Speaking Out Reaching Every Adolescent Life
The foundation for SO REAL began more than twelve years ago when Lori Brooke Templeton, founder of SO REAL, began talking openly and honestly to middle and high school students about dating violence. Lori experienced an abusive relationship as a teenager and decided to speak out.
Through research Lori realized that the epidemic of violence among teens was largely attributed to a lack of information. She developed an education and awareness curriculum for junior high and high school students in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
The program began in 1996 as STAR, Support for Teens in Abusive Relationships. In 2000 Lori renamed the program POP-STAR, Power of Prevention- Support for Teens in Abusive Relationships. The POP program added a character education curriculum for elementary students.
In 2006 the program was renamed SO REAL, Speaking Out Reaching Every Adolescent Life. In August of 2006 SO REAL became an incorporated organization in the State of Tennessee. SO REAL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
SO REAL encompasses two main platform areas:
• Character Education
• Violence Prevention
SO REAL’s mission is to end the cycle of teen-on-teen violence through reality based programming. Through these platform areas we hope to accomplish just that. By educating the youth of today we can destroy the violence of tomorrow.
Please visit our Programs page to learn more about our programs and how they are conducted.
Through research Lori realized that the epidemic of violence among teens was largely attributed to a lack of information. She developed an education and awareness curriculum for junior high and high school students in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
The program began in 1996 as STAR, Support for Teens in Abusive Relationships. In 2000 Lori renamed the program POP-STAR, Power of Prevention- Support for Teens in Abusive Relationships. The POP program added a character education curriculum for elementary students.
In 2006 the program was renamed SO REAL, Speaking Out Reaching Every Adolescent Life. In August of 2006 SO REAL became an incorporated organization in the State of Tennessee. SO REAL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
SO REAL encompasses two main platform areas:
• Character Education
• Violence Prevention
SO REAL’s mission is to end the cycle of teen-on-teen violence through reality based programming. Through these platform areas we hope to accomplish just that. By educating the youth of today we can destroy the violence of tomorrow.
Please visit our Programs page to learn more about our programs and how they are conducted.
Our mission is simple:
~To end the cycle of teen-on-teen violence through reality based character education and violence prevention programs;
and
~To prepare the youth of today to become the bright, educated leaders of tomorrow.
Contact Us
TN & VA (423) 292-2240
KY (859) 309-1671
info@sorealinc.org
