WEA V E R WEA V E R

HOW DOES VIOLENCE AFFECT CHILDREN AS THEY GROW UP? HOW DOES VIOLENCE AFFECT CHILDREN AS THEY GROW UP?

When I was younger I didn’t live with my mom, so When I was younger I didn’t live with my mom, so I lived with my I lived with my grandparents. I never struggled or anything like that, but my grandma grandparents. I never struggled or anything like that, but my grandma and grandpa would fight a lot over important stuff at my old house. My and grandpa would fight a lot over important stuff at my old house. My older brother would keep me comfortable while they would be fighting in older brother would keep me comfortable while they would be fighting in the other room. I would be ok, I would just go outside the house and just the other room. I would be ok, I would just go outside the house and just walk around for a bit. They would come looking for me all the time and I walk around for a bit. They would come looking for me all the time and I would just come back after they talked and apologized to each other. would just come back after they talked and apologized to each other.

- Morgan Marvella - Morgan Marvella

When I was a kid I was treated with disrespect, was never paid attention

When I was a kid I was treated with disrespect, was never paid attention to, and was abused for nearly 2-3 years by my mother and her boyfriend. to, and was abused for nearly 2-3 years by my mother and her boyfriend. One day, I had gotten in trouble and as a consequence they made me

One day, I had gotten in trouble and as a consequence they made me kneel in the corner for a whole day. I slept in the corner that night. I was kneel in the corner for a whole day. I slept in the corner that night. I was not in a loving and stable home. When I was a kid, I did not understand not in a loving and stable home. When I was a kid, I did not understand what was going on around me. I wanted love but never felt it, not even if what was going on around me. I wanted love but never felt it, not even if I did things I thought were “right” by my mom. I just want everyone to I did things I thought were “right” by my mom. I just want everyone to understand my pain and what I went through. Neglect causes me and my understand my pain and what I went through. Neglect causes me and my sister to always fight and complain about all of the little things in life. sister to always fight and complain about all of the little things in life. If I saw someone in my position, I would encourage them to not be afraid If I saw someone in my position, I would encourage them to not be afraid to stand up for what they want. If someone is treating you badly then to stand up for what they want. If someone is treating you badly then don’t be afraid to stand up for what is right for you. Don’t hide from your don’t be afraid to stand up for what is right for you. Don’t hide from your fears or problems because, in my experience, that will just make life fears or problems because, in my experience, that will just make life harder for you. If I could change my past, I would stand up for myself in a harder for you. If I could change my past, I would stand up for myself in a way that no one else did. - Anonymous way that no one else did. - Anonymous

A HARD LIFE AS A KID A HARD LIFE AS A KID WHEN WE HURT WHEN WE HURT OURSELVES & OTHERS OURSELVES & OTHERS

Violence creates a scar. Violence creates a scar. Ripples beneath the surface, Ripples beneath the surface, Difficult to speak. Difficult to speak. Roughness catches sunlight, Roughness catches sunlight, More beautifully, More beautifully, I flow. I flow.

- Nicole Lalumiere - Nicole Lalumiere

When kids get abused, they get older and When kids get abused, they get older and can let their anger out on their siblings or can let their anger out on their siblings or others. I chose this topic because me and others. I chose this topic because me and my brother lived in an abusive house, so I my brother lived in an abusive house, so I know what it felt like. As kids get older know what it felt like. As kids get older they also won’t be able to speak up and they also won’t be able to speak up and stand up for themselves. stand up for themselves.

-Eduardo Ramirez -Eduardo Ramirez

What We Can Do To Make Sure We What We Can Do To Make Sure We

DON'T HURT THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES? DON'T HURT THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES?

Apologizing is something people can’t do so easily but when you hurt

Apologizing is something people can’t do so easily but when you hurt someone the thing you do is apologize. Well, I hope you do. Like talking someone the thing you do is apologize. Well, I hope you do. Like talking smack to someone and then after you feel bad and you say sorry - that smack to someone and then after you feel bad and you say sorry - that damage you did before you said sorry is still there. Apologizing is the best damage you did before you said sorry is still there. Apologizing is the best way to say you didn’t mean to do that. Saying sorry takes a lot of way to say you didn’t mean to do that. Saying sorry takes a lot of courage. It’s not too easy to apologize to someone. - Jessup Sanchez courage. It’s not too easy to apologize to someone. - Jessup Sanchez

WHEN WE HURT OURSELVES & OTHERS WHEN WE HURT OURSELVES & OTHERS

Violence is causing harm to another person physically or emotionally; when Violence is causing harm to another person physically or emotionally; when someone gets physically beat or hit over and over. Another type of someone gets physically beat or hit over and over. Another type of violence is verbal, hurtful words will make people sad. Even if violence was violence is verbal, hurtful words will make people sad. Even if violence was caused by your own family it is still hurtful and when people don’t do caused by your own family it is still hurtful and when people don’t do anything to help, it just makes you even more sad. I can commit to living a anything to help, it just makes you even more sad. I can commit to living a violent free life by remembering that I do not want to harm others. violent free life by remembering that I do not want to harm others.

- Autavain King - Autavain King

WHAT IS VIOLENCE? WHAT IS VIOLENCE?

We can forgive but we will not forget. We can forgive but we will not forget. When we are hurt we go silent. Why?

When we are hurt we go silent. Why?

It’s not because we are scared, it’s because in that moment we remember

It’s not because we are scared, it’s because in that moment we remember all the pain that we felt because of you. all the pain that we felt because of you.

All violence does is make silence. When silence comes it is not just silence,

All violence does is make silence. When silence comes it is not just silence, it’s so many emotions that have been built up beyond recognition. it’s so many emotions that have been built up beyond recognition. When those emotions show it’s so powerful that not even When those emotions show it’s so powerful that not even Heaven or Hell can stop them. Heaven or Hell can stop them.

- Ethan Richards - Ethan Richards