Healing is possible.

We are all part of a larger whole and all of us are in cosmic community with one another.

– Hannah

That is one of the many amazing messages in a powerful collection of images that students of the Central Vermont Career Center- Digital Media Arts (DMA) program in Barre, VT created in December 2021 as part of a school project done in collaboration with Mosaic and the Vermont Network. This collaboration is what Bryce chose to represent in the image below.

Students participated in a training called “Supporting Healthier Relationships, Ending Rape Culture” led by high school senior, Katie Lewton and Mosaic’s Outreach Director Jan Lloyd. The training focused on gaining a deeper understanding of consent and boundaries, recognizing unhealthy behaviors,  the 6 C’s of healthy relationship characteristics, as well as basic communication and conflict resolution skills.   The students then spent time creating social media posts and wall posters based on the information they received in the training.

Consent is a big topic for teens, but also for ALL of us. The students of the class learned that consent should be practiced starting young – see Cokie’s creative illustrations asking for hugs which is something that should be taught to youth of all ages.

Consent is something we should be practicing in many everyday situations. Galen made an image filled with all the different ways that we may be asking for consent both within an intimate relationship and with all our relationships and interactions. It is full of easy ways to include askign for and giving consent in a conversation.

Charlie’s FRIES image is inspired by a Planned Parenthood tool for teaching all of the important parts of consent. The images Charlie created cleverly illustrates all the different points, including consent must be Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific.

Devin chose to examine the pillars of a healthy relationship with  by illustrating 6 key concepts. Students learned about communication, respectful conduct, compatibility that includes acceptance of difference, active commitment, and providing both consideration and compromise.

Digital abuse including bullying, stalking, and sexual harassment is something many youth experience. Some studies suggest that approximatley 59% of teens will experience some form of digital abuse at some point [1].  Aiden’s powerful image shows us how hurtful these messages can feel.

The experiences of male-identified indidivuals are frequently overlooked in lessons and conversations about harmful relationships.  Maca found a powerful way to make visible the unique impact abuse has on male identified youth.

Vermont LGBTQIA+ youth are more likely than their heterosexual peers to face the harms of bullying and unwanted sexual contact  (see more from Outright’s overview of 2019 YRBS data). One simple way we can show respect to our peers is by using their preferred pronouns. Student artist Eli provides us how to appropriatley use pronouns with the three easy steps – Ask, Use, Practice.

Ty reminds all of us to not make judgements based on how an individual presents. Everyone deserves respect and to be safe. We can do better to support the inclusion of everyone  into the conversation about ending violence.

Sometimes it is easy to  feel alone and like no one understands what you are experiencing.  Being in Isolation due to COVID has often increased these feelings of disconnection, especially for youth. Felix and Gino both reflect on what this feels like and remind us that help is always available.

That help is always available to anyone who needs it through the Vermont Network’s 15 member organizations. These local programs are all available 24/7 by phone and most have chat options available as well.   Olivia brought together some of the logos of these member organizations providing support and connection all across Vermont. A list of organizations and their contact information be found at the Vermont Networks’ Get Help page.

It seems fitting to end with Jarrid’s message of LOVE, INTEGRITY, RESPECT. Every day we are working towards a  better future for all of us- one free from the harms of violence. We are grateful to the students from the Digital Media Program at CVSS who have created these powerful, positive messages of the changes we want to see in the world. Together, we can all use our voices to move closer to our vision of a violence-free Vermont. Find out more about how you can get involved and use your voice for change at vtnetwork.org/uplift 

Lizzy Lyons

Children’s Advocacy Coordinator

lizzy@vtnetwork.org 

 

[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/09/27/a-majority-of-teens-have-experienced-some-form-of-cyberbullying/ ; https://firstsiteguide.com/cyberbullying-stats/