In anticipation of Valentine’s Day 2024, Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC) is kicking off its ‘Love Isn’t’ campaign for the second year. The focus of the campaign is to engage teens and young adults in the conversation of what ‘Love Isn’t’ – insulting, threatening, gaslighting, controlling or assaulting.

According to the Center for Disease Control National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), females 18-34 experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence. Up to 20% of both men and women, between the ages of 11-17yrs old, first experience some form of physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner. That means the key to prevention is providing earlier education, awareness, and having important conversations around what ‘Love Isn’t’ with teens and college students. PWJC is dedicated to educating and mainstreaming information on how to identify if you are in an unhealthy or abusive relationship and how to get help.

Beginning January 15th, PWJC is excited to reintroduce the ‘Love Isn’t’ media campaign. The focus is to promote awareness and communication on the warning signs of unhealthy and abusive relationships, with an emphasis on positivity and healthy love at the campaign’s center.

PWJC Executive Director Cindy Kanusher shares: “Intimate partner violence is a pervasive problem affecting women and men at alarming rates. Education and conversation are critical tools for prevention and intervention on this issue. This is especially important for young individuals as they formulate an understanding of what love feels and looks like. PWJC is dedicated to providing critical educational resources and sparking dialogue among our community. The Love Isn’t campaign carries an empowering message that recognizes and celebrates real love—not love that exhibits abusive behaviors. We are greatly inspired by the engagement around the Love Isn’t campaign and aim to bring greater awareness toward intimate partner violence this year through ongoing social media and outreach initiatives.”

On February 12th, PWJC will represent the ‘Love Isn’t’ campaign at the Pace University Wellbeing Fair, featuring 70+ info tables hosted by members of the Pace Community and more. Campaign outreach will also include work with Ardsley High School, including participation in their Wellness Fair for students, as well as making presentations to all Seniors during their Government class. The PWJC outreach team is actively preparing additional events in the ‘Love Isn’t’ campaign across Westchester and Putnam. These events will focus on sharing key information and engaging discussions with community audiences.

Throughout the campaign and culminating on February 14th (Valentine’s Day), PWJC is asking its followers and supporters to join in sharing a post or video across social media platforms in support of the campaign. Participants are encouraged to express WHAT LOVE IS to them. WHAT LOVE IS may be a single word, a feeling, an action, or an experience—all are invited to share their take on what healthy love means. With posts and videos that are positive, inspiring, and fun, this social media initiative of the ‘Love Isn’t’ campaign will highlight the truth and power of WHAT LOVE IS. As an option, custom graphics can be found in the PWJC Dropbox folder at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1xwbo98zqep4pggaq7apw/h?rlkey=7ljragfe1kq0sj09954ocg3oe&dl=0.

Example – Love is…(Post or Video)

Patient, kind, consistent, without judgment, feeling safe, thoughtful, a partner that understands me, my partner bringing me morning coffee, a foot rub, a sweet morning text, a hug after a hard day, someone to watch reality shows with, someone who makes me feel seen

PWJC is also offering a collection of merchandise featuring the ‘Love Isn’t’ graphic on t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and ceramic mugs at Bonfire/Shop/PWJC. The campaign graphic identifies a series of behaviors that definitively ‘Love Isn’t in order to spark awareness and conversation. PWJC is accepting donations to support this campaign and empower additional programming in the spring.

For more information go to https://law.pace.edu/wjc