Wow! How quickly time flies! Here we are, leaving the winter behind and
heading into Spring time again. I sure am looking forward to a new
beginning with all that Spring brings to us. Green grass peeking through,
flowers blooming, and warm weather for days. |
I was also on the Family and Community Violence Prevention Committee for the second year, many service providers were able to come together due to a grant that Project Turnabout received through the Otto Bremmer Foundation. This committee organized a conference that was held at the Best Western Marshall Inn in Marshall, that took place on Oct. 21 and 22, 1998. The conference was terrific! The conference was focused on issues around violence prevention through both adult and youth tracks. We are now planning for a third conference that will be held next fall. If anyone has any questions, or are interested in information on attending the next conference, please feel free to call me.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. |
On Feb. 7 and 8th, 1999, I and two other WRAP advocates attended the 1999
Battered Women's Action Day at the State Capitol. WOW - what an awesome day
and event!
The two days were very empowering to many battered women,
advocates and community members. On Sunday Feb. 7th, 40 people came together
to discuss the legislative priorities that are going on right now, pending
bills that will or could affect battered women and their children, and
legislative priorities for the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women
(MCBW).
The next day, Monday Feb. 8th, was another terrific day. I was able
to meet with Representative Richard Mulder from District 21B. We talked
about current bills that are in the house at this time. As I and another
WRAP advocate were getting on the elevator, who happened to get on the same
time was Rep. Marty Seifert from District 21A. We were unable to get an
appointment with Marty due to the fact that he was in session that morning,
so we had a quick visit in the elevator. After visiting with our
representatives, we headed over to the Rotunda at the State Capitol for the
Rally.
Approximately 175 people were present and the rally was terrific!!! Poems
were read, songs were sung, a quilt made by a battered women's support group
was displayed, a wreath made by a WRAP coordinator was also displayed, that
had the names of battered women and children who had lost their lives due to
domestic violence in 1997. The femicide reports from 1989 to 1998 were read.
I and my co-worker, Hilka read off two of the ten reports. Overall, this day
was AWESOME, EMPOWERING, TERRIFIC!! If anyone is interested in attending
next year's Battered Women's Action Day, it will be held on Feb. 6th and
7th.
For more information, please call me at 1-800-261-1583.