Week Without Violence 2026: Centering our Youth by Building a Future Free From Violence
In October, we invite our community to join us for Week Without Violence, a week dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging meaningful conversations, and taking action toward a future where everyone, especially young people, can live free from violence.
The youth are impacted by intimate partner violence, sexual assault, grooming, and exploitation, yet their voices are too often missing from conversations about prevention. Week Without Violence is an opportunity to shed light and open up the conversation to change that.
Centering Youth Voices
Young people deserve more than a place in the conversation they deserve to be heard, supported, and empowered to help shape the future. Throughout the week of October 19–23, we will create space for young people and community members to come together to learn, reflect, and envision what a future free from violence can look like.
We’ve also been working with local youth and our staff on a series of short videos. These videos will explore topics connected to healthy relationships, recognizing harmful behaviors, and the role each of us can play in creating safer communities.
And we want you to be part of it.
Follow Along and Participate
Week Without Violence isn’t something we want our community to simply watch; we want everyone to have opportunities to participate. Follow our page and stay tuned throughout the campaign. In the weeks leading up to and during Week Without Violence, we’ll share videos, resources, conversation starters, and activities that individuals, families, youth groups, and entire communities can participate in on their own.
Whether you join an activity, start a conversation, share a resource, or encourage someone else to get involved, your participation matters.
When you participate, share what you’re doing using #WWV26 so we can see how communities are acting and help amplify the movement.
Small Actions Can Start Important Conversations
Creating communities free from violence requires all of us. It begins with education. It grows through conversations. And it becomes stronger when people are willing to listen, speak up, support one another, and take action. During Week Without Violence, we hope you’ll ask yourself: What can I do to help create a community where young people feel safe, heard, respected, and supported?
There isn’t only one answer. That’s why throughout the campaign, we’ll be giving you different ways to learn, reflect, participate, and bring these conversations into your own community.
Mark your calendar for October 19–23, follow our page, and watch for our upcoming Week Without Violence videos and activities.
Then join the conversation and show us how you’re participating by using #WWV26.
Together, we can listen to young people, support survivors, strengthen prevention, and help build a future free from violence.
Follow. Watch. Participate. Share. #VWV26
If you would like to learn more about building a respectful intimate relationship and personal growth reach out to us and register for one of our Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP) classes.
YWCA Northwestern Illinois: 1-(815) 484-9442 EXT.306
To find immediate help and support, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-(800) 799-7233
Please remember that all calls are confidential.
-Estefania Barrientos, YWCA Northwestern Illinois PAIP Coordinator
