“What Happened to Being A Princess” Explores Abuse in Teen Relationships

DA Ryan with PSA Project winner Karis Morales and her cousins Yari and Amilia, who appeared in her winning video. ~Photo courtesy of the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth Inc.

Somerville High School has been named the winner of the 7^th Annual PSA Project hosted by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc., for an original video highlighting the theme of “I’m Worth More.” Somerville High School freshman Karis Morales was the creator of the winning video, titled What Happened to Being a Princess?

Click here to watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxfrR9NvWjQ

The goal of “I’m Worth More” is to explore healthy relationships and to focus on the importance of self-respect in dating relationships that will allow teens and young adults to recognize the signs of an unhealthy relationship.

More than 140 students worked on the 49 videos submitted to the annual contest.  The winning video premiered on New England Cable News This Morning.

“It has been an incredible experience to see the strong, positive messages portrayed in the videos students submitted,” District Attorney Ryan said. “All of the PSA’s explored that vital message of “I’m Worth More.” I am so proud of Karis for creating such a compelling video that I know will have a positive impact on young people.”

Other finalists in the 2015 PSA Project were:

International School of Boston, Cambridge: “We’re Worth More Than Words”

Melrose High School:  “I’m Worth More”

Nashoba Valley Technical High School, Westford: “I’m Worth More”

Somerville High School:  “Coming Out”

Entries were viewed and finalists were selected by a panel of school personnel, law enforcement officials, and staff from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth.  The five PSA finalists were shown to more than 3,000 middle and high school students throughout Middlesex County in classrooms and assemblies where students cast their votes to select a winner.

The District Attorney’s PSA Project was created with Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc., to spark a dialogue among teens and to include teens in the conversation on issues such as healthy relationships, substance abuse, and impaired driving.  To see past winners of the PSA Project, visit www.middlesexpartnershipsforyouth.org

Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts and one of the largest counties in the country with 54 towns and cities and 26 colleges in urban, suburban, and rural areas, comprising over one quarter of the population of Massachusetts.  The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has offices throughout the county, including communities such as Ayer, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Woburn.