Author Dodie Milardo, will sign her book Penelope’s Cruise on October 17 from 2-5 p.m. at the Zbierski House at Eastern Point Beach, Groton.
by Emma Palzere-Rae
Since 1989, October has been Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Although this is a national campaign of awareness and support building, there are numerous events and activities that will be taking place in Southeastern Connecticut, sponsored by the Women’s Center of Southeastern CT, New London County’s domestic violence service agency. These activities are varied and will mark the time in many ways: mourning the victims who have died as a result of Domestic Violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence. Due to the enormity of the issue, Connecticut again chose the theme of Teen Dating Violence as its focus for 2010.
The month kicked off on October 1st, with a state-wide Walk in Our Footsteps, which creates a visual reminder of the hundreds of children affected by domestic violence each year by displaying children’s shoes to exactly represent the number of children served last year in CT’s 18 domestic violence shelters. Each of these agencies gathered on the green in New Haven for the display.
Other events include:
• Author event & book signing – Sunday, October 17, 2-5 p.m. at Zbierski House at Eastern Point Beach, Groton. Authors include: Susan Antilla (In the Boom Boom Room), Dodie Milardo (Penelope’s Cruise), Shirley Bostrom (Funny He Doesn’t Look Like a Murderer) and Christa Ryan (Silent Screams from the Hamptons)
• Unraveling the Knot of Domestic Violence – Monday, October 25, 7:00 p.m. at Blaustein Hall, Connecticut College: Allan Johnson reads from his novel The First Thing and the Last and discusses the epidemic of violence against women in our society.
• Purple Tie Tuesday – Tuesday, October 26: CCADV is sponsoring a state-wide day of awareness, asking men in our communities to don purple ties on this day. The Women’s Center has a limited number of specially-created purple ties available.
Join the Women’s Center for any or all of these awareness building activities during October! For more information on any of the above activities or to learn more about the varied services of the Women’s Center to address domestic violence and sexual assault to create a violent-free society, visit www.womenscenterofsect.org, call 860.447.0366×203 or e-mail epalzere-rae@womenscenterofsect.org. As always, if you or someone you needs help, call the Women’s Center’s hotline: 860.701.6000.
