Where Survivors Become a Force for Transformation, Healing & Change

The Healing Center is committed to the intervention and prevention of family violence, abuse, and sexual assault, serving people of diverse faiths, cultures, and personal experiences.

NYC Teen Dating Violence Awareness Walk

The 14th annual NYC Teen Dating Violence Awareness Walk was held on Saturday, April 25th, 2026! This city-wide event was launched by The Healing Center in 2012 in response to the growing epidemic of teen dating and sexual violence, affecting 19% of teens. Each year, this annual walk shines a light on this critical issue by mobilizing our surrounding community including survivors, youth, advocates, parents, elected officials, and nonprofit organizations for a rally and march across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.

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Sponsors of our 2026 walk included NYU Langone Health and Merchants of Third Avenue. Co-sponsors included Beauty Beyond the Pieces, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Catcalls of NYC, CONNECT, Crime Victims Treatment Center, Day One, Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI), the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, New York City Teens Connection, the Office of Congressman Dan Goldman, the Office of Council Member Alexa Avilés, the Office of Council Member Farah Louis, the Office of Council Member Julie Won, the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Red Hook Community Justice Center, Safe Horizon, Sanctuary for Families, Violence Intervention Program (VIP), Womankind, and YWCA Brooklyn.

We are still buzzing from the energy on the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, April 25, 2026!

If you missed it (or just want to relive the magic), our amazing friends at the Merchants of Third Avenue put together this incredible video capturing the heart of our 14th Annual NYC Teen Dating Violence Awareness Walk.

This wasn't just a march—it was a movement.

This year marked our 14th anniversary, and seeing the sea of teen activists and New Yorkers take over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge was a powerful reminder that our teens have a massive team standing behind them. Join us next year!

OUR PROGRAMS

Direct Services

Our Direct Services Program works to prevent and intervene in cases of domestic violence and sexual assault by walking and partnering with those we serve on their journeys to safety and healing, and by raising community consciousness around gender-based violence.
We offer a range of services including supportive counseling, advocacy, safety planning, support groups, and precinct and hospital accompaniment. We hold a safe space for survivors to share openly about their experiences, develop community, and receive the informational and practical assistance they need to build safe and healthy lives.
Hi-5 Children's Program

Our Hi-5 Children’s Program offers individual therapy, expressive arts, and creative play to support child witnesses of domestic violence and child survivors of sexual assault in processing their experiences and exploring their strengths.
Run by our Clinical Psychologist Rosemary Gabriel, the Hi-5 Children’s Program intervenes at a critical life stage, supporting young witnesses and survivors of gender-based violence in cultivating the skills necessary to succeed in school and in life. Serving children between ages 5-12, this program uplifts participants’ strengths and offers a safe space for personal exploration and growth.
Daughters of the Lotus

Daughters of the Lotus supports female-identifying and gender non-conforming teens (13-18) in identifying their strengths, nurturing their innate power, and evolving into leaders on the issues that are most important to them.
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This program offers weekly support groups and utilizes expressive arts, culturally-focused exercises, experiential learning, group discussion, and community building to not only foster personal healing and growth but to support teens’ development into leaders, organizers, and advocates.
Elder Justice Advocacy

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by older adults, our Elder Justice Advocacy program is committed to assisting the older adults in our community. We provide education and support to help older community members recognize and address signs of abuse, whether it occurs in intimate settings or elsewhere.
Our Elder Justice Program educates its surrounding community and promotes awareness on issues of elder abuse. We explore signs and tactics of abuse as well as safety and well-being for older adults. These workshops create a safe and judgment-free environment where older adults can share openly and receive individualized support around their life experiences, current needs, and questions.
NYC Teen Dating Violence Awareness Walk

The NYC Teen Dating Violence Awareness Walk was launched in 2012 in response to the growing epidemic of teen dating and sexual violence, which 19% of youth nationwide. Now in its 13th year, this event mobilizes its surrounding community and brings together teens, survivors, schools, non-profit organizations, elected officials, and community partners in an annual march across the Brooklyn Bridge.
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For more information, call (718) 238-5138 or email info@thehealingcenterny.org.

Join The Mission

The Healing Center envisions a world without gender-based violence, where families are safe and communities work together towards peace and justice.

Our mission is fueled by the unwavering dedication of those who volunteer, donate, and advocate alongside us. Together, we can break the cycle of family and sexual violence and build a safer, more compassionate future.

Join us. Your voice, your time, and your support make all the difference.

Make a donation TODAY!

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