How has violence affected my life?

What are the causes of youth violence? 

What can I do about youth violence? 

2024 Challenge Dates

January 3 - March 8

All across America, students are responding to the problem of youth violence. The Do the Write Thing Challenge gives students grades 6-8 an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives in classroom discussions and in written form by communicating what they think should be done to change our culture of violence. By encouraging students to make personal commitments to do something about the problem, the program ultimately seeks to empower them to break the cycles of violence in their homes, schools and neighborhoods.

The Do the Write Thing Challenge (DtWT) is an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence (NCSV) a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, organization composed of community, business and governmental leaders who have come together to reduce youth violence in communities across the United States.

In each participating jurisdiction, the program is overseen and administered by a local Do the Write Thing Committee which is a coalition of business, community and governmental leaders dedicated to the reduction of youth violence in their city, county or state. 

By emphasizing personal responsibility, the DtWT program also educates all involved about the causes of youth violence. Local community groups promote the program at the grassroots level so that teachers, school administrators, parents, coaches, and young people can bring youth violence into the open, where it can be examined, talked about and dealt with in a constructive way.


DtWT Flyer 2024

Message from North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein

Do the Write Thing_Final.mp4

Asheville Buncombe DTWT Chair

The Honorable Dena King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina


Asheville Buncombe DTWT Coordinators

Tanya Presha, Asheville City Schools Academic and Program Support Coordinator

Laura Parks, Asheville City Schools Director of Secondary Education