Strong, supportive relationships can reduce isolation, increase safety, and create pathways to help when something feels off. Feeling connected to others builds resilience and reminds us that we do not have to navigate hard situations alone. In healthy relationships and communities, connection is encouraged, not restricted. It is a key part of prevention and an important layer of protection. At Maria’s Voice, we believe strengthening connection strengthens safety. #MariasVoice #PreventionEducation #ConnectionIsProtective #HealthyRelationships #CommunityCare #LoveShouldntHurt

Deadline reminder for teens and educators ⏰ There’s still time to enter the Maria’s Voice Teen Design Contest, but the clock is ticking. The deadline to submit is January 31, and entries close soon. This is a chance for teens to use creativity to promote healthy relationships, spark real conversations, and have their work shared in communities across Minnesota. Students can enter individually or as a team, and first place wins $500. If you work with teens or know a student who has something to say, now is the time to share this opportunity. 🔗 Learn more and submit here: https://www.mariasvoice.org/teen-design-contest Because you don’t need a microphone to make change. You need a message. 💜 #MariasVoice #TeenDesignContest #HealthyRelationships #YouthVoices #PreventionEducation

How do Minnesotans stay warm? With a chili contest, of course. 🌶️❄️ Lion Bill took third place, with Jay and Linda claiming the top two spoons. A fun way to warm up and enjoy a little friendly competition. The Chaska Lions also had the opportunity to learn from Southern Valley Alliance in Shakopee about how continued financial support helps strengthen safe and healthy homes across our communities. Good food, great people, and meaningful impact all in one event.

If you're constantly walking on eggshells around certain family members, it’s a sign something deeper is wrong. Peace should not come at the cost of your voice. In a healthy family, you don’t have to shrink yourself or second-guess every word to avoid someone’s anger or disapproval. You’re allowed to ask questions. You’re allowed to feel. You’re allowed to speak honestly without fear of being shut down or punished. Healthy families make room for hard conversations. They create safety, not tension—even when the topic is uncomfortable. Sometimes, that pressure to stay silent shows up in daily life, but also in texts, group chats, or online interactions. You shouldn't have to censor who you are to feel accepted—on screen or off. Let’s raise the bar for what we call “normal.” Let’s build families that welcome truth, not fear.

Maria’s Voice, in partnership with the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation , is proud to launch our Teen Design Contest, inviting teens to use creativity to promote healthy relationships and real conversations. Students can work solo or in teams to create a two-sided 4” x 6” resource, using real words from real teens. The winning design will be shared in communities across Minnesota, and first place wins $500. 🗓 Deadline to enter: January 31 🔗 Learn more and submit at: https://www.mariasvoice.org/teen-design-contest This is prevention through creativity, voice, and connection. Let’s keep talking about it. 💜 #MariasVoice #TeenDesignContest #HealthyRelationships #PreventionEducation #YouthVoices #WereTalkingAboutIt

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s courage and legacy were honored this morning at the Chaska Civil Rights Commission celebration. We were grateful to be part of a meaningful gathering that recognized the Monday Market in Chaska for its consistent dedication to supporting students and staff experiencing food insecurity. Acts of care like these reflect the values Dr. King lived and led with. Singing “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” was a powerful reminder that honoring his legacy means continuing to show up for one another through service, compassion, and action.

National Stalking Awareness Month is about listening to survivors and believing what they know about their own safety. Stalking is serious, often hidden, and can escalate quickly. Trusting instincts, documenting behavior, and creating a safety plan can reduce risk and save lives. Resources like risk assessments and safety planning tools exist to help survivors make informed decisions and regain control. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their daily life. Awareness, education, and action matter.💜 El Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre el Acoso es un momento para escuchar a las personas sobrevivientes y creer en lo que saben sobre su propia seguridad. El acoso es grave, a menudo invisible, y puede escalar rápidamente. Confiar en los instintos, documentar el comportamiento y crear un plan de seguridad puede reducir el riesgo y salvar vidas. Existen evaluaciones de riesgo y herramientas de planificación de seguridad que ayudan a las personas sobrevivientes a tomar decisiones informadas y recuperar el control. Todas las personas merecen sentirse seguras en su vida diaria. La concientización, la educación y la acción importan.💜 #NationalStalkingAwarenessMonth #TrustVictims #StalkingAwareness #SafetyPlanning #PreventionEducation #BelieveSurvivors #KnowItNameItStopIt Image credit : SPARC - Stalking Prevention, Awareness & Resource Center followuslegally

Starting 2026 strong at the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Fair. 💜 Hundreds of community members stopped by the Maria’s Voice expo booth to learn about prevention education and how we help keep homes safe, including a visit from Chamber President Steve Curtis. Want to be part of this work? Volunteering just a few hours helps us reach more people and strengthen community safety. 📩 Reach out to Angie@MariasVoice.org to get involved. #MariasVoice #CommunityWellness #PreventionEducation #VolunteerWithUs #SafeHomesHealthyRelationships

Minnesota’s new Paid Leave law, which went into effect January 1, is an important step forward for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. 💜 For many people experiencing abuse, time and money are real barriers to getting help. Paid leave helps remove those barriers by allowing space to seek medical care, counseling, legal support, or a safer place to live. Domestic violence is complex, and the support needed to navigate it is complex too. This law also brings greater awareness to a critical personal and public health issue. One in three women and one in four men experience abuse by a partner in their lifetime. Talking about it matters. As we say at Maria’s Voice, domestic abuse prevention is everyone’s business. Workplaces play a powerful role in prevention. When employers are informed and communicate clearly with their teams, employees are safer and better supported. Maria’s Voice partners with workplaces to educate both employers and employees on recognizing abuse and responding with care. Read more about how paid leave can support survivors in this KARE 11 article: https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/breaking-the-news/domestic-abuse-or-sexual-assault-survivors-can-apply-for-paid-leave/89-f9093a61-53b3-4d7a-9617-144fcfe23780

We’re talking about it and now teens are leading the conversation. Maria’s Voice, in partnership with the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation, is proud to launch the first-ever “We’re Talking About It” Teen Design Contest. This is a creative opportunity for teens to use their voices to promote safe, healthy relationships.🎨 Teens can enter individually or as a team to design a two-sided 4” x 6” resource using real words from real teens. Submissions are judged on creativity, clarity, teen appeal, and impact. 🗓 Deadline: January 31, 2026 🏆 Prizes: • 1st Place – $500 • 2nd Place – $200 • 3rd Place – $50 Winners will be recognized on March 4, 2026 at Rush Creek Golf Course. Adults who work with teens are encouraged to share this opportunity. This contest is about prevention, creativity, and empowering teens to show that healthy relationships exist and they’re worth talking about. 📧 Questions or submissions: Angie@MariasVoice.org 🔗 Learn more at MariasVoice.org