Healthy Relationships at Horace Mann

MAAV's Prevention Specialist Ali Calnan and Executive Director Meredith Shaw spent the last 3 Mondays working with 46 Horace Mann 5th graders on building healthy relationships. The first session focused on defining healthy, respectful friendships. The second session's focus was on developing language and tools around boundaries and consent to promote healthy decisions in relationships. The third session explored bullying and helped students learn safe strategies for acting as an upstander to help stop bullying behaviors. Thank you to Horace Mann's 5th grade students, teachers, and leadership team!

MAAV Presents at Parent University

MAAV was honored to present at Parent University on Saturday, hosted by the Melrose Education Foundation.

With friendships being the first model of relationships for children, outside of family relationships, Ali and Meredith facilitated a workshop on Healthy Friendships. The workshop explored how caring adults can support elementary and early middle school aged children in developing social and emotional skills to build them and recognize the signs of healthy and unhealthy friendships. The session closed with a discussion of helping children act as an upstander in bullying situations.

Thank you to the Melrose Education Foundation for the opportunity to share with local parents/caregivers!

Saying Goodbye to Team Member

Mary Beth Walsh

MAAV said good by to one of our long-time staff members last week - Outreach & Development Specialist Mary Beth Walsh. Mary Beth was a "Jill of all trades", always willing to lend a helping hand, and was much of the vision behind MAAV's communications, fundraising efforts, outreach and events.

We miss her already, and wish her all the best!

MAAV's Board is recruiting!

Do you have a passion for MAAV's mission to end the cycle of relational violence? Do you have skills, knowledge, and experience with prevention, intervention, education, finance, fundraising, or insurance, AND have a few volunteer hours a month to give? If yes, then we'd like to meet you !MAAV's volunteer board of directors is recruiting new members. Interested in learning more? Reach out to Executive Director Meredith Shaw at mshaw@maav.org

Give a Gobble: Collection MONDAY, November 24th!

GIVE A GOBBLE collection happening on Monday!

Stop by the Milano Center to drop off a Thanksgiving meal kit for a family in need. Representatives from all the partnering organizations will be on hand to greet you and donations are welcome, even if you didn’t previously sign up. All meal kits will directly benefit families at Housing Families Inc.

Milano Center | 201 W. Foster St Melrose

2:00 - 4:00 pm

WAAV: Toy Drive

Our friends and partners at WAAV are hosting a toy drive for familiies impacted by domestic violence. How can you be involved? Donate a new, unwrapped toy or gift card for a child of any age, AND help spread the word!

Drop off at the Lakeside Inn, 595 North Ave. in Wakefield by December 19th.

Supporting Survivors During the Holidays

From the National Network to End Domestic Violence. How can you best support survivors during the holiday season? "For many of us, the holidays are a time for joy and gathering with family and friends. Unfortunately, for survivors of domestic violence, the holidays do not necessarily offer an escape. In fact, statistics show that abuse increases on or around major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s."

5 Essentials to Having a Healthy Relationship

We appreciate the tips and resources from The One Love Foundation: "Everyone deserves to be in a healthy, loving relationship and with the right person by your side, a healthy relationship is completely attainable. If you want to be that #relationshipgoals couple, here are 5 essentials for having a healthy relationship."