| SAFE in Hunterdon • 47 E. Main Street • Flemington, NJ 08822 • Outreach office: 908-788-7666 • 24-hour hotline: 888-988-4033 |
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New Teen Initiative Receives Applause
By Melissa Decker, Coordinator of Community Mobilization & Education
and Andrea Lovas, Manager of Donor Relations and Events
For 12 weeks, a group of teens met and worked together, culminating in their first performance––a first for SAFE in
Hunterdon as well. On the evening of the performance, friends and family of the teens arrived and were directed to a
table where there were five boxes with the following labels: Specific Location, Emotion, Fairy Tale, Subject for the
Expert, and Celebrity/Movie character.
Patrons laughed and talked as they decided what submission to add to each box. The teens kept calm and collected
while they prepared for their first improvisation performance. Soon they were acting out the suggestions that were
dropped into the boxes. The ideas came to life as the teens pretended they were trapped in a bottle together, did their
own version of Jack and the Bean Stalk, and even managed to convince a little girl in the audience that she was
actually Hannah Montana, using only gibberish.
The night was a success, drawing in an audience of 60 and impressing everyone in attendance, as well as the teens
themselves. ”That was fantastic! They were so focused!” a father raved.
“I just can’t believe my teen could be so spontaneous and creative,” responded a mom.
The teens were also excited about their accomplishment. One of the boys, surprised by his own enjoyment, said, “Oh
my God, I didn’t think improv could be so cool.”
Another teen said, “In the beginning, we were strangers. And, now, we trust each other more than some of our long-
term friends.”
This group was formed to familiarize teens with the agency and provide a safe place for students to go after school.
Through the spontaneous creation of mini-pieces, the forum provided the teens an outlet to explore issues such as
pressure to try drugs and alcohol, love, dating, communication, the loss of a friend and the stress of applying to college.
As demonstrated by the success of the Improv Show, this theatrical tradition proved to be an ideal medium for eight
teens to find their voices and build positive collaborations with one another.
The Teen Circle Improv Group, facilitated by drama therapist Allyn Sitjar, is one of many new efforts by SAFE in
Hunterdon to reach out to high school students. SAFE has implemented a multi-session media literacy series with a
commercial arts class at Hunterdon County Polytech, and on-site at the agency, open to high-school teens interested
in the topic.
Based on a curriculum developed by the New Mexico Media Literacy Project, participants learn how to examine media
with a critical eye, paying particular attention to how it contributes to gender construction, body image and the
perpetration of sexual violence. Once teens understand how to deconstruct a media message, they are given the
opportunity to create their own messages for others. Already, the commercial arts class has chosen to design a mural
for the “teen room” at the agency outreach office. Its theme, inspired by the concepts discussed through¬out each
session, will be “Teens and Media.” This original creation will serve as a vehicle for the students to offer positive
messaging to others in their peer group, via their own artistic interpretations of pop culture.
SAFE in Hunterdon has worked with high-school age youth for a long time. One-on-one counseling has always been
available to victimized teens, and the residential program offers safe housing to a number of adolescents every year.
Thousands of students have learned about dating violence, sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault from SAFE
in Hunterdon’s Community Educator. Many local high school students are among those who have completed the
agency’s intensive volunteer training course, and countless service learners have donated their time to help out with
events or around the office.
While the agency has received funding to develop preventative services for younger children, there remains a gap of
resources for children 13 years and older. SAFE in Hunterdon’s vision is to create a comprehensive teen-focused
program that complements the current children’s curriculum.
By Melissa Decker, Coordinator of Community Mobilization & Education
and Andrea Lovas, Manager of Donor Relations and Events
For 12 weeks, a group of teens met and worked together, culminating in their first performance––a first for SAFE in
Hunterdon as well. On the evening of the performance, friends and family of the teens arrived and were directed to a
table where there were five boxes with the following labels: Specific Location, Emotion, Fairy Tale, Subject for the
Expert, and Celebrity/Movie character.
Patrons laughed and talked as they decided what submission to add to each box. The teens kept calm and collected
while they prepared for their first improvisation performance. Soon they were acting out the suggestions that were
dropped into the boxes. The ideas came to life as the teens pretended they were trapped in a bottle together, did their
own version of Jack and the Bean Stalk, and even managed to convince a little girl in the audience that she was
actually Hannah Montana, using only gibberish.
The night was a success, drawing in an audience of 60 and impressing everyone in attendance, as well as the teens
themselves. ”That was fantastic! They were so focused!” a father raved.
“I just can’t believe my teen could be so spontaneous and creative,” responded a mom.
The teens were also excited about their accomplishment. One of the boys, surprised by his own enjoyment, said, “Oh
my God, I didn’t think improv could be so cool.”
Another teen said, “In the beginning, we were strangers. And, now, we trust each other more than some of our long-
term friends.”
This group was formed to familiarize teens with the agency and provide a safe place for students to go after school.
Through the spontaneous creation of mini-pieces, the forum provided the teens an outlet to explore issues such as
pressure to try drugs and alcohol, love, dating, communication, the loss of a friend and the stress of applying to college.
As demonstrated by the success of the Improv Show, this theatrical tradition proved to be an ideal medium for eight
teens to find their voices and build positive collaborations with one another.
The Teen Circle Improv Group, facilitated by drama therapist Allyn Sitjar, is one of many new efforts by SAFE in
Hunterdon to reach out to high school students. SAFE has implemented a multi-session media literacy series with a
commercial arts class at Hunterdon County Polytech, and on-site at the agency, open to high-school teens interested
in the topic.
Based on a curriculum developed by the New Mexico Media Literacy Project, participants learn how to examine media
with a critical eye, paying particular attention to how it contributes to gender construction, body image and the
perpetration of sexual violence. Once teens understand how to deconstruct a media message, they are given the
opportunity to create their own messages for others. Already, the commercial arts class has chosen to design a mural
for the “teen room” at the agency outreach office. Its theme, inspired by the concepts discussed through¬out each
session, will be “Teens and Media.” This original creation will serve as a vehicle for the students to offer positive
messaging to others in their peer group, via their own artistic interpretations of pop culture.
SAFE in Hunterdon has worked with high-school age youth for a long time. One-on-one counseling has always been
available to victimized teens, and the residential program offers safe housing to a number of adolescents every year.
Thousands of students have learned about dating violence, sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault from SAFE
in Hunterdon’s Community Educator. Many local high school students are among those who have completed the
agency’s intensive volunteer training course, and countless service learners have donated their time to help out with
events or around the office.
While the agency has received funding to develop preventative services for younger children, there remains a gap of
resources for children 13 years and older. SAFE in Hunterdon’s vision is to create a comprehensive teen-focused
program that complements the current children’s curriculum.
Program Profile
A SAFE Initiative for Teens
Based on violent crimes reported to law enforcement, juveniles were 140% more likely to be victimized between 3 and 4 pm on school days than in the same time period on non-
school days (i.e., weekends and summer months) Source: Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report
Our teenagers will become our nation’s leaders and a need exists to support and guide them so they can realize their potentials. SAFE in Hunterdon seeks to build on upon
successful projects like the Teen Circle Improv Group and the media literacy series by establishing a pro¬gram for teenagers called “SAFE for Teens.”
Aimed at providing middle- and high-school students with a safe place to explore social issues affecting their lives, SAFE for Teens will provide teens an opportunity to discuss
healthy relationships and dating, peer pressure, self-esteem, sexual harassment, safer sex, violence at home and bullying, as well as school and classes, and preparation for their
future.
The vision for the Teen Program includes a full-time teen center (open from 2 to 9 pm on weekdays), with two days for middle school students, and three days for high school
students. A full-time program coordinator would oversee the activities and facilitate, well-structured, disciplined programs incorporating educational and dramatic elements. These
might include improv, art, music, creative writing, and social issues groups.
To further a sense of community, SAFE will encourage our program attendees to share their creative arts projects with others. Together with the Community Educator, students will
create art displays, and performances for local schools to promote healthy, violence-free living.
Already, we have raised $14,500 of our $90,000 goal. Please consider donating to SAFE in Hunterdon so that we can continue to develop and expand our programs and services.
Your generosity will support the quality programs we currently offer, as well as help us create solid foundations for tomorrow’s leaders.
Based on violent crimes reported to law enforcement, juveniles were 140% more likely to be victimized between 3 and 4 pm on school days than in the same time period on non-
school days (i.e., weekends and summer months) Source: Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report
Our teenagers will become our nation’s leaders and a need exists to support and guide them so they can realize their potentials. SAFE in Hunterdon seeks to build on upon
successful projects like the Teen Circle Improv Group and the media literacy series by establishing a pro¬gram for teenagers called “SAFE for Teens.”
Aimed at providing middle- and high-school students with a safe place to explore social issues affecting their lives, SAFE for Teens will provide teens an opportunity to discuss
healthy relationships and dating, peer pressure, self-esteem, sexual harassment, safer sex, violence at home and bullying, as well as school and classes, and preparation for their
future.
The vision for the Teen Program includes a full-time teen center (open from 2 to 9 pm on weekdays), with two days for middle school students, and three days for high school
students. A full-time program coordinator would oversee the activities and facilitate, well-structured, disciplined programs incorporating educational and dramatic elements. These
might include improv, art, music, creative writing, and social issues groups.
To further a sense of community, SAFE will encourage our program attendees to share their creative arts projects with others. Together with the Community Educator, students will
create art displays, and performances for local schools to promote healthy, violence-free living.
Already, we have raised $14,500 of our $90,000 goal. Please consider donating to SAFE in Hunterdon so that we can continue to develop and expand our programs and services.
Your generosity will support the quality programs we currently offer, as well as help us create solid foundations for tomorrow’s leaders.
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Serving victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse for over 30 years
