This Month at

February 2025

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

According to the Children’s Safety Network, teen dating violence is a pattern of controlling behavior exhibited by one teenager towards another in a dating relationship. This controlling behavior can manifest as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and / or emotional abuse, including threatening, ridiculing, stalking, and / or using technology to harass or intimidate.

The CDC’s High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 2021 reports that:

more than 10% of high-school girls and nearly 7% of high-school boys in the United States experience physical dating violence;
more than 15% of high-school girls and 4% of high-school boys in the United States experience sexual dating violence.

This month, we strive to bring awareness to teen dating violence prevention in the Northwest Corner through multiple community awareness-raising campaigns. First, Project SAGE is distributing three handouts throughout Region 1 and at local private schools that support not only TDVAM but also our Year of Digital Safety:

#AskB4UPost sticker - to raise awareness about the need for consent around sharing images on social media
Non-consensual Image Sharing brochure - to provide simple and practical information on what to do if your image has been shared without your consent
Surf Safer webcam cover - to prevent others from capturing images through a webcam without the user’s consent

2nd Annual Teen Take Back the Hike

Wednesday, February 26 at 9AM

Project SAGE is also holding the second annual Teen Take Back the Hike, an inclusive hike to raise awareness about personal safety in public spaces, co-sponsored by the Kent Land Trust and Marvelwood School. During the hike, participating teens are asked to consider questions such as, “Is there power in hiking as a group,” and “How might this feel different if you were alone?” and then discuss over cocoa and cookies around a post-hike firepit.

Looking for resources to start a conversation about dating violence with the teens in your life? Try these:

Spotlight on Project SAGE

Celebrating 25 Years of Trade Secrets

Supporting Project SAGE!

Mark your calendars for a milestone event! Trade Secrets, the renowned garden rare plant and antiques show and sale, celebrates its 25th anniversary on May 18th at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT. This signature event is the primary fundraiser for Project SAGE.

Since 2001, Trade Secrets, founded by Bunny Williams, Naomi Blumenthal and Deborah Munson, has championed Project SAGE's mission and made a profound impact on the lives of countless people.

Bunny Williams reflected on Trade Secrets through the years.

“Trade Secrets began as a small event on our property and over the course of 25 years has grown into a horticultural event that attracts attendees to New England from across the country and around the world. The annual event is the major fundraiser for Project SAGE, which supports those affected by domestic violence and other familial issues. They have been able to expand their reach significantly thanks to this extraordinary event. It's also a wonderful place to discover rare and interesting plants and antiques, and every year I fall in love with something new for my garden.” ~ Bunny Williams

Join us at Lime Rock Park on May 18th for a special day of exquisite garden treasures supporting Project Sage.

Volunteer for Trade Secrets

Sunday, May 18th at Lime Rock Park

Trade Secrets is the principal fundraiser for Project SAGE, and we’re excited to invite you to volunteer in this year’s 25th-anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 18th, at Lime Rock Park! We have several roles available, including event setup, assisting vendors, and transporting guests. As a thank you, you'll receive a $150 value of free tickets including a free ticket to all available garden tours on Saturday, May 17th (various locations) and a late bloomer ticket to the Sunday sale event at Lime Rock Park.

Volunteering at Trade Secrets is a unique opportunity to support a cause that directly impacts our community. The funds raised from this event help Project SAGE provide vital services, including crisis response, shelter, and education. Last year, we assisted 800 clients, responded to nearly 2,000 crisis calls, and provided 1,400 nights of emergency shelter.

Visit Trade Secrets

Last Call for Underwriters!

Become an underwriter by February 28th and be included in our reimagined printed resource guide - Join now!

New Sponsorships

Be among the first to sign up for our new business sponsor program supporting our our signature fundraiser, Trade Secrets.

Purchase an Ad

Be seen in our printed, reimagined 25th anniversary Trade Secrets Resource guide. Make an impact during this milestone year.

Get All the Details About Trade Secrets & Join Us

Upcoming Events

Save the Date!

Pop-up Book Club Meeting

May 29, 2025 | 5:30 PM

Scoville Library

Start reading now to join Project SAGE for our upcoming Pop-up Book Club Meeting. Read Nobody's Victim by Carrie Goldberg. Find the book at your local library or purchase at your local bookstore or online.

Click Here to View Our Full Calendar of Events

Resource Roundup

PODCAST: First Podcast About Financial Abuse as a Domestic Violence Issue!

Financial abuse can be a silent yet devastating form of domestic violence, often going unrecognized even by those experiencing it. In this podcast, host and survivor Laurie G. sheds light on this pervasive issue that affects individuals across all demographics. Listen now.

ARTICLE: Your Body, My Choice Has Made Its Way to High Schools

Misogynistic slogans like "Your body, my choice" are being used by young boys in schools as a form of harassment, influenced by online hate speech. This behavior creates unsafe environments for female and marginalized students and reinforces the dangerous misogynistic rhetoric that fuels relationship violence. This article explores how to talk with youth of all genders about healthy masculinity and healthy relationships – and how to respond if your child becomes a target at school. Start reading.

SHORT VIDEO: What is The Power and Control Wheel?

The Power and Control Wheel shows how domestic violence is perpetrated in a pattern of power and control. Survivors say they see it and “everything clicks into place.” Learn more about how this powerful graphic can be used to identify domestic violence by watching this two-minute video.

SPECIAL RESOURCES: Addressing & Preventing Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault The annual NFL Social Responsibility Curriculum is taught to all members of NFL teams and NFL league offices using a combination of videos and interactive discussion. The curricula are available for free, and the NFL encourages everyone to utilize them to help engage male allies through sports. Explore now.

QUIZ: Am I Emotionally Abusive?

When someone calls you emotionally abusive, they may be trying to shift the blame off of them and onto you. Take this 8-question quiz to see if your actions could be considered abusive. Start quiz.

ARTICLE: Teaching Teens About Dating Violence

Learning about healthy relationships early means less chance of domestic violence later on. Let your teen know that spotting the signs is important—it could help protect them as well as those they care about. Read now.

Tech-related Resources

A Special Roundup for the Year of Digital Safety

Digital Boundaries The line between healthy and unhealthy relationships can get confusing once online. It’s not always clear what your digital boundaries or relationship should look like. These tips show how couples can discuss their digital boundaries in a safe and healthy way. Read now.

Romantic AI Chatbots Don’t Have Your Privacy at Heart

Although AI girlfriends are marketed as something that will enhance mental health and well-being, they specialize in delivering dependency, loneliness, and toxicity, all while prying as much data as possible from users. All 11 romantic AI chatbots reviewed by moz://a earned their *Privacy Not Included warning label – putting them on par with the worst categories of products moz://a has ever reviewed for privacy. Read more about the privacy concerns surrounding AI chatbots.

Thorn's Issue Page The intersection of child abuse and technology has created a public health crisis that demands our attention. Child sexual abuse and exploitation in the digital age are complex issues, driven by a variety of factors that make them challenging to fully understand. Explore how we got here and what’s fueling this crisis on Thorn’s issue page.

Catherine Chen & Sara Woldehanna: Ending Human Trafficking with Survivor-Centered AI

Catherine Chen and Sara Woldehanna share a unique vision for AI: one in which the technology protects, uplifts, and empowers survivors of all forms of injustice, exploitation, and abuse. Their vision is more than just a dream. It’s a testament to what’s possible. Read more about their work leveraging AI in the anti-trafficking space.

Access Our Full List of Resources