Leave Out Violence (LOVE) is the leading Canadian not-for-profit youth violence prevention organization.  Through educational programs LOVE helps youth who have lived with violence break the cycle in their lives, and then become community leaders of violence prevention.  Since LOVE began in 1993, these young leaders have reached hundreds of thousands of children, youth and adults reducing violence in schools, homes and neighbourhoods.

• Who Benefits. Benefits of LOVE’s programs are both on an individual and community level.  LOVE targets youth who have been victims, perpetrators and witnesses to many forms of violence including:   gangs, domestic violence, racism, bullying, drugs, weapons and self-harm.  We enable youth to be meaningfully engaged in violence prevention and community safety.  The radiating effect is building safer schools and neighbourhoods in the identified under-serviced Toronto communities.
• Unique model. Our educational programs in Photography, Videography, Broadcasting and Journalism teach youth how to document the violence in their lives and discover concrete reality-based solutions to stop violence.   Through the lens of a camera and their written expression, they examine the impact of violence on their life and explore positive alternatives.  Youth graduate into Leadership Training and develop the skills, confidence and passion to become part of LOVE’s community violence prevention team.  This unique combination of knowledge, experience and opportunity enables them to be effective in promoting awareness, influencing attitudes and effecting change.  LOVE’s programs work on an individual and community level.
• New Developments. In 2008, the LOVE Photojournalism Program expanded into the Media Arts Program (MAP) which now encompasses: Photography, Videography, Spoken Word and Broadcasting.  This wide variety of creative forms of self-expression has attracted more youth and enhanced LOVE’s community educational tools.
• Sustainability and growth. Over the past 15 years, LOVE has evolved its programs, operations and model for community safety.  We have a proven track record, strong leadership and community partners.  As youth violence dominates the local news, there has never been a greater demand for our services.
• Leadership. Youth Leaders play an integral role in the development and operations of our programs through board and committee participation.   LOVE’s board of directors and managing committees are comprised of a diverse group of community representatives.  These members bring with them knowledge in community safety and development, finance, marketing, governance, mental health, child and adolescent development, communications, anti-oppression and management.
• Evidenced Based. LOVE’s specialized educational programs are evidenced-based.  They have been tested by an independent research consultant and proven to be effective. 98% of LOVE youth leaders’ state: LOVE has helped them end the violence in their lives.  98% of LOVE youth stated that LOVE has helped them to use their experiences as a way to help others dealing with violence. (A comprehensive report is available upon request.)
• Leverage. Each year in Canada LOVE trains approximately 200 Youth Leaders, who reach many thousands of children, youth and adults with their message against violence.  Youth Leaders speak at conferences, run workshops, lead violence prevention committees in schools and host media-based displays of their work in public venues.  Youth Leaders are challenging the normalization of violence by promoting creative positive forms of expression and reminding their peers they have a voice.
• Partners. LOVE has strong community partners and supporters including school boards, the police, youth serving organizations, and many individuals, foundations and corporations who believe that youth can play an active role in making their lives and communities safer.
• Cost/Benefit. It costs $5,000 for a youth to receive one full year of violence prevention training.  This includes weekly workshops in photography, journalism, leadership training, peer and staff mentoring and our 5-day leadership summer camp program.  This can be compared with the $100,000 cost per year to incarcerate a youth in Canada.   80% of our youth leaders continue in their community role with LOVE for one to five years.
• Track Record. LOVE’s model has a proven track record for growth and sustainability. As the demand for LOVE’s programs have grown, we have expanded from Montreal in 1993, to Toronto (1996), Vancouver (2000), Halifax (2000), New York City (2005) and Eilat, Israel (2008).  We receive on-going requests for expansion from cities throughout Canada and other parts of the world.  In Toronto, LOVE has developed programs in Scarborough, Rexdale, the Jane and Finch neighbourhood, St. Jamestown and the downtown area.
• Foundation. LOVE was created in Montreal in 1993 by Mrs. Twinkle Rudberg after her husband was murdered by a 14-year old boy.  The inspiration for LOVE was Mrs. Rudberg's realization that the youth who killed her husband was, himself, a victim of violence.