EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence’s (CASFV) empOURment project is bringing awareness with its “Chalk About Love” event.
The event was held on Thursday, Feb. 20 at World Boba and Coffee, located at 2500 N Mesa St.
The walls of the boba shop were turned into blank canvases and chalk was lined up waiting to be used by participants.
CASFV set up a table with resources and positive reinforcement items to encourage self-love, self-worth and healthy relationships.
By the end of the night, the community decorated the walls and windows with positive messages of encouragement, love and trust.
Anabel Castorena, a primary prevention coordinator with the CASFV, says this event is a way for people to get creative in promoting healthy relationships.
“The purpose of the event is to provide information and debunk the myth that it isn’t just that serious because it is serious. Whether you are 12, 15, 30, 40, it’s always important to promote and be in a healthy relationship,” Castorena said.
Castorena said 1 in 10 high-school students are a victim of teen dating violence, whether physical, emotional, psychological or verbal.
She says that although teens may be young, it doesn’t mean they are immune from the problem of dating violence.
“It’s very important because young people tend to be minimalized a lot. Teen dating violence is also minimalized and rushed to the side,” Castorena said.
Castorena said that teen dating violence can be seen in several ways: one partner is constantly calling/texting, isolating one partner from their friends, family, hobbies, and school clubs, and needing to know all the details in everything one partner does.
Castorena wants to highlight that abuse can come in many forms, not just physical.
“People tend to minimize other forms of abuse. Just because it doesn’t leave a bruise or a mark, it’s still abuse,” Castorena said.
Jordan Taylor, a native El Paso singer and songwriter, assisted in hosting the event with the CASFV.
Although Taylor’s passion is in music, she’s always wanted to give back to her hometown in one way, shape or form.
“As an artist, I think it’s really important that we give back to the community that’s giving to us, because if we don’t, then what are we really doing?” Taylor said.
Taylor reached out to CASFV to help in hosting “Chalk about Love” at World Boba and Coffee, as the shop has become a growing social hub for organizations and events.
“It’s not something that is really taken into consideration because they’re kids — like, ‘They couldn’t be experiencing relationship abuse.’ No, they absolutely can. It does get swept under the rug significantly,” Taylor said.
David and Ruben Ramos, brothers and owners of World Boba and Coffee, said their motto for the shop is local supporting local.
“We really want to be more than a boba and coffee shop. We really want to be part of the community. We’re from El Paso, so whatever we can do to help anyone from El Paso succeed, get the word out or be involved with helping them, we’re willing to do whatever to help,” Ruben Ramos said.
The shop has become a go-to location for local organizations and businesses to host events on various topics.
“We try to be that hub to give back to the community. This is only one event that we’ve hosted but we’ve worked with many other groups and organizations, such as Walk for Alzheimer’s and on Sundays we do therapeutic coloring to bring awareness for people who need therapy,” David Ramos said.
David and Ruben Ramos said that this was an eye-opening event, as they had not heard of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
“When they mention teen dating violence, I didn’t know this existed. I’d never heard of it. I didn’t know kids were going through that,” Ruben Ramos said.
Ruben Ramos added that having the event at World Boba and Coffee helped alleviate the fear of participating and created a more relaxed environment for everyone.
“Creating the awareness or the space to make it easy to talk about and get the word out, it begins with that. It’s not so taboo to speak about. When you provide a space and make it fun, people start to listen,” Ruben Ramos said.
For future events from CASFV, you can visit the organization’s Instagram and website to find more resources.
Jordan Taylor is open to working with other various organizations and you can contact her through her Instagram account.
For organizations wanting to host events at World Boba and Coffee, the best way to contact them is in person at the store.
Business hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Read: Read More