How does one set boundaries in a relationship? Why is consent important in all relationships?

The Advocates’ Every Teen Counts (ETC) interns will address these topics and more when they hold their annual “No Pressure” event from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at The Limelight Hotel in Ketchum.

The event is their tenth annual, held as part of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The ETC interns will speak at 5:30 p.m., after which they will show their “No Pressure” video. The teen interns created the video featuring teen insights on boundaries and consent with students at Wood River High School, Sun Valley Community School and The Sage School.

There will be an exhibit of art, essays and poems provided by students, with each contributor getting a chance to win prizes. Wood River High School teacher Keith Wohlwent had his entire health class make art for the event. There also will be live music performed by teens and refreshments.

Other groups taking part include Flourish Foundation’s Compassionate Leaders, Amnesty International, Wood River GSA and Bloom Youth Project.

Peer pressure is one of the most prominent struggles teens face, especially when it comes to relationships, according to Monica Reyna of The Advocates. Friends, social media, movies, and culture influence how we believe our romantic life should be, which can make it hard to recognize, communicate, and respect boundaries.

Peer pressure can influence how we view our importance, health and safety. Boundaries–the rules and limits you set for yourself–lead to healthy interactions with those important to us.

“You can start your journey with boundaries by exploring what you do and don’t like, sharing your feelings and boundaries, and allowing boundaries to change as you grow and discover more about yourself,” said Every Teen Counts intern Charlotte Stone. “Consent is an important aspect of knowing what is okay and isn’t okay for oneself. It establishes the power you have over your body, mind, and emotions. Your autonomy and safety are some of the most important parts of who you are.”

Want to provide art or written work? Got questions? Contact Monica Reyna at monica@theadvocatesorg.org or 208-788-4191.

ABOUT THE ADVOCATES

The nonprofit Advocates seeks to teach people of all ages how to build and maintain healthy relationships through education, shelter and individual support services. It provides more than 30 free services in English and Spanish 24 hours a day. Among those services: A staffed shelter, crisis intervention, safety planning, support groups, legal assistance and prevention education in the schools.

The Advocates is funded through its annual fund drive, The Attic thrift store in Hailey, the Color Our world campaign in early summer and public and private foundation grants. For information, visit www.theadvocatesorg.org.