Making Meaning of the Message: Exploring Media and Violence Prevention

We consume an immense amount of information every day- from television to social media, music, and video games.  It is important to think critically about the messages we receive through the media, and how those messages relate to the ways we connect with each other.   This training will discuss the connection between media messaging and risk factors for teen dating violence.  We'll explore how media literacy can be one tool in our prevention toolbox to work toward creating environments free of dating violence.

Presenters

Sarah Bear, MPH (she/her) is the Prevention Director for the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She is responsible for supporting all things prevention at the Coalition and always jumps at a chance to bring prevention into the conversation. With nearly a decade of experience, Sarah has held numerous positions in both intervention and prevention capacities, and has spoken at multiple national conferences, including the National Sexual Assault Conference (2017, 2018, and 2019) and the National Sex Ed Conference (2017 and 2019). She received her Master of Public Health from George Washington University and a Bachelor of the Arts from Albright College in Women & Gender Studies and Digital Media. In her spare time, she enjoys lounging with her two black cats while playing video games or reading a book.

Brooke Ophardt (she/her/hers) is the Training & Prevention Specialist for the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She has been working for the Coalition since February of 2019. Her previous work includes providing administrative and outreach support for Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York. Her observations surrounding the intersection of race, class, and reproductive justice titled, “Body Autonomy During Pregnancy: Where Did It Go?” has been published in the peer-reviewed feminist journal, Dissenting Voices.  Currently, she is working a prevention initiative focused on engaging men and boys in domestic violence prevention through the evidence-based program Coaching Boys Into Men.  Brooke also provides support to DCADV's economic justice/economic empowerment efforts.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Women and Gender Studies from The College at Brockport, State University of New York, and a Master's of Public Administration with a concentration in Gender-Based Violence from the University of Colorado Denver.

By the end of this webinar, participants will:

• Define media literacy.
• Share examples of the connection between media and manifestations of violence.
• Deconstruct the messages in at least one piece of media.

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