Together Against Domestic Abuse (TADA)
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Go to Changeshop: Together Against Domestic Abuse (TADA).
Together Against Domestic Abuse (TADA) is an organization that aims to bring awareness to domestic violence through educating teens throughout the country.
About You
About You
First Name
Jennifer
Last Name
Wright
Twitter URL
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Together Against Domestic Abuse (TADA)
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, NH, Nashua, Hillsborough County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, NH, Nashua, Merrimack, Hollis, Manchester, Milford, Hillsborough County
Is your organization a
Non‐profit / NGO / Citizen sector organization
Your role in Education
Student.
The type of school(s) your solution is affiliated with
Public (tuition-free)
How long has your organization been operating?
1‐5 years
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Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
How long has your solution been in operation?
Operating for 1‐5 years
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Statistics show that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men will be abused in their lifetime.
However staggering these statistics may be, they are not completely accurate. Thousands of victims of domestic violence remain silent due to fear, embarrassment, and instability. Thousands more of these cases go unnoticed because of a lack of education. Domestic violence affects millions, yet it is only brushed upon in high school health classes. Many believe that only physical and sexual abuse count as actual abuse, and that men cannot be victims. Our goal is to bring awareness to students to ensure they recognize the many kinds of abuse that exist, and that they understand that anyone can be a victim.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
To bring awareness to domestic violence, I decided to go to the youth. I speak to various health classes and youth groups for middle and high school students, sharing my own story of abuse and those that others have shared with me. I encourage the students to participate in the presentation; as a student myself, I realize that most of the time a presenter in class is simply an excuse to take a nap. However, domestic violence is an important issue that all students need to be educated about. Therefore, I try to keep my presentations interesting, allowing the students to voice their own opinions, share their stories, and help decide the pace of the class. I also provide brochures to locations that teens frequent to ensure that they can receive the necessary information while remaining anonymous.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Although each presentation I give varies based on the response I get from the class, the typical model is the same. First, I ask the students to help me create a chart on the front board. The chart contains two columns: one of the various abusers that could be in their life, and one of the types of abuse. Although many of the students will say "anyone" when asked who can be an abuser, writing out the chart makes them think of people they wouldn't normally: coaches, doctors, cousins, and women. I also encourage them to come up with many kinds of abuse, including financial, spiritual, and emotional. I then read one or two stories aloud with the class. These stories are ones that other students have written about their experiences with abuse and shared with us. I then share my own history of my abusive father. I believe that this part is very important; it shows that I have experience in this field and know what I am talking about, and that it is possible to escape abuse.
Next, I move on to a powerpoint presentation to back up the stories we read with facts. I encourage the students to examine each aspect, considering what makes an abuser and what the affects of abuse are. Finally, I have each student sign a pledge saying "I am joining the fight to end domestic violence because..." I then share these back with the class. Students write both generic and personal responses, and in hearing their classmates' words, each student recognizes just how many people are affected by domestic violence, and will hopefully keep the lesson in mind as they enter future relationships.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
There are many other organizations working toward ending domestic violence, such as the divisions of the National Coalition Against Domestic Abuse. We choose not to see our fellow groups as competitors, but as partners; we share information and encourage each others' growth, as we each have different specialties, and know that abuse cannot be eradicated with only one group working toward the change. As we are close in age to high school students, we are able to relate to them easily, and we focus more on stories than on facts, which separates us from the other groups. We encourage students to examine the stories we share with them for the various types of abuse exemplified, and through these exercises, they are then able to more readily identify similar situations in their own lives.
Now that you have thought out your entry, help us pitch it.
Define your company, program, service, or product in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
Together Against Domestic Abuse aims to educate teenagers on all forms of domestic abuse to help them identify unhealthy relationships.
Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
TADA focuses on real-life examples to educate teens on domestic violence. We seek true stories of abuse to share at presentations.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
We do not measure our success so much by the profits we bring in, but rather by the impact we have on those we help. We have been able to distribute over 2,000 educational brochures across NH and MA, speak to over 1,000 students, and raise close to $2,500, in additional to earning several grants. However, these are just numbers; our real successes are in the personal stories people choose to share with us. For example, one victim expressed how proud she felt to be able to put her experiences in words and, in turn, help others in similar situations. Another student approached me after class and explained that his step-father was abusive, and he felt conflicted trying to protect him family and stay peaceful. It was the first time he had told his story to an adult, and I was touched that he chose me to be the one to help him onto the path of recovery. I consider that much more of a success than any number.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
My co-founder is currently in college, and I will be going next year as well. However, we look at this as a benefit to TADA. I am currently mentoring several students in the area to continue TADA in NH once I am out of the town. I will then bring the program with me to college, and TADA will be able to reach even more students. We plan to expand our current age group to dealing with bullying in elementary schools, and with abuse in colleges. We also hope to create an awareness video that teachers can show in their classrooms so that we can reach a wider audience, as it is impossible for us to physically visit every school in America.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Create and distribute a second educational brochure so teens can receive information even during the summer
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
Work with local organizations to gather the necessary information to create the new brochure
Task 2
Put together the new brochure, proof-read it, and print it in mass quantities
Task 3
Seek locations throughout New England to put up our two brochures
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Implement presentations in colleges
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Adjust material to fit the higher age group
Task 2
Seek additional presenters in order to reach more colleges
Task 3
Approach colleges and present idea to them in order to speak to their students
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world [125 words]
When I first started TADA, I was afraid that it would not be successful. I was taking a huge risk investing so much time and effort into an organization in which I had no experience, but I was determined to educate others on domestic violence. My efforts were soon rewarded; at the end of my first presentation - I had been shaking the entire time, terrified it wasn't going well - I collected the pledges from the 15 students. I stood before them and began reading them aloud. Each one touched my heart; the students had been completely honest, opening their hearts and sharing their personal reasons why they were against domestic violence. Each had been affected by it in some way, and the fact that they were all standing there that day, taking in what I taught them and looking toward a safe, successful future, made me confident that all the time and energy I spent on TADA was worth it.
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
We work closely with Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support, which is a local organization. They accredit all of our information to ensure we provide students with accurate facts, and allow us to shadow them and partner with them in some larger events. We also continue to work with Youth Venture, which provides us with many opportunities for workshops and networking to improve our group.
What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section? [75 words]
We coordinate a team of about ten volunteers to help us in our daily activities. They aid us in our presentations, cutting out our pledges, creating awareness ribbons, running our social media sites and websites, reaching out to additional schools, and more. They all dedicate their time because of a personal connection to our cause. Many other members of the community donate their services to us, and others submit their stories of abuse so we can share them with our audiences.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
We value partnerships immensely, and would love the opportunity to network with other, similar groups to brainstorm new ideas. We also would love having our website and Facebook group shared so we can reach more people.
 | 59 weeks ago Jennifer Wright updated this Competition Entry. |
| 59 weeks ago Jennifer Wright updated this Competition Entry. |
| 64 weeks ago Jennifer Wright updated this Competition Entry. |
| 64 weeks ago Jennifer Wright submitted this idea. |
