Safe Shelter of Berrien County to hold candlelight vigil in St. Joseph on Oct. 22

Published 9:34 pm Friday, October 3, 2008

By Staff
ST. JOSEPH – In conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October), Safe Shelter of Berrien County will hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, Oct. 22 in memory of victims and survivors of domestic violence.
"It is important for the community to attend the vigil to honor and remember those who have died because of domestic violence," said Paula Durren, President of the Board of Directors for Safe Shelter. "The event allows us to share and give hope to those who are still in that situation, and also to educate the community as a whole."
The event will begin with a silent march in memory of victims and survivors of domestic violence.
This will start at the Berrien County courthouse at 811 Port St. in St. Joseph and end at the Priscilla U. Byrns Heritage Center at 708 Market Street in St. Joseph. Persons interested in participating in the walk should meet at the courthouse at 6 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., a ceremony will be held at the Heritage Center. Survivors will have an opportunity to share their stories to help bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence.
This year's Candlelight Vigil speakers are Cheryl Rogers, J.D., Director, Non-Profit Legal and Management Assistance Project, Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence; and Karen Porter, Quality Assurance Director, Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board; and Ann Marie Jones, Assistant Professor of Social Work for Andrews University.
In addition, the Safe Shelter will sponsor a "Clothesline Project" on Oct. 22. This visual display will feature t-shirts decorated by survivors of domestic violence or by those who love them to represent their experience with violence. The shirts will be on display at the Heritage Center from noon until after the ceremony. Plain t-shirts and art supplies will also be available to anyone who would like to design a t-shirt.
"The shirts are a way of giving voice to the devastating impact of domestic violence and a way of celebrating survival," said Megan Regan, Safe Shelter Supervisor.
For more information, contact Safe Shelter at 269-925-9500 or visit the website at www.mysafeshelter.org.
Safe Shelter of Berrien County is a not-for-profit organization, established in 1976 to provide safety and empowerment to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault by advocating diversity while promoting justice and equality.