Message from Dr. Newman: EMPOWERMENT

Dear Friends –

A word about EMPOWERMENT – 

When RESPECT began our 501 C 3 status – and to this day in our IRS filings – the name of our organization was encapsulated in the acronym RESPECT – RELATIONSHIP EMPOWERMENT FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS and COMMUNITY through THEATRE  – over the years it became clear to us that while this is EXACTLY what we work to establish, it really is all about RESPECT – and that is the most simple and direct way to explain what we do and refer to ourselves!

However, EMPOWER is always integral to what we do – and there is much commonality in our efforts as we collaborate with others! Last week we worked with the JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) on their Promoting Empowerment in our World daylong workshop for Omaha area high school youth. Later in November we will be part of the Kim Foundation’s EmPower Youth Summit, another day long event to empower high school area youth! One event highlighted discrimination and the other will focus on mental health, but hand in hand they empower students to have the relationship skills needed to be safe in their own relationships and to be supportive peers. 

RESPECT works diligently to empower – to give children and youth power and control over their own relationships with others. We want them to be able to identify and value their own feelings and boundaries – and in turn to value the same in others. We want to help them understand their own emotional and behavioral responses and to select those that keep them, and those in their community, safe and healthy. Working to take time to consider feelings, boundaries, choices and ways to have safe conversations and interactions, is important for good mental health as well as healthy relationships.

We do this through theatre education, modeling, sharing – and asking them to share their ideas and thoughts – and providing them with resources to seek continued support and help. We want to give them information to be safe in relationships; to help them know what safe and healthy interactions look like; to ask questions, have conversations, and to share their concerns and ideas. 

Prevention is important to RESPECT. We want to provide skills that will help students identify harmful relationship “flags” when they see them, to focus on students vulnerable and at risk for harm and to provide immediate support to students already experiencing abuse or harm in their relationships with others. 

RESPECT programs contribute to the empowerment of students to be active participants in developing safe, healthy and happy relationships – check us out at www.respect2all.org 

RESPECTfully!

Patricia