October is

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

The anniversary display of the MCBW Clothesline Project memorial held Tuesday, September 30th at the Capitol—with all of the Clotheslines created since 1989—was a powerful and successful public awareness event to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Member programs and volunteers from many parts of the state gathered on the front steps of the State Capitol to remember the victims of domestic violence homicide.

The clothesline project is a national art project started by women in Massachusetts as a memorial to the victims and survivors of domestic violence. The project involves designing shirts to remember the women and children murdered as a result of domestic violence and child abuse. The shirts then are hung on a clothesline and displayed in a public location. The purpose is to create a visual memorial to the casualties and survivors of the war against women.

Our first speaker at this memorial, Representative Steve Smith, highlighted the successful passage and implementation of the domestic violence by strangulation felony law and noted that he was honored to join with us in working to end domestic violence. 

Our next speaker, Deborah Tilson, lost her daughter Kristine in a domestic homicide last year and is now raising her 2 year old grandson.  Her powerful words moved us to tears and inspired us to use our voices to speak out.

Following a moment of silence to honor the women, children, family members and friends who were murdered—jazz musician Pippi Ardennia inspired the crowd with her a cappella performance of On a Clear Day—beautiful words of hope to remember those we have lost and to keep us moving forward.

Lonna Stevens, Director of the Sheila Wellstone Institute, reminded us of the commitment and tireless work of Sen. Paul Wellstone and Sheila Wellstone to ending domestic violence and sent out a call to action to all Minnesotans to change the social and cultural norms that result in domestic violence.

MCBW staff members were so moved and proud to be a part of this event and so inspired by the work that our member programs take on each and every day in your programs and communities.

To view what events are happening around the state for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, click here.

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Reflection for Renewal: Responding to the Changing Needs of Battered Women and Their Communities

October 22-24, 2008

To download registration form, click here.

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2008 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

MEDIA GUIDE

To download the Media Guide, click here.