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Each year,
Mike Domitrz travels the country speaking in
schools, on college campuses, and in communities
teaching students, parents, and educators about
dating, intimacy, communication, respect, safety,
and sexual assault awareness. As the author of
the critically-acclaimed book
May I Kiss You? A Candid Look
at Dating, Communication, Respect, & Sexual Assault
Awareness
and the editor of the inspirational book
Voices of Courage,
he is one of the most sought-after experts in North
America.
As
the Executive Director of
The Date Safe
Project, Mike works
with schools and communities throughout the United
States of America and Canada in producing
educational initiatives raising awareness around
the
many issues surrounding healthy dating. In
2005, he produced the "Pledge for Action"TM
campaign which continues to grow in popularity
and impact.
In 2006, experts hailed his innovative,
yet simple approach to teaching consent in the
creation of the "Do You Ask?"TM
educational poster series for schools.
Why does Mike have such
an intense passion and drive to share with both parents
and students? In 1989, he received a phone call that his sister
had been raped. As he held the phone tightly to his ears, he
simply could not believe what he was hearing. Mike was 19 years
old and decided to
make a difference. As he researched the issue of respect,
healthy dating, and sexual assault, he constantly heard students
complaining that most seminars were boring, depressing, and were
not realistic. No one was actually telling them "How
EXACTLY to do the right thing" with a system they could
realistically apply in their own lives.
At the same
time, parents shared with Mike that there is no manual
for having these talks with your teenager. Consequently,
most parents just "wing it" according to what their
parents said to them at the same age (even though many
people admit their own parents were not comfortable or
very effective at having these talks). What is the
result? Very vague conversations which fail to
inspire major changes in a teenager's outlook regarding
respect, communication, personal safety, sexual
boundaries, and their entire outlook on dating and
"hooking up."
Mike
was determined to create significant and
long-lasting change. With his background in
theatre, he created "Can I Kiss You?"
(in 1991) - a fun, interactive, and thought-provoking
program that provides students with a detailed
"how to" discussion on all of these dating issues.
The popularity and impact of his one-man educational
program has grown so strong over the years that Mike
annually speaks in over 90 cities across North
America.
After
seeing Mike speak in their teenager's schools, parents
were constantly asking him over the years, "When
are you going to create a DVD? We
desperately need this information and your approach
is the only one I've ever seen that engaged both me
and my teenager on this issue."
In April of 2007, Mike released the
Help! My Teen is Dating.
Real Solutions to Tough Conversations
DVD/book set. The incredible reviews,
endorsements, and praise continue to flow in for
this entire DVD package.
What makes Mike so effective in connecting with both
parents and teenagers? He has a unique
combination of using hilarious humor balanced with
hard-hitting emotion. He is straight-forward
and to the point. Plus, his passion is
contagious. As you listen to him and watch
him, you find yourself eager to start the
conversation with your own teenagers.
Parents love how he speaks to you at your level
(not talking down to students or parents).
Males and females from all cultures and backgrounds
appreciate Mike's sincerity and honesty. While
he presents one of the "cleanest" programs,
he holds nothing back when he shares with you.
He reveals a new and fun approach towards respect
that will change each parent's and teenager's
outlook on dating and intimacy.
Sometimes people will ask Mike, "How do you have
so much energy to do so many presentations around
the country?" His motivation is simple.
Ever since the sexual assault of his sister, Mike
has committed himself to creating societal change
across our continent. He knows the #1 way to
reduce sexual violence is to increase healthy
relationships and teach the concept of healthy
intimacy at the earliest of stages - teenagers!!
Mike does have one more huge
motivation. As the father of 4 boys, he is
determined to raise his sons in a much healthier
atmosphere and world, a place where they and their
partners will truly be treated equally in their
relationships. To contact Mike directly,
e-mail him at
mike@thedatesafeproject.org.
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