Help Us End Dating Violence

Teen dating violence is linked to:

The need is urgent. According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey from Chicago Public Schools:

     • 11.8% of high school students reported experiencing dating violence in the past year
     • 9.7% reported experiencing sexual violence

Behind every statistic is a young person trying to navigate relationships without the tools, guidance, or support they need. Students and educators consistently tell us the same thing: they are not adequately equipped to recognize, prevent, or respond to teen dating violence.

You can help us change that.  That is why Take Back the Halls exists.

Take Back the Halls is a transformative prevention initiative that empowers young people to build healthy relationships, prevent abuse, and create safer school communities. Through our engaging, classroom-based curriculum, students gain critical life skills that extend far beyond the classroom. They learn how to communicate effectively, manage emotions, practice empathy, establish and respect boundaries, and resolve conflict in healthy ways. Most importantly, students learn to recognize the early warning signs of dating violence and how to safely support peers who may be experiencing abuse

Our program is interactive, youth-centered, and rooted in the belief that young people themselves are powerful agents of change. Students are not passive participants.  They help shape conversations, challenge harmful norms, and build a culture of respect and safety within their schools.

With your support, we can reach more students before violence occurs.

Every $10,000 raised allows us to bring our evidence-informed 10-week prevention program to an additional classroom of 30 students in our partner schools. Your investment will help us achieve our goal of ensuring that every freshman student in our schools has access to the education, skills, and support they need to build healthy relationships and thrive.

Together, we can help young people break cycles of violence, strengthen their voices, and create safer futures for themselves and their communities.