October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and that ribbon serves as a reminder that Domestic Violence is a very real horror for many people.
I get to wear purple Converse sneakers, and wear purple ribbons, and paint my nails purple, and give out purple ribbon stickers to anyone who will listen to me talk about domestic violence.
As part of my day job, (yes, I am not a full time author!) I will be emceeing the YWCA Mohawk Valley annual TAKE BACK THE NIGHT event to raise awareness, salute the survivors, mourn the lives lost, and gather with like minded allies to support people going through or who have gone through domestic violence. That event takes place Tuesday, October 22, in Utica. We will host a march through town shouting out chants in solidarity, to let the community know we are not going away, we will not back down, and it’s time to TAKE BACK THE NIGHT.
Speaking of Solidarity, this weekend I will be guest speaker at an art exhibit event titled Solidarity, taking place at Main Street Mercantile in Little Falls, NY. The artwork of survivors of domestic and sexual abuse is featured in this exhibit, and I am honored to speak at this event pulled together by an amazing woman I met through the Y many years ago, Kali Schafer. Unlike the Y-sponsored Take Back the Night event, I will be speaking as a survivor, not a staff member of YWCA MV.
And while the event takes place in the domestic violence awareness month of October, the artwork features pieces from survivors of both domestic and sexual violence. You see, the two are often entertwined, and are inextricably linked by a common denominator the normalization of violence against women perpetuated by society and cultures for thousands of years.
I’ve spent a lifetime living in the shadows of abusers who did not know they were abusers. They were men. Loving fathers, potential boyfriends, boyfriends, bosses, co-workers. Priests. Yes, even priests.
Although I don’t have any artwork on display, I will be sharing poetry I’ve written about working with survivors and dealing with my own trauma. I will also share excerpts from my memoir I am writing about a life of abuse perpetuated by the Rockville Centre Diocese and the family priest we were entrusted to for more than ten years as children.
So, whether you have a story you’ve hidden deep in your heart, or you’re coming to support me or any of the artists, or you just want to be there for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, or even if you just love shopping at Main Street Mercantile . . . come on down Saturday, October 12, 2024 beginning at 6 p.m.
And if you feel like getting rowdy and raising a little “hell-ooooo world” energy, join me and my co-workers and survivors and allies at our Take Back the Night event on Tuesday, October 22, 7 Rutger Park, Utica, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Remember, if you are being victimized by sexual or domestic abuse, you are not alone. If you are in Oneida County, call the YWCA Mohawk Valley domestic violence hotline at 315.797.7740. If you live in Herkimer County and are a an adult survivor of sexual abuse as a child or sexual abuse as an adult, call 315.866.4120.
And if you are experiencing Domestic Violence and are a resident of Herkimer County, give Catholic Charities a call at: 315.894.9917.
Outside of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, check out RAINN.
Domestic Violence in the USA victims go to: The Hotline.
Help is just a phone call away.
We got this.
Janina Grey 