October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month was established in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to bring together advocates across the country that are on the front lines of battling the very serious issue of domestic violence.  It is defined as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.”  The statistics continue to be staggering with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical abuse.  And it is not only women and men who are affected. Millions of children are witnesses to domestic violence causing lifelong effects. 

October is the month when we concentrate dedicated resources to heighten the awareness of the impact of domestic violence. Purple ribbons are displayed to represent the millions of adults and children affected by domestic violence. Candlelight vigils are held to remember victims who lost their lives to domestic violence and to honor survivors who have been able to transcend to a safe, happy life. Bringing attention to the plight of victims of domestic violence resulted in the passage of the first Violence Against Women Act sponsored by then Senator Joe Biden in 1994. 

WINGS is an active member of several coalitions including the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence.  These coalitions bring together advocates from across the state and the region to increase awareness and to educate the public on how to help. Each year, WINGS staff, volunteers, graduates and supporters participate in candlelight vigils, speaking events and conferences to highlight the widespread problem of domestic violence.

This year, we are taking it a step further to provide you with facts and statistics about domestic violence and ways you can get engaged in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.  Daily email correspondence will be sent throughout the month to provide information about how you can help.  If you are not on WINGS email list, sign up today. 

Everyone can and should play a part in ending domestic violence. While these are things that you can do all year long to stand against domestic violence, I hope that you will make it a focus to do some of these things this October.

• Share WINGS social media posts with your friends and encourage them to share
• Sign up to receive WINGS emails by clicking HERE and encourage your friends to sign up
• Forward WINGS emails to friends and family and tell them why you support the important work WINGS does
• Attend candlelight vigils to honor survivors
• Support WINGS financially
• Support WINGS with in-kind donations to the program and to our resale stores
• Volunteer time at WINGS
• Take the pledge to say NO MORE at https://chicagosaysnomore.org

I hope you will take action during Domestic Violence Awareness Month to help us break the cycle of domestic violence and bring FREEDOM to those caught in the cycle!

Sincerely,                                                             

Rebecca Darr
Chief Executive Officer