April 27, 2026 – Springfield, Massachusetts – Big Brothers Big Sisters “Littles” and their “Bigs” from MassMutual recently gathered at MassMutual Life Insurance Company for the “1 in 11: Preventing Dating Violence” presentation provided by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nonprofit organization that creates one-to-one mentoring relationships by matching young people (“Littles”) with caring adult volunteers (“Bigs.”)

This presentation was for 35 “Littles” from Putnam Vocational Technical Academy and Springfield High School of Science and Technology, along with their “Bigs” from MassMutual. The participants meet on a weekly basis, building consistent, supportive relationships that foster personal growth and development.

The group filled the room for an hour-long presentation that featured a documentary honoring Kathryn Mauke, a Springfield teen killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2015. The presentation was led by the office’s Community Safety & Outreach (CSO) Unit, alongside Domestic Violence Victim Services Director Tina Simmons.

Through Kathryn’s story, students learned to recognize warning signs of unhealthy and abusive relationships and the importance of speaking up. As Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni mentions in the film, teens face a significant risk, with nearly one in 11 female and one in 14 male high school students reporting physical dating violence.

In partnership with the Mauke family, the presentation aims to educate young people and prevent future tragedies.

“We are grateful to the Mauke family for their willingness to share Kathryn’s story. Their strength and openness are helping us deliver a critical message to young people about recognizing the warning signs of abuse and the importance of healthy relationships,” said District Attorney Gulluni.

Following the documentary, Simmons informed students about the free resources that are available to them, or someone they know, if they are in an abusive relationship. She left fliers with a QR code that can be scanned for additional information on those resources, dating violence warning signs, and more.

For more information about the “1 in 11: Preventing Dating Violence” presentation, or to request a presentation at your school, contact Hampden District Attorney’s Office Deputy Director of Community Safety & Outreach Gina Anselmo at gina.anselmo@mass.gov.