Wayland Town Crier 7/13/11: Teens join together for first-ever virtual ‘Break-Up Summit’. Break-ups can be messy, uncomfortable, and as evidenced from the recent, tragic death of Lauren Astley, volatile and dangerous. In an effort to teach teens about healthy relationships — and safe and respectful break-ups — teens from across the country will participate in the first national, virtual “Break-Up Summit” facilitated and led by the Boston Public Health Commission.
Teens will be linked up online with peers in cities nationwide and participate in virtual training sessions as well on-site interactive workshops. The “Break-Up Summit” will train a cadre of teens as break-up “advisors” so they are equipped to teach their communities about healthy relationships — and healthy splits.
Using innovative, new resources and break-up tools, teens will share best practices on how to break up and cover topics such as: When is it time to break up? How do I leave a relationship in safe way and create boundaries during a challenging break-up? Should a break-up always be done face to face?

“Break-Up Summit” tools on healthy break-ups and guides for teens and parents will be made available free online (www.bphc.org/programs/cafh/violenceprevention/strartstrong and www.startstrongteens.org) including “Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Ten Tips for Supporting Your Teen” and “U R Breaking Up,” a tool that uses cell phone reception bars to help teens think about the best way to be heard/have maximum reception during a break-up.
Additionally, Start Strong Boston teens will replicate the virtual summit through an in-person event, Break-Up Summit 2.0, the following Wednesday, with all-day workshops for an exclusive Boston event.