BOSTON -- Carl Walker Hoover was 11 and Phoebe Prince was 15 when they committed suicide after relentless bullying.

"We've been raising this alarm, and now it's much more public because of these awful tragedies that we've seen," said Deb Weaver, executive director of the antiviolence group Girls LEAP

The deaths are no shock to Girls LEAP, whose new report finds crimes, threats and harassment are so common in Boston that it's pervasive. Four in 10 Boston girls say they rarely or never feel safe in places they regularly go.

The group holds a self-confidence class for girls. They learn to anticipate trouble spots at school and their neighborhoods.

"The first thing they learned is how to get into what we call the strong stance. It's the most balanced physical position you can be in to either deal with the situation or run away," Weaver said.

The girls are learning lessons they put to use in their lives.

"We learned that if they get closer you have to raise your voice. And that's exactly what I did and it worked," said 11-year-old Vanessa.

"The idea is, you need to not silence yourself. You need to put the community on alert that something is not all right for you. If you're inhibiting your voice, you're also inhibiting some of your physical energy," Weaver said.

"Before, I didn't really have much confidence in me. And now, it like, builds me up. I have more confidence," Vanessa said.