Teen dating violence is a huge problem across the nation, with some teens even experiencing that abuse every single day. Because this abuse doesn’t differentiate between gender or age, the United Way of St. Charles is hoping to spread awareness in a way that all teens understand – through music.
On Aug. 2, the UWSC will host the very first teen dating violence awareness concert, which is titled “Treat Me Right!” The goal of the concert, which will also give away some very cool prizes, is to educate teens about violence associated with their relationships.
Deep Down Enzo, with local artist and musician Matt Touchard, will be the featured band. Additional entertainment includes a stomp team, a segment on teen fashion, a dragster racing display and a special appearance by local musician and Luling resident Patrick O’Malley, Jr.
Alicia Kozak, a UWSC, AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, was a victim of teen dating violence and spearheaded this event in order to spread the word about dangerous relationships.
“For me, there is such a lack of awareness about what teen dating violence is, and a lot of times it is swept under the rug,” Kozak said. “Teens and young adults tend to think of abuse as something that is only physical and they don’t think there is a problem if they aren’t physically abused.
“It’s much more than that and this will spread the awareness needed for them to either get out of a bad relationship or even prevent it altogether.”
Kozak has tried to spread that message on her own, traveling to both Destrehan and Hahnville High Schools with her own personal testimony of teen dating violence.
“This is a subject that is close to my heart due to my own personal experience,” Kozak said. “When I tell my story, people often say how sorry they are that I went through it, but I’m not sorry.
“If it wasn’t for my personal encounter, I wouldn’t be as driven as I am to raise awareness. I experienced the abuse, and I share my story in hopes that no one else will.”
At the event, which will be held at the West Bank Bridge Park, there will be speakers on hand to both educate those in attendance as well as offer personal testimony. A couple of the acts will also center their show around teen dating violence.
“A lot of times we find that the root problem in teens with low self-esteem is that they are the victims of teen dating violence,” Kozak said. “A major event like this is a great way to spread information.”
Several partner agencies of the UWSC will also be on hand with booths that provide information about both teen dating violence and the services they provide. These include the YMCA, Child Advocacy Services, Metropolitan Center for Women and Children, St. Charles Community Health Center, Center for Family and Youth Services, Project REAL and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Department.
Besides gathering useful and important information, those on hand will also be able win several prizes, including a custom made electric guitar, an Xbox 360 game system, a Rock Band game bundle pack, an iPod and various gift certificates and gas cards. Food and drinks, as well as souvenir event T-shirts, will also be sold.
“We wanted something that would be fun and that’s how we got the idea of a concert event,” Kozak said. “Teenagers love events like this – anything with music.”
Admission to the event is $2 and it will last from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Aug. 2. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. and advance tickets are available for purchase at the UWSC office, St. Charles Community Health Center, Scoops and Serenity Spa.
The first National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week was held in 2006 and reflected a new nationwide initiative to increase public awareness and education of the prevalence of teen dating violence. According to research conducted by the Love is Not Abuse effort undertaken by Liz Claiborne, one in three female teens in a dating relationship report having feared for their safety. 30 percent of teens in a dating relationship have been text-messaged 10 to 30 times an hour by a partner finding out where they are, what they are doing and who they are with.
One in five teens in a serious relationship report having been hit, slapped or pushed by a partner.
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