• Home
  • About
  • Contact Us

Books

Schedule an Assembly

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

TESTIMONIALS

Social-emotional learning

A panel of dynamic speakers present solutions to:

  • Counteract school violence, bullying and racism
  • Recognize depression and suicide
  • Promote self-respect and respect for others

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.

Responses from

May 16, 2024

PS 28 Elizabeth NJ

IN THE NEWS

Kingston High School

Breaking the Cycle presented an assembly at Kingston High School on October 29, 2024. Pat & Annemarie D'Aliso and Randi Kelder told 450 9th grade students their stories, and shared coping strategies for bullying and substance abuse.

When Ryan died I had all these guilty feelings. I could have let the guilt eat me up but I met BTC and realized that I needed to forgive, not just him, but ultimately myself. —Randi Kelder

IN THE NEWS

Highland Park High School

On October 17, 2024, Breaking the Cycle was at Highland Park HS in New Jersey. Last time our presentation there was virtual, during the pandemic. This time Pat & AnnMarie D'Aliso and Chief Williams told their stories to 300 9th and 10th grade students face to face.

The feedback from the students and staff was positive.  Some described the assembly as "powerful",  "Much needed", and "emotional" and some wished we had opened it to the entire school. —Elizabeth Asamoah, Teen Center Supervisor

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.