Empowering Youth Through Sewing and Healthy Relationship Education

In a heartwarming move to celebrate cultural heritage and encourage healthy relationships, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center for Victim Services recently put together the *Sew What? Let’s Talk about Healthy Relationships* event.

On December 30, the Okmulgee Indian Community Center filled up with students in grades 7-12. They gathered not just to learn sewing, but to talk about what makes a relationship healthy, all while the steady hum of sewing machines set the mood.

Empowering Youth Through Sewing

This event gave students something meaningful to do over the holiday break. Jamie Rolland-Hill, a Youth Prevention Specialist, pointed out that plenty of kids don’t have healthy relationships to look up to, so this kind of gathering matters.

Every student, even those who’d never touched a sewing machine, got to try their hand at making ribbon skirts or vests. Some had only watched their parents sew, while others were total beginners.

Learning New Skills

The event felt welcoming, especially for those new to sewing. Students could ask questions, make mistakes, and laugh about it.

By the afternoon, everyone had a finished garment to take home—a real, physical reminder that they’d learned something new.

Promoting Healthy Relationships

Between threading needles and cutting fabric, conversations about healthy relationships naturally started up. Rolland-Hill led talks about what love is—and what it isn’t.

She brought up the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, both in families and friendships. For some students, these conversations felt like uncharted territory.

Identifying Red and Green Flags

Rolland-Hill didn’t shy away from tough topics. She talked about *red flags* like yelling, breaking things, or violence, and reminded students that just because they see these things at home doesn’t mean they have to repeat them.

The Center for Victim Services stands ready to help students spot these warning signs and get support if they need it.

On the flip side, students also discussed *green flags*—those small but important signs of a healthy relationship. Kids shared stories, like parents bringing flowers for no special reason or making time for each other.

These moments helped everyone notice the good stuff that sometimes gets overlooked.

The Importance of Community Events

Events like this one matter. They give students a way to learn practical skills and talk about real-life issues in a relaxed setting.

And honestly, having something positive to do between Christmas and New Year’s can make all the difference.

Building a Supportive Network

When students join in on these events, they don’t just pick up new skills—they start building a network of friends and mentors.

Those connections might help them get through tough times and figure out what healthy relationships look like. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center for Victim Services plans to keep hosting events like this, making sure students always have somewhere to turn.

Stay Connected

If you want updates on events and programs from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center for Victim Services, check out their Facebook page. They’ve also got a 24/7 crisis line at 918-732-7979.

Curious about the *Sew What? Let’s Talk about Healthy Relationships* event? You can find more details in the original article on Muskogee Media.