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Valentine’s Day Vigil in Solidarity with Victims and Survivors of Domestic ViolenceThanks for your interest in our efforts to spread the word that love shouldn’t hurt and that REAL lovers don’t abuse. This is an especially important reminder on the weekend of Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to the celebration of love. Renewal House organized this Valentine’s Day Vigil in response to the alarming surge in domestic violence homicides in Massachusetts in 2010 -- nine in total so far. We felt compelled to reach out to the community to raise awareness and send a positive message of hope. Unfortunately, we cannot save those who have already lost their lives, but we can reach out and offer support and resources to those still suffering in silence in violent or abusive relationships.
The homicides are only one part of the story. Last week was a difficult week for Renewal House – not only did we get an email a day about a domestic violence homicide in Massachusetts, we also witnessed our residents and community members suffer abuse by their partners. As we listened to the stories and experienced the reality of survivors feeling trapped in relationships that were unhealthy and unsafe, we felt overwhelmed with grief and frustration. Even though we do trainings and have many answers as to why people stay in abusive or controlling relationships, we still found ourselves wondering, what more can we do? Where are we going wrong? The fact is that we need all of you to support us in this effort. No matter how much funding domestic violence and sexual assault programs receive, the problem of abuse is much greater than programs can accomplish alone.
We need you to reach out in love and compassion.
We need you to have conversations about your experience of healthy/unhealthy relationships. We need you to encourage friends and family who you suspect are in violent or abusive relationships to talk with you or to reach out to resources in their community.
We need you to connect with your faith leader and discuss ways your congregation can support families who are experiencing abuse or violence. We need neighborhoods, community groups, and businesses to see themselves as a part of the solution to end abuse in families.
Granted, this can seem overwhelming. And yet we hope you agree that no one should suffer alone in a violent or abusive relationship. This Valentine’s Day weekend, and in the weeks ahead, make a commitment to reach out in the ways described above. Feel free to call us for support and resources. And know that it is often difficult to be a friend or family member of someone experiencing abuse or violence. Click here for some guidance and pointers.
Here are some other ways to get involved in the effort to end domestic violence and sexual assault:
Renewal House, a program of the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, is a domestic violence shelter located in Roxbury. In addition to our shelter services we also offer community support groups and advocacy as well as educational groups for community members, agencies, faith communities and schools. If you would like to get involved and/or find out more about what services we offer, please call 617-277-4194
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