Bend council declaring Domestic Violence Awareness Month

At Wednesday night’s meeting at City Hall, Bend City Council will declare October Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The proclamation will be followed by brief remarks by Saving Grace Development Outreach Coordinator Erin Rook about the agency’s awareness raising campaigns, the impact of domestic violence in Central Oregon, and ways for the community to get involved.

Saving Grace is raising awareness all month long in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).

Saving Grace is continuing with their “We’re here for the ONE” campaign. Two in three women will never experience domestic violence, Saving Grace is here for the one that will. This message can be found on posters, buttons and stickers around town. You will see purple flags in the Old Mill District, teardrop banners in the Newport Avenue neighborhood and awareness flags in downtown Bend in an effort to catch people’s attention and raise awareness.

As part of the awareness month the 2 nd annual “31 Men Against DV” campaign is taking place this October. This includes male community members sharing why they do not tolerate domestic violence in a short video clip. These video will be airing on the Saving Grace Facebook page as well as on the Saving Grace website on a daily basis throughout the month. This is another effort to show that domestic violence is not just a women’s issue, but a community issue and everyone should speak out!

Also, Cuppa Yo in Bend is sponsoring DVAM with a special flavor of the month (purple yo) and purple spoons for the month. The purple yogurt will be dedicated to DVAM and raising awareness in Central Oregon. We encourage everyone to visit Cuppa Yo for some “purple yo.”

Together we can raise awareness in our community that domestic violence is a serious, community issue.

Here is some brief history on DVAM;

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who was working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national level. The activities conducted were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes:

-Mourning those who have died because of domestic violence
-Celebrating those who have survived
-Connecting those who work to end violence

These three themes remain a key focus of DVAM events today. In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. Each year, the Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Saving Grace provides confidential and free family violence and sexual assault services and promotes the value of life without violence. For more information visit http://www.saving-grace.org/ or contact Lauren DuBose at 541-382-9227.