Dear Lisa by Tom Santoro

Tom Santoro's 18 year old daughter was murdered by her ex-boyfriend the summer before she left for college. In order to heal, Tom turned his loss into a mission to prevent dating violence among young people. He has since helped thousands of students understand the consequences of controlling behavior in relationships.

Through Lisa's story, audiences are able to recognize patterns of abuse that mark a dangerous relationship. Weaving together statistics, analogies, and facts about dating violence and domestic abuse, Tom draws attention to the often subtle threads that run through nascent, abusive relationships and to the learned tolerance that can build along with the abuse. The lessons of Lisa’s tragedy enable even the most timid students to stand up against abuse by knowing when, why, and how to leave a situation before it overwhelms them.

"Dear Lisa" is not a story of sorrow and grief. Instead, Tom emboldens his audience to be more circumspect in their own relationships and trust of others. He does not just point to telltale signs of an abusive partner, but also describes the components of a healthy relationship so that students know not only how to be respectful, but also how to receive the respect they deserve. As both a storyteller and an educator, Tom has impacted students across America for over a decade.

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