ABOUT US

Who we are

BRAVO is a youth organization from O’Neill, Nebraska supported by Bright Horizons and North Central District Health Department. The group is composed of students in grades 9-12 from both O’Neill Public and O’Neill St. Mary’s.

BRAVO started in the summer of 2005 when Katie Fletcher, Sloane Schneider, and Bergan Carr (three high school students) collaborated with O’Neill’s domestic violence agency, Bright Horizons and their Outreach Coordinator, Gina Clyde, deciding there was a need for prevention and education on the topics of bullying and teen dating violence.

The girls applied and received a grant to go to Washington D.C. to a Youth Outreach for Victim Assistance (YOVA) conference. After returning, the girls recruited approximately twenty students and the group stormed the area, educating students and adults about the dangers of bullying and dating violence. In 2006 the group applied and received the opportunity to be a mentor site for the YOVA conference and was able to travel to Pittsburgh for more education.

Since then, BRAVO has attended several other trainings including:

• Unmasking Sexual Con Games
• Boystown’s Bullying Training
• Improv Theatre Training
• The Basics: What You Need To Know About Domestic Violence
• R.E.S.P.E.C.T
• NDVSAC’s Teen Dating Violence & Prevention Workshop

What we do

With so many ideas from these trainings, BRAVO has performed at numerous schools and for several organizations, presenting to elementary, middle school, and high school students along with adults. The group has several different skits to adapt to the unique problems facing each school or organization.

In addition to presentations, each year BRAVO plans events for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week held in February. In the past BRAVO members have talked on the radio, recorded PSA’s, written articles for the newspaper, had proclamations signed by the mayor, tied purple ribbons on cars, painted windows, put up fliers and held assemblies in recognition of this week.

BRAVO has also held booths at local fairs and helped put on a concert featuring a survivor of domestic violence. The group has helped Bright Horizons raise money by helping work a “Dough Raiser” at Pizza Hut and putting together a 3 mile fun run/walk titled, “Stepping Into A Brighter Future.” BRAVO has also assisted Bright Horizons by presenting at the Candlelight Vigil for several years. The group has also raised over a thousand dollars for the American Cancer Society by having a team for the Relay for Life.

In 2007, the group was recognized state-wide for all the hard work and dedication the members put into the group by receiving the Governor’s “Points of Light” award. This award was presented to BRAVO by Governor Dave Heineman.