Events promote domestic violence awareness
By Kendra Simpson
Local businesses and organizations are working together in October to bring awareness to domestic violence in St. Joseph.
Every minute, an average of 24 people in the United States are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner, totaling more than 12 million women and men each year. That’s why the YWCA will host several events during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
St. Joseph residents can learn firsthand from victims, survivors and advocates about the seriousness of domestic violence in St. Joseph and surrounding areas.
“It’s not talked about enough,” Corina Merrit, survivor outreach specialist with the YWCA, said. “And it is a major problem not just nationwide, but worldwide. And really, I look at it as a form of domestic terrorism. Things are happening to these people that happen to people that are prisoners in other countries, you know? Not just the physical, but the mental and emotional abuse, it causes lifetime changes in people’s lives, and it takes a long time to recover from these things. Some people never recover and it’s 100% preventable.”
The month will begin Tuesday, Oct. 1, with “Hear My Voice,” an evening to honor those who have lost their lives, are still struggling or have survived domestic violence. At the event, the Mary Jolly Memorial Award will be given for outstanding service to victims and survivors of violence. This award pays honor to a YWCA employee and domestic violence advocate. The evening also will include a proclamation from Mayor John Josendale and a presentation from a domestic violence survivor.
The YWCA will continue the month with more events, including “Empty Seat at the Table” on Saturday, Oct. 19. This event will involve several St. Joseph restaurants reserving an empty table as a symbol of those who have lost their lives to domestic violence.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, the YWCA will host a resource fair and Remembrance Walk at Coleman Hawkins Park with the fair beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the walk starting at 6:30 p.m. The month will also feature a “Pet Protection Playdate”, “Ask Me Who I Wear Purple For” and a Missouri Western State University women’s soccer game dedicated to domestic violence awareness.
“I think it’s so important anytime you can come together, you can problem-solve better,” Merrit said. “Come up with better solutions and just take a better look at the problem. Anytime you can show a community-wide support, I think it just makes your community stronger.”
For a full list of Domestic Violence Awareness Month events and to learn more about how to stand up against domestic violence, visit the YWCA’s website at ywcasj.org.
