YWCA to host event
By Steve Miller on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 |
The YWCA Northeast Indiana is hosting events this fall to celebrate 35 years of improving the lives of victims of domestic violence, including a luncheon honoring the pioneering women who founded the first shelter for abused women in Indiana.
The anniversary activities start with “Flowers on the River” on Thursday, Sept. 29. The public is invited to participate in this free ceremony to honor family members or friends. Each flower thrown into the water symbolizes a life that has been affected by domestic violence, including survivors who have overcome abuse. Participants will meet at the YWCA Northeast Indiana, 1610 Spy Run Ave., at 5 p.m. and then walk to the nearby St. Marys River for the ceremony.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and on Oct. 3-7 the YWCA Northeast Indiana partners with colleges and businesses for “Chalk It Up to Awareness.” Participants use chalk to create colorful sidewalk displays that feature statistics, quotes and drawings that raise awareness about domestic abuse. A neighborhood kick-off will be held in the parking lot of the YWCA at 1610 Spy Run Ave, 4:30-6:00 p.m. (For information on participating, contact Chynna Presley at 424-4908, Ext. 247 or cpresley@ywcaerew.org.)
During National Week Without Violence, Oct. 17-21, the YWCA will present a series of Hope Awards to recognize residents and groups throughout the region. The awards honor efforts to end domestic violence, empower women, eradicate racial injustice or advocate for children. A Junior Hope Award honors outstanding young people.
On Dec. 1, the Circle of Women luncheon will recognize the women who overcame naysayers and opposition to open the YWCA’s Fort Wayne shelter in 1976 for women and children fleeing violent households. Today the shelter is part of the YWCA Northeast Indiana’s comprehensive services for domestic-violence victims in Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Whitley and Wells counties.
Luncheon speakers will recall the struggle to create the shelter, and survivors of domestic violence will describe how staying at the shelter changed their lives. The luncheon will be 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fort Wayne Marriot.
Comments...
plovattto posted on September 24th, 2011 @ 00:13:12i am a resident and a surivior of domestic violence. unless you truley believe in the system here you really cannot rely on justice you live in fear and hope that oneday you have the strength.they truley need a safe place here alot of woman havent the finacial and emotional strentgh to leave and feel powerless sometimes they havent acsess to get on the internet to check out options. we really need to get a safe place in this county and stand up for our ppl here. we seem to have enough bars but no help for victims? really i want to help woman here and i just had a family memeber that lost her life from being transported to a diff county and couldnt handle it and found dead two days later because not enough help and guidness for strength to go on.. second person in my life i have lost in this and i am blind in my left eye and scared emotionaly and still seem to have fallen into a situation again with the same person.. no help means less life or a negitive result for the victims...please contact me when someone wants to relieze we here in huntington co. has a prob and lets get serious abt loal help here. why do the woman need a report r a restaining order .. experience shows polie dont always get there in time and when they do if they run and then they get away and then come bk and the victims pay the price even w the court orders.... lets protect our woman in the co. thank you
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