Media Arts Program:
Working with media professionals, LOVE trains youth participants in photojournalism and writing, empowering them to express their emotions about violence and tell their personal stories. Over the course of an academic year, LOVE Youth learn about photography, story telling techniques, writing styles, and other skills necessary to powerfully document their perspective on violence and youth culture. Themes that emerge in the photographs and written stories, poems, and lyrics are shared and discussed. LOVE Youth build self-confidence as they discover innate talents, find their “voice,” develop skills and begin to believe in their potential for success.

Leadership Training:
LOVE Youth Leadership Training is for LOVE Youth who have displayed leadership qualities and expressed interest in becoming leaders within LOVE and effective spokespeople in the effort to end youth violence.

In a series of interactive workshops, LOVE leadership trainees strengthen their interpersonal skills through the study of conflict resolution, anger management, active listening, goal setting, team building, public speaking, and media training. In addition, program participants develop a deeper knowledge of the root causes and many forms of violence in society. At the end of the training, LOVE Youth Leaders are able to share their personal experiences with violence in group settings; this skill is essential as they reach out to schools and other youth organizations with messages about youth violence impact and prevention.

Leadership Training also provides resources and support for LOVE Youth to pursue educational and professional goals. High school juniors and seniors receive instruction in college application, scholarship application, resume writing, and interview techniques. Youth develop marketable skills in computer and broadcast media. LOVE encourages discipline and perseverance as youth set themselves on a path toward educational achievement and meaningful work.

Leadership Camp
Each year, 5 days of intensive leadership training is held at a summer camp in Haliburton, Ontario. Youth Leaders from all regions unite with the goal of learning how to reduce youth violence in their schools, neighborhoods and homes.

School and Community Violence Prevention
Outreach Program
LOVE Youth Leaders educate their peers, professionals and concerned community members about violence and violence prevention. Leaders use their presentation skills, personal stories and photographs to examine the impact of violence and share violence prevention strategies. Each year Leaders educate more than 40,000 youth and community members.

Violence Prevention Committees
With the guidance of LOVE staff and youth leaders, Violence Prevention Committees are established in recommended schools, creating a permanent presence. Students meet regularly throughout the school year to create projects that communicate a message of nonviolence to the entire student body.