Teen leaders from Start Strong Atlanta will join together with teens from other community groups to raise awareness of the importance of building healthy teen relationships. February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month, and activities kick off tomorrow for the group.

Start Strong Atlanta is a public health initiative focused on building healthy teen relationships and preventing teen dating violence. Young people need to know how to be in a healthy relationship and also how to end relationships in a healthy, safe way.

The Jane Fonda Center at Emory University is one of 11 community organizations nationwide to receive $1 million in funding through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s national Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships initiative.

Activities this month include:

Freeze Mob and Atlanta Hawks Basketball Game
Sat., Feb. 4, 2012
Philips Arena, 6:30 p.m.

About 90 teenagers will gather outside Philips Arena for a freeze mob. They will stop in place for three minutes holding signs with information about teen dating violence, where to get help and how to be in healthy relationships. Then the teens will go inside the arena and watch the Atlanta Hawks take on the Philadelphia 76ers.

"Healthy Relationships" Poetry Slam
Feb. 17, 2012
High Alliance’s Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.

Start Strong Atlanta Youth Leaders will join the Woodruff Center for the Arts’ Teen Team and put on a poetry slam. The attendees will read their original works about healthy relationships and dating violence, then enjoy refreshments.

Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV) Annual Teen Summit Against Dating Violence
Feb. 25, 2012
Georgia Public Broadcasting, 10 a.m.

Start Strong Atlanta joins with the Partnership Against Domestic Violence for its annual teen summit. Start Strong Atlanta Youth Leaders will offer workshops about healthy relationships for teens. They will also hold a workshop for parents about communicating with teenagers.