By Kelsey Johnson, Director of AMEND Together of Lubbock and 2020 Loaned Executive Chair
AMEND Together is a primary prevention initiative, started by the YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee, dedicated to ending violence against women and girls by engaging men and boys to be a part of the solution. Violence against women affects everyone and if women could end it, they would have already. The YWCA of Lubbock adopted the program in January of 2020, in partnership with Texas Tech Athletics, with hopes of making Lubbock the safest city for women and girls.
Violence against women affects everyone and if women could end it, they would have already.
The program will use the voice and platform of Texas Tech Athletics to help bring awareness around the issue and facilitate clubs for boys in 5th-12th grades at the three main local school districts: Lubbock ISD, Frenship ISD, and Lubbock-Cooper ISD. Five clubs kicked off the curriculum last week with the plan to continue adding clubs each semester until reaching the primary goal of having an AMEND Together Club in each of the local schools.
Key community members will serve as “Ambassadors” to help with events, fundraising, strategic planning, and exposure opportunities. The YWCA of Lubbock is collaborating with other United Way Community Partners such as Voice of Hope and Communities in Schools to strengthen the reach and support of the program.
The program will truly take a community effort to make the impact that is needed for the Lubbock area. We have received great support since launching the program from Mayor Pope, Kirby Hocutt, and many other community members and organizations but we have a long way to go and are looking forward to that challenge.
Learn more about how violence against women affects Lubbock County in our Community Status Report.
If you would like more information on AMEND Together or would like to get involved, please contact Kelsey Johnson with the YWCA of Lubbock at amend.together@ywcalubbock.org.