I am a high school drop-out and teen runaway, and understand firsthand how violence can shape a life.  I grew up with a Dad who hit and used his words to scar. I had a loving grandmother that tucked me under her wing, kept me safe, and gave me the chance to get back on track. Years later, I was sitting in a Community College interpersonal communication class with tears running down my face. Thinking why are we not teaching our young people these skills in every classroom? This learning would have helped me navigate my trauma and prevented many unhealthy relationships. It was these early experiences that inspired me to become a compassionate, patient, strong voice for young people.

For the last twenty years, I have worked to implement a healthy relationship curriculum into schools across the country. I facilitate workshops, educator trainings and speak in schools, juvenile detention facilities, universities and youth serving organizations. I work with legislators to help them understand why this needs to be a priority and how relationship violence intersects with our communities’ mental health crisis. I do this work because I am dedicated to creating a community of socially and emotionally intelligent youngsters, committed to success, increasing empathy, taking responsibility, repairing harm, and building strong kind healthy relationship skills.

I believe this will change their lives.
~Christy Stillwell