Greenwich Teen Looks To Spread Awareness About Domestic Violence

GREENWICH, CT — In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, then Greenwich High School freshman Jake Tisler wanted to find a way to help those affected by domestic violence.

Through the process, Tisler ended up helping his own grandmother heal, and he has helped spread awareness to scores of people.

Tisler and his friend, Luca Chiappetta, also a student at GHS, started to brainstorm ideas about how to support the cause in the late summer/fall of 2020.

Tisler's mother had told him about his grandmother's experience with domestic violence earlier in her life, and that she never really talked about it to anyone.

Wanting to learn more from his grandmother, Tisler spoke to her about what she went through. Since she's also a decorative art painter and does arts and crafts, he knew he wanted to get her involved in whatever he did.

"It became more real once we spoke to her and heard a little more about her story," Tisler explained. "It's a difficult thing to talk about, but working on projects like this helps everyone involved understand it more and open up and want to help."

In speaking with Sanctuary For Families about how they could help, Tisler was inspired by the send-off gift baskets the organization gives to domestic violence survivors who are leaving a "Safe Home" and heading to their own abuse-free home.

Sanctuary For Families is a New York City-based nonprofit dedicated to aiding victims of domestic violence and their children.

"The baskets aim to give them some items to help them get started in their new place; things like sheets, towels," Tisler told Patch in an email. "We heard the word 'home' and thought, what about giving them a handmade keychain — something they will look at every time they enter their new, safe place, and something that will remind them that they are loved and they are strong?"

Keychains of Hope was born. The purpose is two-fold.

"The purpose of Keychains of Hope is to help spread love and optimism to those who have had to flee violence and have been living in a safe home, but are now heading to their own, abuse-free home," Tisler said. "It can be a scary time for survivors but also a hopeful one, and we just want survivors to know that there are people out there who are thinking of them and wishing them well as they continue on their path to recovery."

The other reason is to raise awareness locally between friend groups.

To make the keychains, Tisler, Chiappetta and their friends organize assembly events.

"By having friends attend assembly parties, they get to learn a little more about what healthy relationships look like because we discuss the cause as we assemble the keychains," Tisler said.

Tisler worked with his grandmother to come up with the designs. She makes the components on her cricut machine, but Tisler helps come up with the messages. The keychains have colorful and positive phrases on them like "Warrior," "Here Comes The Sun," and "New Beginnings."

"It's kind of fun because we get to choose various color combinations and patterns based on what my Nona has produced from her cricut machine," Tisler added. "Plus, a bunch of us get to get together and have pizza and food while we make the keychains. So we say, these keychains are designed by a survivor for a survivor and made with love."

Last year, the group distributed keychains to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center of Stamford and Norwalk, and Sanctuary for Families. This year, they plan to assemble and distribute to the same organizations, as well as the YWCA of Greenwich, and several women's centers in other states including Massachusetts and Maryland, and possibly Florida.

Tisler's cousin, Chase Couture, lives in Massachusetts and recently became involved with making the keychains. He's currently working to bring the keychains to a domestic violence center in New Bedford, Mass.

"Between myself, Luca and my cousin Chase, we know a lot of kids in different states," Tisler added. "We’d like to go fully national this year."

Tisler is a member of the YNET Club at GHS, which aims to raise awareness about domestic violence and what healthy relationships look like.

He is also a founding member of the HeCares Coalition, a group of teen boys throughout lower Fairfield County who work with the Domestic Violence Crisis Center on various projects including yard work, backpack assembly for back to school, and other initiatives.

He believes domestic violence is an issue that affects many families.

"The damage it causes can last a lifetime and have a ripple effect," Tisler said.

For his grandmother, working on the keychains has lead to healing.

"She experienced her abuse a long, long time ago, and has a very full life full of love and family and friends," Tisler said. "But using her artistic skills to give back to others who are currently going through this has moved her into a new place while making her feel good about doing something to support this important cause."

For more information on Keychains of Hope, go to their website. Tisler noted that keychains can be made at any point of the year. The majority of the group's work is done in October, however, to spotlight Domestic Violence Awareness month.