The former Athletics and Wellness Director for the Wakefield Public Schools applied for and received a grant regarding Game Change: The Patriots Anti-Violence Partnership. Game Change is an innovative approach to violence prevention education. The program is funded by the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. It provides training in anti-violence strategies to students, faculty, and coaches at 90 public high schools (and we are one of them!).

In the spring of 2016, nearly 200 people representing 90 schools and nine sexual assault and domestic violence service organizations were trained in the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) curriculum. Wakefield HS was chosen for Phase 2, and received a more in depth, on-site training for 30 students. Participating students were trained as peer educators in anti-violence strategies. The trainings were run by the Center for Sport in Society at Northeastern University. MVP uses a sport-themed curriculum and employs collegiate athletes and former professional athletes as trainers. WAAV proudly funded an adult mentor for the peer leaders that went through MVP.

Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, each year before prom, WAAV sponsored The Yellow Dress presentation to the junior class at the high school. The Yellow Dress is a dramatic one woman play based on the stories of young women who were victims of dating violence. The carefully constructed program stimulates thought provoking discussion about relationships; a topic important in every young person’s life. It tells the story of a young woman’s relationship that begins as young love, full of passion and promise- and ends in tragedy. We are looking forward to bringing this program BACK during the 2025-2026 school year and having it available for viewing to the public outside schools hours. Stay tuned!

We help support the Wakefield Police Department’s Rape Aggression Defense (RAD self-defense) class. The class is 12 hours held over four evenings. The final night is simulation night, where women will put their newly acquired skills to use. For more information or to sign up, please contact Officer Amy Rando at [email protected].

In October during Domestic Violence Awareness month, we hold our annual 5k race around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield. Through our many generous sponsors and runners, we were able to raise over $8,000 last year! These funds allow us to purchase various gifts cards that are held at the police department with the civilian DV Advocate from Respond Inc. and distributed to victims of domestic violence in emergency situations. We have also assisted survivors with lock changes to help keep them safe.

The White Ribbon Campaign is a global movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and all gender based violence. Every year in March we hold a White Ribbon Ceremony where Town Leaders, community members and students come together to take the pledge to never commit, excuse, or stay silent about sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence.