Megan's Journalism blog

Talking to your children, or youth in general, about abuse and the anatomy of their bodies can be a very tricky subject. Fortunately, ABC House offers free training for parents and those that work with kids to help them with this difficult topic.  There will be an event at ABC House titled “Darkness to Light: Talking with Children About Safety from Sexual Abuse” on Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Albany. This training also includes an optional tour of the new ABC House beforehand. This training includes lessons on how to approach the topic of abuse and our bodies with children in an age-appropriate way, setting boundaries with our bodies, as well as how to listen to them and notice key signs when it comes to these difficult situations. This is a video and facilitator-led discussion. It’s also important to note that child care will not be available during the event time. Light refreshments will be available, though. Before the traini...

Kaylee Marsh with one of her art pieces        Kaylee Marsh, 17, from South Albany High School, strives to become a tattoo artist. She is still unsure of her exact major, but she knows that she wants it to be art-centered. Her motivation to begin pursuing art derived from her uncle.        "My dad wasn't really in the picture at the time," Marsh said. She then went on to explain the connection of art to her uncle.  "He watched over me most of my childhood and he inspired me to get into it," she said. Her uncle was an artist himself, which led to her interest.        Marsh doesn't intend for her work to have any particular meaning, although, some of her pieces could be described as political. Her main ideas for her work are taken from elements of the woods and forests.        As much as her art expresses her own inner ideas and creativ...