October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events in Somerville

·    Candlelight Vigil in Union Square

·    Muslim & Arab Community Panel

·    “Voices of Somerville” features Respond’s Jessica Brayden

Oct 2:  Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The Somerville Commission for Women will hold its Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Candlelight Vigil on Oct 2 from 6-7:30pm in Union Square at the Public Safety Building (220 Washington Street) in the Police Academy.  Informational tables from anti-violence agencies will be in the main Union Square from 5:30-6:30pm.  A candlelight walk around Union Square starts at 6pm.  There will be speakers in the Police Academy from 6:30pm with our featured presenter Corey Yarbrough of the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC).  For more information, contact the Office of Somerville Commissions at 617-625-6600 (x2400) or commissions@somervillema.gov.

Oct 21:  Muslim & Arab Community Panel: Domestic Violence Data

The Somerville Commission for Women & the Somerville Police Department will hold a Muslim & Arab Community Panel on Domestic Violence Data on Monday, October 21 from 2:30pm-4:30pm at the Public Safety Building (220 Washington Street, Union Square).  Domestic violence data focusing on the Muslim and Arab community will be presented by Shawn M. MacMaster (McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, UMass Boston).  Following the data presentation, there will be a panel discussion with Shawn MacMaster, and Muslim & Arab community service providers Naima Agalab (RIAC), Rita Shah (Saheli), and Souad Akib (American Assoc. Arab Women).  A Question and Answer opportunity will be after the panel.  There will be light refreshments.  For more information, contact the Office of Somerville Commissions at 617-625-6600 (x2400) or commissions@somervillema.gov.

October: “Voices of Somerville” features Respond’s Jessica Brayden

This month’s “Voices of Somerville” episode on channels 13 and 22 in Somerville features Respond’s executive director Jessica Brayden.  This month’s episode marks the annual domestic violence awareness month and covers information about Respond’s programming, signs of abuse, immediate steps for people deciding to strategies for family members to support loved ones, survivor tips for living with a violent ex-partner. Look for a display with Respond’s brochure at the Library all this month.  Respond’s 24-hour Crisis Hotline is 1.617.623.5900.