Project Dream, Own, Tell (DOT) is a youth leadership based sexual violence prevention program that engages young people from marginalized communities in shifting social norms for healthy relationships, practicing consent and safe bystander engagement techniques. The Alliance launched Project DOT in 2014 to address sexual violence in a way that leverages community strength and empowers participants to actively change social norms with tools provided in the program. The program model engages youth from underserved communities that are often not the recipients of traditional prevention programming, including but not limited to communities of color, immigrant communities, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Who is this Program for?
This program is for organizations that wish to engage and empower youth in community-level change initiatives. The multi-week curriculum offers youth the training and practicum necessary to evolve as forces for change in their communities and foster healthy social norms that thwart communal tolerance of sexual violence.
How is this Program Structured?
Project DOT is intentionally designed as a multi-week program to allow youth the time they need to learn about, absorb, critically re-evaluate their lived experiences and apply the knowledge and skills gained in their everyday experiences.
The program includes three core components: an 8-session youth educational and leadership curriculum, followed by 2-4 weeks of youth-led social media campaign and a community mobilization project.
Project DOT’s Goals
A. Short-term
- Increase knowledge related to healthy relationships, gender, cultural and societal norms concerning relationships and sex, influence of mainstream media, and the role of bystanders
- Increase self-efficacy and comfort around issues related to healthy relationships and sexuality, bystander behavior and practicing consent
B. Intermediate
- Enhance leadership skills and community engagement skills
- Change attitudes and behavior related to gender, cultural or societal norms, and bystander engagement
- Increase awareness of issues surrounding adolescent sexual and dating abuse among youth
C. Long-term
- Change social norms around consent and healthy relationships
- Reduce the rates of youth dating violence and sexual violence in minority communities (immigrants, people of color, LGBTQIA+
If you are interested in bringing Project DOT to your organization or school, please contact Shilpy Chatterjee, Senior Program Coordinator. 
