Healthy Relationships are Hard Work

“I would be scared to say this to her.”

A 9th grade boy gave me this honest response when I asked him if he could say the “I Statement” that he had just written to his girlfriend about a conflict they were having.

He had the words on paper. He understood the skill. But saying those words to someone he cared about? That was a different story.

And you know what? He was right. Because healthy relationships are hard work.

When someone hurts our feelings, it can feel easier to lash out, say something hurtful, or shut down rather than risk being vulnerable. Communicating honestly, setting boundaries, taking responsibility, and listening when it’s difficult all require courage and practice.

Knowing what a healthy relationship looks like is one thing. Having the skills and confidence to build one is something else entirely.

That’s where Take Back the Halls makes a difference.

We don’t walk into a classroom, deliver a couple of PowerPoint presentations, and leave hoping our message sticks. We invest in young people.

Over 10 weeks, we engage students in interactive activities, honest conversations, and small-group discussions that go beyond defining healthy relationships. We help students explore what healthy relationships look like in real life and practice what it takes to build them. We talk openly about the challenges they will face, the mistakes they may make, and the courage it takes to do things differently.

We also partner with teachers, counselors, and school administrators to reinforce these lessons and support students as they put new skills into practice.

Why? Because lasting change takes more than a lecture. It takes relationships, trust, and the opportunity to practice.

When we give young people a safe space to ask difficult questions, build confidence, and practice new ways of communicating, we can help change the course of their relationships before unhealthy patterns become violence.

But this kind of investment takes resources.

Putting five staff members in a classroom of 40–50 students allows us to create meaningful small group experiences where young people can speak honestly, ask questions, and receive individual attention. That personal connection is central to our approach, and it requires the financial support to make it possible.

Will you help us reach more students before violence occurs?

As a small organization, every dollar makes a difference:

 $10 provides a gift card incentive for our Consent Contest.

$25 buys lunch for our student leadership group.

$100 provides student workbooks for an entire classroom.

$350 supports one student through our 10-week program.

$10,000 brings our evidence-informed prevention program to another classroom of 30–50 students in our partner schools.

Every gift brings us closer to our goal: ensuring that every 8th or 9th grade student in our partner schools has access to the education, skills, and support they need to build healthy relationships and thrive.

Please make a donation today to Take Back the Halls. Whether you give $10 or $1,000, your generosity helps young people develop the tools to communicate with confidence, recognize unhealthy dynamics, establish boundaries, and build relationships rooted in respect and safety.

Think about that 9th grade boy. He knew what he wanted to say. He just wasn’t sure he was ready to say it.

Imagine what might change if every young person had the opportunity to practice, build confidence, and learn that they deserve relationships where honesty, respect, and safety are possible.

Your donation makes that opportunity possible.

Together, we can help young people find their voices, break cycles of violence, and build healthier relationships, not just today, but for the rest of their lives.

Because healthy relationships are hard work. And no young person should have to figure them out alone.

Donate today. Invest in prevention. Help young people build healthier futures.