Overview of Green Dot

Green Dot is a national program built on the premise that everyone can measurably and systematically reduce violence within any given community. This program focuses fundamentally on the productive power of bystanders,on the those of us who witness power-based violence between others. In instances of harmful or violent words, actions, or behaviors, bystanders have a choice to ignore & accept the abuse (what we call a "red dot") or intervene & address the violence (a "green dot"). Green Dot’s goal is to prepare communities to implement a strategy of violence prevention that reduces power-based personal violence, which includes sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, and bullying. We will build a community equipped to intervene in these red dot incidents to create a campus map full of green dots, full of proactive moments that dSycamore Libraryare we will not accept power-based personal violence. 

The power of Green Dot is simple. Red dots bad. Green dots good. You decide. Learn the about green dots and red dots here.

From livethegreendot.com

The Green Dot Strategy is a comprehensive approach to violence prevention that capitalizes on the power of peer and cultural influence across all levels of the socio-ecological model.  Informed by social change theory, the model targets all community members as potential bystanders, and seeks to engage them, through awareness, education and skills-practice, in proactive behaviors that establish intolerance of violence as the norm, as well as reactive interventions in high-risk situations – resulting in the ultimate reduction of violence. Specifically, the program targets influential individuals from across community subgroups. The goal is for these groups to engage in a basic education program that will equip them to integrate moments of prevention within existing relationships and daily activities – both personal and professional. By doing so, new norms will be introduced and those within their sphere of influence will be significantly influenced to move from passive agreement that violence is wrong, to active intervention. Conceptually, Green Dot is comprised of three basic components:

A single choice in one moment in time to use your voice, actions
or choices to make one small corner of the world safer.

Green Dot is built on the premise that in order to measurably reduce the perpetration of power-based personal violence, a cultural shift is necessary. In order to create a cultural shift, a critical mass of people will need to engage in a new behavior or set of behaviors that will make violence less sustainable within any given community. The “new behavior” is a Green Dot.  A shared vision that creates momentum through the power of a common language and purpose.

In isolation, even the most determined single Green Dot can dissolve into silent resignation
when faced with a task as daunting as changing our culture.

The power of Green Dot is the momentum that can be created and sustained when individuals see themselves in connection with others as a part of something ultimately bigger than the sum of its parts.

A social movement that harnesses the power of peer influence and individual bystander choices
to create lasting culture change resulting in the ultimate reduction of power-based personal violence.

Power-based personal violence happens to such a staggering degree that the only workable solution must involve a broad-based, good ole’ fashioned social movement. Each significant stride in human rights has been fueled by and built upon a social movement. Enough individuals simply raising their voices saying, “This is no longer acceptable. Today is the day we rSycamore Libraryaim our fundamental right to something better.” One Green Dot at a time, this is our moment in history to rSycamore Libraryaim our right to live free of violence and fear of violence.