Youth Leaders to Urge Action on Teen Dating Violence at California Capitol
Legislators to pledge support of youth during Orange Day Rally, illuminate connection between mass shootings and relationship violence on the eve of the Parkland shooting anniversary

Press release February 8, 2019

Youth Leaders to Urge Action on Teen Dating Violence at California Capitol

Legislators to pledge support of youth during Orange Day Rally, illuminate connection between mass shootings and relationship violence on the eve of the Parkland shooting anniversary

Sacramento, CA – On February 12^th at 10 a.m., youth leaders from throughout the state will speak at the 2019 Orange Day Rally at the California state Capitol, illustrating their strategies for promoting heathy relationships and providing recommendations on how adults can support them. For their Orange Day Rally, the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence is making an intentional shift to replace adult advocates with youth in the speakers’ lineup — recognizing young people’s lived experiences with dating abuse put them in the best position to provide guidance on prevention. Legislators will pledge their support of youth and their work, also making compelling connections between the Parkland shooter’s reported harassment, relationship abuse, and mass shooting.

Immediately following the rally at 11 a.m. will be an educational briefing, the Promise and Impact of Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention in California, co-hosted by the Partnership and the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA). Both adult and youth advocates will share approaches that have been most effective for preventing violence in their communities, and describe what they could accomplish with a greater investments in this kind of work. CALCASA and the Partnership will also share findings from its newly released report: Building Bridges to Culturally Informed Prevention.

When and Where: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 – California State Capitol

Orange Day Rally: 10-10:45 a.m. – North Steps
- Group picture at 10:15 a.m.
Educational Briefing – The Promise and Impact of Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention in California: 11 a.m.-noon
Lunch, Meet and Mingle at Capitol Garage: noon-2:30 p.m. – 1500 K Street, Sacramento; 20% of proceeds benefit the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence when mentioning the organization

Visuals and Interviews:

Nearly 100 people wearing orange and holding “Youth in the Lead” signs
Passionate speeches from youth and legislators about ending teen dating violence
Attendees adding their signature to a large Orange Day sign, pledging their support of youth
Interview opportunities with youth and adult advocates, as well as legislators

Rally Speakers and Expected Legislators in Attendance:

Ananya Hindocha, Youth Leader at Team Stronger Than You Think – SAVE in Fremont
Nadia Charles, President of Jeneration J – Jenesse Center in Los Angeles
Margelis Hernandez, Youth Leader at the Healthy And Responsible Relationships Troop (H.A.R.R.T) – Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus
Avery Weber, Youth Leader at the Healthy And Responsible Relationships Troop (H.A.R.R.T) – Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus
Ivonne Avila Lopez, Youth Leadership Program Member – My Sister’s House in Sacramento
Dorian Nunez, Jr., Youth Leadership Program Member – My Sister’s House in Sacramento
Jahlaiyah Robinson, Peer Educator – Sacramento Peers On Prevention
Timothy Cox, Community volunteer & Peer Educator – Sacramento Peers On Prevention
Kendra Sitton, Youth Advisory Committee Member – Mountain Crisis Services, Mariposa
Lauren Elmore, Youth Advisory Committee Member – Mountain Crisis Services, Mariposa
Senator Connie Leyva
Senator Susan Rubio
Senator Jim Beall
Senator Nancy Skinner
Senator Anthony Portantino
Senator Scott Wiener
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
Assemblylmember Blanca Rubio
Assemblymember Marie Waldron
Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez
Assemblymember Jim Cooper
Assemblymember Miguel Santiago
Assemblymember Mike Gipson
Assemblymember Marc Levine
Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris
Assemblymember Ash Kalra
Assemblymember Jim Frazier
Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer

Educational Briefing Panelists:

David Lee, Director of Prevention Services, CALCASA
Beth Hassett, Executive Director – WEAVE in Sacramento
Ananya Hindocha, Youth Leader at Team Stronger Than You Think – SAVE in Fremont
Nadia Charles, President of Jeneration J – Jenesse Center in Los Angeles
Elyse Severson, Prevention Manager – House of Ruth in Claremont
Miranda Stiers, Capacity Building Program Specialist – California Partnership to End Domestic Violence in Sacramento
Holly Grace Currie, Prevention and Education Program Manager at Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus in Modesto