Art show kicks off Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Bridgeport, Ct. – No matter what medium, art can send a powerful message to its viewers.
As Sexual Assault Awareness Month begins in April, The Center for Family Justice will highlight the voices of survivors through its upcoming art exhibit Unveiling Courage from 5 until 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 4.
“Survivor art tells a story, and we need to listen,” said Nanja Raymond, Program Manager of Sexual Violence Advocacy Services.
Unveiling Courage will be held at The Center for Family Justice’s main building, located at 753 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport. Admission is free.
The art show kicks off April, which is both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has announced its theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024 – Building Connected Communities. Through our neighborhoods, campuses, and organizations – we can help reduce sexual assault and harassment.
Listening to Survivors and Bringing Together Community
Unveiling Courage will feature 30 pieces from people outside CFJ – survivors as well as allies who want to support the awareness effort.
The show will also highlight the work of CFJ’s advocacy staff, the Pro Bono Legal Center, the Latine Unit and the Prevention and Education Unit. Students from CFJ’s English As A Second Language class will also present a project they have been working on.
“I am very proud of our advocacy staff for finding a way to pull all these voices together for one, powerful message – that we hear survivors, that we support them, and that we will work to end sexual assault,” said Debra Greenwood, CFJ’s President/CEO. “I encourage everyone who supports what we do to come see this unforgettable collection.”
Unveiling Courage will begin with a short film, titled “One in Four,” referring to the fact that 1 in 4 women report being sexually assaulted on college campuses. A “Spoken Words” portion will feature participants who use poetry to explore what happened to them and how they cope.
The impactful installation “What Were You Wearing” will be back this year, as it continues to eliminate the myth that a victim can be blamed for wearing clothing that “invites” a sexual assault.
Raymond said that part of last year’s Art for Advocacy show really resonated with people, as mannequins used in the display featured actual outfits that victims were wearing during their assaults. There were dresses, t-shirts and jeans. The clothes were worn by men, women, and children.
Different people and cultures are impacted by sexual assault, Raymond explained.
“The whole point of this exhibit is that it doesn’t matter what you were wearing,” she said.
For more information about Unveiling Courage, contact CFJ at (203) 334-6154 and ask to speak to Nanja Raymond or Marisa Paquette.
To RSVP, email mpaquette@centerforfamilyjustice.org.
April Also Features Walk A Mile In Her Shoes
The Center for Family Justice will continue to engage its community against sexual violence of any kind when it holds its 12th Annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes® on Saturday, April 27th at the downtown Fairfield train station. The day begins with registration at 8 a.m. The walk starts promptly at 9 a.m.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® (WAM) is a fun and engaging community awareness event that serves to engage men and boys to take a step to end violence against women and girls. That event is coordinated by CFJ’s White Ribbon Campaign, a group of male community leaders.
Funds raised from the walk will support Elizabeth M. Pfriem Camp HOPE America – Bridgeport, CFJ’s evidence-based summer camp and year-long engagement and mentoring program for young people ages 7-17 who have experienced the trauma of domestic and/or sexual violence.
To register as a team or individual, or just to donate, go to https://bit.ly/cfjwam24. Registration is $25 per adult and $10 per student.
About The Center for Family Justice, Inc.
The Center for Family Justice breaks the cycle of abuse and violence – domestic, sexual and child – by providing services that create hope, restore lives and drive social change through education and community collaboration.
Our vision is to end domestic and sexual abuse and violence in our communities.
We believe that:
- Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.
- Collaboration with our clients, partners and communities is vital to achieve individualized choice, success, and empowerment.
- Trust is essential for our work in building self-sufficient survivors.
- Compassion and hope allow people to thrive and feel safe.
- Community education, awareness and outreach are essential to drive and maintain social change and justice.
For more information, please visit: www.centerforfamilyjustice.org
If you are in a crisis situation and need help, please call our 24/7 hotlines:
- Domestic Violence: 203-384-9559
- Sexual assault: 203-333-2233
- Spanish: 888-568-8332
- Text: (888) 999-5545
