In April 2003, Norwood High School took a proactive step toward creating a safer, more respectful environment for its students. Partnering with Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sports in Society, the school announced plans to introduce the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program the following fall — a nationally recognized initiative designed to curb dating and gender‑based violence among teens.
Under the program, up to 90 student leaders would be trained over three years to recognize and prevent verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. These students, selected for their leadership and influence, would then share what they learned with peers and younger students, fostering a culture of awareness and accountability.
School Committee member Richard Power, who helped bring the program to Norwood, said he first encountered MVP through his work on Beacon Hill. “We’re always looking for ways to improve the learning environment,” he explained. “Violence prevention is part of that mission.”
The initiative came amid growing statewide concern about teen dating violence. A 2002 Harvard School of Public Health study found that nearly one in five adolescent girls reported experiencing physical abuse in relationships. MVP’s director Jeff O’Brien emphasized that such issues transcend demographics: “We’re not saying any community has a problem — we’re teaching leadership and intervention skills.”
High School Principal George Usevich welcomed the program enthusiastically, noting that peer‑to‑peer discussions often resonate more deeply than lectures from adults. Athletic Director Brian McDonough agreed, calling any effort to reduce violence “a positive step for students and the community.”
The first group of 30 student participants would begin training in the fall, learning “bystander” techniques — how to recognize harmful behavior and safely intervene. They would later lead presentations, design awareness campaigns, and model positive decision‑making. Northeastern’s trainers, many of them former collegiate and professional athletes, would guide the process before handing it off to Norwood educators after three years.
The program reflected Norwood’s broader commitment to fostering empathy, leadership, and civic responsibility — ensuring that lessons in respect and courage became as integral to education as academics themselves.
— Source: Boston Globe, April 10, 2003
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