October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Join WLRC/CAN for a month of events centered on understanding the complexities of domestic violence and intimate partner violence and finding ways to support survivors.
Our last week of DVAM programming includes the following events:
SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE WITH DISABILITIES
Lecture
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27th
4:00 – 5:30PM
WLRC/CAN PROGRAMMING ROOM - 1101 W Taylor Street, 3rd Floor
This session will discuss the IL Imagines Initiative, which is a partnership between rape crisis centers, disability service providers and people with disabilities to better serve survivors of sexual violence. Presenters will also share information on interacting with and supporting survivors of sexual violence with disabilities with a special focus on Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and/or Deaf/Blind. This program is co-sponsored by UIC’s Disability Resource Center.
Presenters will be representatives from the IL Imagines Chicago Team:
- Jae Jin Pak is a self advocate with over 25 years of experience in supporting survivors of domestic/sexual violence.
- Michele Cunningham is the victim advocate at the Chicago Hearing Society, supporting survivors who are deaf and hard of hearing.
- Michelle Mendiola-McKinnie is the Youth Program Manager and Domestic Violence Advocate at Chicago Hearing Society, a division of Anixter Center.
- Kim Eischen is the Manager of Social Services and Advocacy at Chicago Hearing Society, a division of Anixter Center.
ASL Interpreters from CAIRS will be present thanks to the generous co-sponsorship and arrangement by the Disability Resource Center.
LETTER-WRITING SPACE FOR BRESHA MEADOWS
Friday, October 7 – November 16
11am – 4pm
WLRC/CAN Meeting Room – 1101 W Taylor Street, 3rd Floor
Fifteen-year-old Bresha Meadows of Ohio is currently incarcerated and facing a charge of aggravated murder for defending herself and family against her abusive father. WLRC/CAN has signed a solidarity statement in support of Bresha Meadows and the fight to bring her back home to her family. In further support, we have transformed our conference room into a letter-writing space for Bresha. Throughout the month of October we invite you all to spend some time in the room to write a letter of support to Bresha and learn more about the criminalization of survivors of abuse and violence. We also encourage everyone to visit the #FreeBresha site for further information about the campaign and ways to participate.
