#Every1KnowsSome1

Each year in October, advocates, survivors, and supporters recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year’s theme, #Every1KnowsSome1, strives to highlight how common domestic violence is in our lives and communities, and how it is far more prevalent than we realize. Centre Safe is asking the Centre County community to join us all month long as we raise awareness, hold events, and share resources in person and online, so that victims and survivors will know without a doubt that they live in a community who supports them and is working to end abuse.

Here is a snapshot of what to expect during the entire month of October:

All Things Purple

The Centre County Courthouse will be lit up in purple, and the Bellefonte and State College Boroughs will adorn the streetlights with purple lights. The gazebo at Fountain Park in Millheim will also have purple lights strung all month as a reminder to support survivors and to work to end abuse. Yard signs with supportive messages, local stats, and the Centre Safe hotline number will be placed near the light displays.

Community Events

The Centre County Board of Commissioners will proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month at their October 4^th meeting. After the commissioner’s meeting, all members of the community are invited to please join Centre Safe and the Better2gether Collaborative at the Gazebo in Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte for an event to recognize organizations in Centre County who provide services and support for victims of domestic violence and child abuse. The event is from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. All media is encouraged to attend.

#PurpleThursday 

On October 20th, all community members are encouraged to wear purple to show support for survivors. Centre Safe also invites everyone to join them in the #PurpleThursday social media campaign by wearing purple, sharing a photo, and mentioning @CentreSafe as our local resource for individuals and loved ones experiencing abuse. It is our hope during #DVAM that survivors are supported and that everyone in Centre County learns that help and resources are available. Media are encouraged to wear purple on all live broadcast stations to raise awareness about domestic violence and to share about local resources

Traveling Exhibit and Memorial

All too often domestic violence results in death, and it creates a painful void for families and friends who’s loved one was murdered.  Each victim had family and friends left behind; each one held a place at the table in their family’s homes. Their murders now leave an empty place at those tables.

All October, Centre Safe will display the Empty Place at the Table exhibit at the four YMCA branches of Centre County. The exhibit will have individual place settings on a table representing each victim who was killed as a result of domestic violence in Centre County from 1998- 2017.  Behind each of the victim’s place settings is information about their homicide. The table also includes information and resources on how to support someone you know or reach out if you need help. One empty place setting is too many, and each one of us can help to increase our awareness, believe survivors, and make a difference by choosing to act in supportive and informed ways.

“The Empty Place at the Table exhibit is a visual reminder of the deadliness of domestic violence and is a catalyst for social change. We hope this exhibit not only honors and remembers those in Centre County who were murdered in acts of domestic violence but also creates a commitment from individuals and our community to actively work to end domestic violence”

Dawn McKee, Special Projects Coordinator at Centre Safe

The exhibit will be at the following YMCA branches:

• • Moshannon Valley YMCA – September 26-October 2, 2022
  • State College YMCA – October 2-9, 2022
  • Bellefonte YMCA – October 9-16, 2022
  • Penns Valley YMCA – October 16-23, 2022

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Please direct any questions to centresafe@centresafe.org