For women and children who escaped abuse perpetrated mostly by males, it was an oddity to see twenty adolescent boys standing in the middle of our shelter on a sunny Saturday in March. The shelter is in a confidential location and isn’t visited by very many people, but for three days straight we welcomed an influx of young men and construction workers who generously donated their time and all of the supplies to make one outdated unit feel like a real home. The National League of Young Men (NLYM) is comprised of young men in grades 9-12 and allows mothers to promote leadership development through community service with their sons….

Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence (DV). Often thought of as a family issue, it is really a social, business and health priority that impacts our entire community. To break the cycle, we must end the stigma associated with DV and help communities learn to identify and support victims. Human Options has been an innovative leader in this area since 1984 when we began working in high schools to educate teens. Peer culture is powerful. Giving teens the knowledge & ability to stand against DV is the first step in shifting our culture of silence. Last October we…