About
Empowering Spokane Youth Through Leadership, Self-Worth, and Healthy Relationships.
The People of Create Your Statement
Educating youth to recognize the signs of abuse, promote respect, and foster safe, healthy relationships from the start.
Create Your Statement empowers Spokane’s youth to build self-worth, develop healthy relationships, and break cycles of dating and domestic abuse. Through leadership training, character development, and education, we inspire the next generation to create strong, positive futures—for themselves and their communities.
Why It Matters
Spokane has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in Washington state. We’re working to change that—starting with education, awareness, and empowerment. By reaching teens early and equipping them with skills to navigate relationships and life challenges, we believe we can reduce dating violence and build a stronger, safer future for all.
14,000+ youth reached
100% of programs offered free of charge
Proud to partner with over 50 schools and like minded organizations serving youth
Our Story
Statement’s Executive Director, Jenny Moeller, developed the REDFLAG curriculum after recognizing the need for a youth-focused dating abuse prevention program to prevent the cycle of violence.
Jenny’s personal experiences with dating abuse as a teenager along with spending seven years working for an organization providing abuse recovery support to domestic violence victims has made her passionate about helping young people discover what it means to have safe and healthy relationships.
Dating abuse does not discriminate. It affects youth from ALL socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. Statement exists to prevent the cycle of domestic abuse — Awareness, prevention, and leadership are key!
Statement helps young men and women recognize their value and develop skills to form healthy relationships. We are headquartered in Spokane, Washington, and have served youth across Washington State, Idaho, and Montana.
Statement complements other organizations in our community, providing preventive programming to enrich the experiences youth have in settings like community centers, after-school programs, and youth groups. Bringing our proven curriculum to the trusted settings where youth receive other services is a major strategy of Statement, so we partner with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Life Center, Crosswalk, and the Kalispel Tribe to reach our audience.
Real stories from the youth, educators, and partners we serve:
“My name is Liam and this is my story. I am 19 years old and I am an LGBTQ member identifying as trans gay male. My previous name was Stephanie and it was hard for me being comfortable as a girl because I identified as a male since I was 14. It was hard because I was not comfortable in my own skin….. It was particularly hard for me because I felt like a man trapped in a female body.. When I was Stephanie I was in a relationship that was very unhealthy. My boyfriend David would threaten to hit me and threaten to harm my family. He would always do this off of school property behind the closed doors. He was very nice in public but behind closed doors he was very different. He even threatened to hurt my dog. My dog was everything to me and he knew that. He would stalk me at school and follow me through the halls. He was very manipulative and made me the laughing stock of the school. Making jokes in front of people to make himself look better and embarrass me. He would apologize over and over and promise me things would get better and that he loved me. He used me for my money…and always manipulated me into buying everything. He invaded my personal privacy and made me physically sick with worry. Our relationship started out sweet in the beginning and then it turned into a monstrosity. He was physical with me and I feel lucky to be alive today. I was paralyzed with fear to leave. Finally, I filed a no contact order and he was suspended from school and moved out of the state.
Now identifying as a trans gay male, I have also experienced power and control in a relationship. My dating partner and I met online and he started creeping me out – he lived right next store and would watch my every move. Always asking me where I was and who I was with. He was pressuring me for intimacy and did not respect my boundaries. He wanted me to be in a poly relationship with his friends. Every time I would try to break up he with him he would grab my arm or wrist and try to force me to stay. It was very scary. He would scream profanities at me. I have always had difficulty with respecting myself and holding true to boundaries in my relationships.
Today I feel like I am in a good place because I am taking things slow with all my relationships both in friendships and in dating. Going through the Create Your Statement program, I can now say that I have been through a lot and I have persevered. I am learning new skills and how to set clearer boundaries. I believe I can set healthy stable boundaries and recognize when people are crossing them. My personal statement is “If I put my mind to it I can do it.” After taking this class I now know myself worth… I am valuable. I understand that regardless if you identify as a male or female you can still fall victim to dating violence, the good news is you are not alone, there are resources and people out there to help!”
“I have referred a few students to CYS because they confided in me that they were experiencing dating abuse. Talking to each student after working with Ophelia and Jenny, they come away feeling more empowered and gain more understanding of the signs of abuse and the options for help they have. Each interaction between the CYS team and the students is calm, professional, and understanding.”
“In my capacity as the Program and Support Services Director for the Healing Lodge of the Seven
Nations, I support Create Your Statement’s mission and their efforts to assist in safeguarding
our most vulnerable population.”
“Thank you for your heart for women of all ages and especially teens and your diligence in bring this dark truth to light so that lives may be changed. It was a pleasure to watch you teach and to have the opportunity to learn to teach this program so that more lives can be touched and ultimately saved by your program.”
Our Team
Behind every workshop and program is a passionate team of educators, advocates, and leaders dedicated to making a difference. Our board and instructors bring a range of backgrounds—from education and counseling to public service and youth development—all united by the belief that empowered youth can shape a better tomorrow.
Jenny Moeller
Executive Staff
Founder/Executive Director
Create Your Statement
“CYS exists to protect our youth. By helping young people recognize warning signs, believe in their worth, and demand respect, we empower them to stay safe and shape a healthier, stronger future for our community. I am honored to have a role in this mission.”
Heidi Lauritzen
Executive Staff
President
Educator: Sacajawea Middle School
“I’m honored to be able educate our teenagers and young adults that they are valuable, always deserve respect and knowing their self-worth. These skills we provide will help promote healthy relationship throughout their lives.”
Kyle Jordan
CPA/Treasurer
Natalie Barnes
Board Member
Wine Maker/Owner Latah Creek Winery
“I am so blessed to be able to serve on the Create Your Statement Board. I feel it is critical to educate our youth on dating abuse, boundaries, and self-worth. Create Your Statement is in our community doing just that!”
Cindy Thomas
Board Member
Social Work/Providence Inland Northwest
“I am honored to serve on the board of CYS. The mission to educate youth and young adults on dating abuse prevention and healthy relationships creates lasting,
positive change in our community. I am committed to supporting this vital work empowering young people to recognize their value and advocate for safe, respectful relationships.”
Shani Codr
Board Member
NE Valley Community Coalition 101 (NEWESD 101)
“CYS is important to me because it gives young people the skills to recognize unhealthy
relationships… skills I wish my own children had learned before entering relationships.”
Randy Schwaegler
Board Member
Director of Development, Elson Floyd College of Medicine WSU
“It’s Important to educate our future leaders…making sure the youth of today know they are valued and worthy!”
Kevin Bacon
Board Member
Commercial Banker, Bank CDA
“I love serving on the Create Your Statement board. Helping kids feel safe, valued and confident truly matters to me. Knowing we are
supporting kids believe in their worth as human beings is something I am proud to support.”
Kate Heidergott
Instructor
Department of Corrections Administration
Spokane
“In college I experienced break up abuse and didn’t realize what I was facing. As a mom now to three sons, it is incredibly important to me to educate all teens about the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Awareness is prevention.”
Jenna Reed
Instructor
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Deaconess
“I got involved with Create Your Statement
because of my past abusive relationships, I
wish there was something like this program back when I was in high school. I just want
the youth to know how valuable they are and
that they deserve nothing less than a
healthy relationship.“
Heather Osborne
Instructor
CPWI Community Coalition Coordinator
Shadle Prevention & Wellness Coalition, North East Washington ESD 101
“As a parent of two young adults, I recognize the importance in teaching youth about healthy relationships as a critical step in preventing dating violence. Education
empowers young people to build safe, respectful relationships.”
Lorraine Holokai
Instructor
“The support offered through create your statement is a crucial resource for our youth – the program not only allows them a safe environment to learn and better understand what a healthy relationship may look like, but connects them to caring adults who truly want to make them feel empowered and that they too deserve the good.”
Past & Present Partners
Community Partners
Girl Scouts of ID & WA
Boys and Girls Club
Crosswalk (VOA)
Juvenile Detention Center
Daybreak Youth Services
4-H Healthy Living Summit
Girl Power Chewelah
Peace Montana
Kalispel Tribe
Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations
Northwest Indian Youth Conference
Artisans
Life Services
Youth For Christ
Life Center
Crossover
Middle School
Garry Middle School
Shaw Middle School
Salk Middle School
Yasuhara Middle School
Glover Middle School
Northwood Middle School
East Valley Middle School Hub Program
Central Valley Middle School Hub Program
Greenacres Middle School Hub Program
Evergreen Middle School Hub Program
High School
Mead High School
Mount Spokane High School
Shadle High School
Rogers High School
Lakeside High School
Community High School
St. George’s High School
Reardan High School
Auburn High School
New Tech Skills Center
New Vision High School
Lumen High School
Higher Education
Gonzaga University
Eastern University
Whitworth University
Green River Community College
Get Involved
Whether you’re an educator, sponsor, parent, or teen, there’s a place for you at Create Your Statement. Learn how to support our mission, schedule a program, or make a donation today.