MAAV works in partnership with the Melrose Public Schools to provide a range of educational and prevention programs for youth. At the middle school level, programs address bullying and teen dating violence. Our mentoring program matches middle school youth with caring, consistent adults for ongoing guidance and support. At the high school level, a dynamic group of peer leaders, the Student Action Board, leads programs to prevent teen dating violence and sexual assault, and is piloting a new peer mentoring for 9th graders. Please click on the specific programs listed on the menu to your left to learn more.

In addition to our current programs, past programs have included:

• Sponsoring plays on teen dating violence at Melrose High School, including "The Yellow Dress" and "The Red Tide."
• Bringing the M.V.P. (Mentors in Violence Prevention) Program into Melrose High School. This Northeastern University program uses student athletes to train peer leaders to stand up to violence against women.
• MAAV developed an educational theatre group at the 8th grade level called "STAR’s"(Students Teaching Acceptance & Respect) The students developed skits for elementary age children which demonstrated indirect as well as direct forms of bullying, and encouraged bystanders to join together to stand up to bullying.
• MAAV was instrumental in launching a Peer Mediation Program at Melrose High School in 2000. Students selected as peer mediators receive intensive training, provided by Richard Cohen of School Mediation Associates of Watertown. Teachers, counselors, administrators and students may refer students to Peer Mediation for conflicts involving relationships, rumors, and other communication problems. Peer Mediation is NOT used for situations involving dating violence. Peer Mediators are trained to set ground rules, listen, ask questions, and help the parties in conflict come to a better understanding of each other’s point of view.
• In 2004, MAAV brought Red Sox player Gabe Kapler and his wife, Lisa Kapler, to Melrose High School to speak to the senior class about teen dating violence. This powerful program was taped and airs regularly on our local cable TV station.