Maryland on a teen curriculum that will be used to help young people understand domestic violence.
Speakers at the press conference included Bill and Michele Mitchell, pictured above, whose daughter Kristin was killed at age 21 by her boyfriend. The Mitchells, who founded the Kristin Mitchell Foundation, have worked since 2005 to educate teens about domestic violence and pushed for high schools to adopt lessons on dating violence into the curriculum. These lessons recognizing the warning signs for an abuser, and breaking up in a public place.
"When Kristin attended middle school and high school here in Maryland, none of this information was available," Bill Mitchell says. "Our family has learned many of the warning signs after the fact."
To see A Line in the Sand, visit Sinai's atrium through November 12. You can also click on the video below of Beth Huber to hear more about the exhibit.
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