LAKEVILLE, Conn.—Project SAGE has received a Purple Ribbon Award from the Alliance for Hope International, which honored it as the Youth Initiative of the Year.
Project SAGE is a domestic violence prevention program in the Northwest Corner and has supported residents of Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon and their environs for more than 45 years.
The Youth Initiative of the Year award honors Project SAGE’s prevention education team and the work that it does in creating and teaching lessons about healthy relationships to youth throughout the Northwest Corner. By helping youth develop skills in healthy communication, conflict management, emotion regulation, empathy and more, Project SAGE works to create a world of healthy relationships, where people can live free of interpersonal relationship violence.
Launched in 2021, the Purple Ribbon Awards Program is an international competition honoring agencies and individuals of the domestic violence prevention movement. The awards are presented to those “who are making a substantial positive impact on the lives of domestic violence survivors.”
“Being honored in this international competition is an incredible honor,” said Kristen van Ginhoven, Project SAGE executive director. “From early years to high school, our educators use stories, discussions and activities to teach about healthy relationships. We are proud to be honored with this award.”
Linda Ciano, director of community engagement, said Project SAGE’s “small but mighty team of three” presents a prevention education curriculum that has been developed in collaboration with partner schools and that aligns with the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Healthy and Balanced Living Curriculum Framework’s core indicators for healthy relationships.
For more information about Project SAGE’s Prevention Education Program or to learn how to support domestic violence prevention efforts, visit Project SAGE’s
website or email lindac@project-sage.org. All client services are free, confidential, and available 24/7 year-round by calling 860-364-1900.