Books
Breaking the Cycle of Violence
Through Forgiveness
Breaking the Cycle presents award-winning assemblies that feature personal stories of overcoming conflict through forgiveness. Our assemblies, whether in-person or live online, support your schools' social-emotional learning goals – and can come at no cost to your school, although donations are welcome. Our speakers present examples of core competencies such as social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making from their own lives, which readily elicit discussion opportunities in the classroom.
Schedule an Assembly
“The only thing evil can't stand is forgiveness.”
— Fred Rogers
Social-emotional learning
A panel of dynamic speakers present solutions to:
Schedule an Assembly
VIDEO
What is Breaking the Cycle?
Let our speakers help your students develop the foundational emotional skills needed to resolve conflict and build healthy relationships in today's challenging social environment.
VIDEO
How We Got Started
Colleen McVey of CFN Live interviews Heinrich Arnold, son of the founder of Breaking the Cycle, who speaks of his father's legacy.
IN THE NEWS
Valley Central High School
Breaking the Cycle was back at Valley Central High School in Montgomery, NY on October 2, 2024. Pat & AnnMarie D'Aliso and Randi Kelder told their stories to 1400 High School students.
I know this is a rough age, and I know all the pressures that you have. Taking your own life is not ending your problems, it is stopping your life from ever getting better. —AnnMarie D'Aliso
IN THE NEWS
Port Jervis Middle School
The September 24 assembly was at Port Jervis HS auditorium, with 200 8th grade students attending. Pat & AnnMarie D'Aliso and Chief Charlie Williams told their stories. Also attending was our good friend Orange County DA David Hoovler.
IN THE NEWS
MLK Educational Complex
The first Breaking the Cycle assembly in the new school year was on September 19. We were at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Educational Complex in Paterson NJ, meeting 220 6-8 grade students. Pat & AnnMarie D'Aliso spoke on bullying, self-esteem, and suicide prevention. The picture is of Pat D'Aliso signing Why Forgive? books after the assembly.
IN THE NEWS
911 Walk of Remembrance
Detective Steven McDonald, one of our Breaking the Cycle speakers, began this walk to honor the memory of those lost on 911. We trace the path of Father Mychal Judge, another of our speakers who died on 9/11, in the spirit of prayer and remembrance.
IN THE NEWS
SNYPJOA Conference
Breaking the Cycle presented on Wednesday, August 21 at the 2024 State of New York Police Juvenile Officers and School Resource Officers Training Conference, at the beautiful Niagara Falls Convention Center. The SNYPJOA is a training and advocacy organization comprised primarily of police officers and other professionals specialized in the field of juvenile justice and prevention.
""Even though I watched everything on my daughter's videos (even taking her life with the pills), I daily forgive by not letting the past hold me hostage." —NYSP First Sergeant Jim Whittel