WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE

YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. For more than 20 years, we have set aside one week in October as a Week Without Violence – a week to raise awareness and engage action to end the broad spectrum of violence – as part of a global movement with World YWCA to end violence against women and girls.

At YWCA, we know that not all violence is acknowledged or responded to equally and that some victims go unrecognized altogether. That’s why we focus on ending gender-based violence, including domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and harassment.

This year, we invite you to join us from October 18 – 23, as we move beyond resilience, helping lead women and girls from just surviving to thriving. During this year’s campaign, we recognize the limits and honor the significance of resilience in surviving violence but aim to collectively work towards healing and building thriving futures for survivors which also includes replenishment, rest, and recovery.

Imagine a World Without Violence

When we envision a world without violence, we begin to build a path to creating that world. Help us raise awareness about gender-based violence, support survivors, and envision a world without violence!

Today, and all through the week, we ask you to:

  • Take a Week Without Violence campaign selfie (or group photo) using one of our customizable signs, tag us on social and use the hashtag #WWV21, and then tag 5 friends and challenge them to do the same! Check out our useful Week Without Violence guide for more info and sample social media posts.

Can’t or don’t want to post a photo? Support usYWCA is the largest network of domestic and sexual violence service providers in the country, and your support is crucial to our work. Every year, we help 500,000 women, girls and families get and stay safe through sexual assault, trafficking, and violence prevention programs. Our YWCAs couldn’t do this critical work without support from people like you!

Monday, October 18th at 12:00 PM- Branch House Family Center Presents

Domestic Violence- Non-Fatal Strangulation

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/branch-house-domestic-violence-non-fatal-strangulation-webinar-tickets-170013983401

This hour-long training describes the dynamics and common tactics that characterize domestic violence, provides an overview of the scope and impact on individuals and society, explores the underlying factors that allow domestic violence to exist, and offers insight into the most lethal form of abuse, non-fatal strangulation.  This training aims to help new advocates, allied professionals, students, and the public achieve a basic understanding of the complex issue that is domestic violence. Branch House is dedicated to assisting individuals in obtaining the education they need to become valuable members of the domestic violence response in and around Sullivan County.

Childcare

As part of our mission to eliminate racism and end violence, we have identified ways to work toward healing discriminating mindsets in our region and in the next generation. We implement an anti-bias curriculum in our Children’s Center to help the youth we serve celebrate their own uniqueness and develop into individuals who are loving, kind, and accepting of the differences in others.

(Private Event for TechGYRLS only)

Bristol Public Library: Tween Book Club – Private Event

Bristol Public Library’s Teen Librarian, Abby Powers, will be reading from the book "When You Know What I Know" by Sonja K. Solter and will share a handful of other Young Adult titles focusing on domestic violence and sexual abuse for tweens and teens to honor the Week Without Violence initiative. Students will complete the activity by creating verse poetry surrounding the topic and other important aspects of their lives.  To get involved in the growing Tween and Teen Book Clubs at the Bristol Public Library, please contact Abby Powers.

Date: Monday, October 18, 2021

Day of Action

Capitol Hill Call-In Day
Strengthening policies that support survivors and help prevent gender-based violence starts with constituents like you! This Capitol Hill Call-In Day, we invite you to engage your Members of Congress by taking action online; calling your legislators; and engaging with these discussions on social media, using the hashtag #WWV21 and tweeting at your Member of Congress. Together we can paint Capitol Hill persimmon by demanding attention from our elected officials on the important issue of gender-based violence.

Get involved:

  • Act NOW: Urge your members of Congress to support policies that support survivors of gender-based violence and their families. Call on your legislators to express the importance of supporting VAWA, FVPSA, and the resolution to declare racism a public health crisis.
  • Stay connected: Sign up to receive our action alerts!

Make the Local Focal: Where do Your Elected Officials Stand?
Take action! Collective action requires collective responsibility, and it all starts with YOU! It is critical that we each engage with our local elected officials on the important issue of gender-based violence.  And to really make change we must engage our communities, friends, and colleagues.

Get involved:

  • Call on your friends, family, neighbors, and other community members to sign the Week Without Violence Pledge for Community Members to engage in ending gender-based violence.
  • Call on your local and state elected officials to sign the Week Without Violence Pledge for Policy makers to engage in ending gender-based violence, and/or encourage them to issue a proclamation declaring the third week in October to be YWCA Week Without Violence Week in your community.
  • Hold state and local elected officials accountable: Ask questions and find out what their positions are on policies that support survivors. Ask them how they will work to implement changes to end violence against women and girls, and to better provide support and resources. Use our policy resources to get started and check out more information about ways to take action in your community and with your elected officials on our Act Now page!
  • Write a letter to the editor! Use the template in the toolkit to get the word out to your community about the prevalence of gender-based violence in your community and the importance of building a community and a world free from violence.
  • Stay connected: Sign up to receive our action alerts

Children’s Advocacy Center : Child Safety Matters Program – (Private Event for TechGYRLS only)

Children’s Advocacy Center wants to ensure child safety across all of Sullivan County. As part of the Prevent 360 initiative, the CAC provides adult trainings on child abuse prevention through Darkness to Light, and student personal safety programs from the Monique Burr Foundation that have complimentary skills and a common language for children and adults to better communicate.

Presenter: Amanda White, Prevention Education

Date:  Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Wednesday, October 20th at 11:00 AM- Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County presents

Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/childrens-advocacy-center-identifying-and-reporting-child-abuse-webinar-tickets-170019521967

Sometimes we can see child abuse, but many times, we cannot. Moreover, what are we to do if we suspect or see child abuse? Join us for FREE to learn the nuanced signs of neglect and child physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as how to respond to and report it.

Bristol Chamber of Commerce, ETSU, and King- Racism, Sexism, Classism Day

Hands-on immersive experience for high school students to help them better understand the issues of racism, classism, and sexism, and how they can fight against these issues in their daily lives.

Reimagining the Role of Resilience

Join us for a panel discussion on how we can reimagine the role of resilience and build thriving futures for survivors by centering healing – including replenishment, rest, and recovery – and addressing domestic and systemic violence, as well as the root causes of trauma, which feed into the cycle of harm.

Abuse Alternatives: Internet Safety – (Private Event for TechGYRLS only)

Abuse Alternatives is excited to share internet safety skills with the YWCA TechGYRLS program during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Tammy Childress, the Community Education & Volunteer Coordinator, will discuss apps that are most used by internet predators, reporting internet stalking, and how to set privacy settings on the phone to help stay safe from internet predators.

Date: Thursday, October 21, 2021

Friday, October 22nd at 12:00 PM- YW CARES presents

Crimes Against Young Adults

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yw-cares-crimes-against-young-adults-webinar-tickets-170014851999

According to the Office of Justice Programs, in 2018, young adult ages 18 to 24 were more likely to be victims of serious violence than adults ages 25 & over. Throughout this training we will speak about the different crimes that affect young adults in our area, identify trauma-informed responses to these victimizations, and share local resources to help combat this growing issue in Northeast Tennessee.

Sullivan County Regional Health Department: Healthy Relationships – (Private Event for TechGYRLS only)

Sullivan County Regional Health Department Violence Prevention program will teach YWCA TechGYRLS information on healthy relationships including:  the characteristics of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, recognizing warning signs of unhealthy relationships, and how to advocate for yourself to promote healthy relationships in your life.

Date: Friday, October 22, 2021

#SelfCareSaturday       

Service providers, advocates, and activists in the fight to end gender-based violence all care deeply about these issues, and about the survivors they help each and every day. Unfortunately, this work can also cause vicarious trauma for individuals as they work with survivors who have undergone serious trauma or can retraumatize individuals who are survivors themselves.

Taking the time to engage in healing and self-care as a provider, advocate, activist, or survivor is an integral part of your own mental and physical well-being and will help make you an even more powerful advocate for your causes and clients.

Follow the YWCA NETN and SWVA social media accounts to learn about local resources, activities, and see our awareness efforts throughout the Week Without Violence!