Dr. Kottke, Elizabeth Cardenas, Marie Mitchell, Billette Owens-Ashford, Joycelyn Wilson, Artesse Conley-Grady High School

Alesia Layne, Lewis Autor, Jane Fonda, Larry Leek

I was at The Jane Fonda Center (at the Emory Univ School of Medicine) this morning at a press conference to announce the launch of a new program to stop teen dating violence funded with a generous grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. According to the 2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, during the 12 months prior to the survey, nearly one out of ten high school students nationwide had been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend. In Georgia the statistics are even higher: Approximately 1 in 6 report teen dating violence and the violence is occurring at a much younger age. A 2009 DCD study found that nearly half of 6th graders (42.1 percent) who were in a relationship also reported experiencing physical dating violence in the past 3 months. Partnering with the Atlanta Public School system, the Dept of Juvenile Justice and numerous other organizations, this multi-year effort has a 4-point strategy to stop dating violence and abuse: educating teens; engaging the parents, teachers and other adults who influencing young people; changing public policy; and implementing social marketing.

Besides doing physical harm and even causing death, Teen dating violence and abuse is associated with higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse, unplanned pregnancy, STDs, depression, and suicidal tendencies.

This is a problem that impacts more than 1 million young people each year, crossing all race and socio-economic boundaries, perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of violence and abuse.

It was a large and wonderful event with a broad showing of support from elected officials, professors at Emory School of Medicine, Grady Teen Clinic, Atlanta Public School officials and the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. About 15 high School Students performed a song they have created about the new program to the tune of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” I saw many old friends whom I haven’t seen in over a year– Dr Sarah Berga, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology which houses the JF Center, Dr Ralph DeClementii, professor and researcher in the filed of adolescent reproductive health, the nationally respected Dr Marion Howard in whose name I endowed a chair at Emory School of Medicine, Marie Mitchell who used to run the Grady Teen Clinic and who is now at the JF Center and the JF Center director, Missy Kottke. I’m so proud of the work they are doing. If you want to know more, check out the Jane Fonda Center Website that’s shown on the right column at the front page of my blog.

Tiffany Vernon-Grady High School

Tiffany Vernon - Grady High School

Dr. Berga, Jane Fonda, Dr. Kottke

Dr. Joycelyn Wilson, Billette Owens-Ashford, Rosa McKnight, Jane Fonda, Marie Mitchell

Owens-Ashford, Jane, Elizabeth Cardenas-Tri-Cities High School

Now I am about to board a flight to New York to celebrate the 25th Anniversay of the Children’s Aid Society’s Adolecsent Pregnacy Prevention program started and still run by my mentor in the field, Dr Michael Carrera. I will be honored to talk about him tonight.

After that my friend, the brilliant and funny Hilton Als, who is writing a profile on me for the New Yorker, will take me to dinner at Orso’s where we frst me during my run in ” 33 Variations.”

See you next time

These are the solar panels that use the sun to heat my home

These are the solar panels that use the sun to heat my home

I am about to leave my ranch. I’d be sadder if I weren’t so rushed. I just finished a new chapter for my book about the third act, “Meeting New People When you’re Looking for Love.” and I’m hurrying to finish packing. But I couldn’t resist taking pictures of my solar panels. I’m trying to set a good example for other home owners in and around the Santa Fe area but, I fear, not enough are going solar—even in a sun-drenched place like this. They don’t even mandate grey water systems to conserve water!!! We have far too little of that resource. I drive a Prius and use all green light bulbs. So bully for me!!

click photo to enlarge

Where has the summer gone? It went by so fast. I know that in some parts of the country where the temp is still over 100 degrees it still feels like summer but here at my ranch..brrr. The leaves are really starting to turn yellow and when I go back to Atlanta next Monday I hope I’ll get to see the gorgeous Liquidamber in their crimson fall finery.
I haven’t heard from my daughter as to whether the Georgia flooding had any impact on her house. Guess I’ll soon see for myself. Monday’s her birthday. Tuesday I do a nice fundraising event for G-CAPP— in the home of one of our board members, Walter Jospin…dinner and a reading I do about the experience of making “On Golden Pond.” It is a funny and moving experience for all. When it comes to the end, about my father winning his Oscar and dying 5 months later, I always have a hard time not choking up. I’m doing the same reading for a group from Santa Fe at my home for the benefit of the Women’s Media Center. Oct 1st I do it in Dallas.

3 more days at the ranch. I start to have separation anxiety about now, added to the inevitable melancholy that accompanies all transitions, especially at my age when there is a limited number of falls left—30 maybe.

See you next time.

• In Atlanta and want to know more about social media and support GCAPP. Join James Andrews this Wednesday at Hotel… http://bit.ly/2pcEyV #

I forgot to retrieve these photos of the party from my camera and post them. It was a fun party, multi-generational…my son and daughter-in-law, niece Bridget, Elliott Gould’s son Sam who is Troy’s closest friend. My step-mother, Shirlee, along with many of my friends and Richard’s. But I got too involved in the party and forgot to take more pictures. Several blog commenters have asked if Richard ever changes his clothes because he is always photographed wearing the mug shot t-shirt. Just to clarify, he has one of each version of the t-shirt…as can you and, by doing so, you’d be supporting The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (click here to visit my store).”

This is Tim Hauser from the Manhattan Transfers singing doo wop together (click photo to enlarge)

Elliott Gould, Brigdet Fonda, Tim Hauser, Barb, Tim’s partner, and Warren Beatty (click photo to enlarge)