January 3, 2019

The Prevention Department saw some big changes this summer. CAASE hired a new Prevention Manager, Shalini Mirpuri, and a new Educator, Jose Corea. With fresh eyes on our curriculum, we spent the summer revising our signature programs, Empowering Young Men and Empowering Young Women, in order to maintain cultural relevance for our students.

Now that the school year has begun, CAASE educators are engaging students in discussions about gender inequality, while also delving into topics identified as critical during the curricula revamp – including taking a new, in-depth look at consent, the commercial sex trade, and broader systems of oppression that lead to violence against women and marginalized populations. The curriculum has been expanded to five-sessions to provide ample time for discourse and awareness-building activities that will lead to the cultural shifts necessary to end rape culture.

Empowering youth to be allies for gender justice is at the heart of the Prevention Department’s work. It starts with equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to bring about change. Our partners have noticed this as well. #MeToo is a primary topic of conversation and schools are looking for supplemental education that doesn’t shy away from difficult discussions. Students are longing for this, too. They continue to surprise us every day with their maturity, interest, and passion for ending sexual harm. They’re seeking meaningful and impactful ways to change the norms so that they can build a safer world for everyone. It’s an honor to assist them on this journey!

The recent growth of the Prevention Department comes with endless opportunities for the growth of our students. In addition to maintaining our numerous school partnerships, CAASE is making strides to work with youth in other venues like park districts, art centers, and libraries. We hope to inspire young people to think beyond the possibilities of their classrooms and imagine how they can eliminate violence and harm from their entire community.

To learn more about CAASE’s prevention programs, visit our website. You can also read about and request workshops here.