Trumbull Clothesline Project Gives Voice to Victims of Domestic Violence

Trumbull, Ct. — As part of the annual observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Trumbull, town residents will once again partake in the 9th annual Clothesline Project to raise awareness and give voice to victims of violence and abuse.

A tradition which began on Cape Cod in 1990, the Clothesline Project is now observed in communities across the country and features t-shirts decorated by survivors of domestic violence, as well as by their friends and supporters. These t-shirt allow participants to express their feelings about the impact of violence and abuse in a way that raises public awareness about domestic violence.

The Clothesline Project is sponsored by The Center for Family Justice with strong support from Trumbull Cares, the Trumbull Library, Trumbull Rotary Club and Trumbull Woman’s Club.

The t-shirts that are part of this year’s project will hang from a clothesline near the Trumbull Library between Oct. 14 and Oct. 21. A small number will also be on display during CFJ’s annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Vigil, scheduled this year for Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Nichols Improvement Association.

T-shirts are available for the public to decorate at the Trumbull Library’s Quality Street service desk.

“The Clothesline Projects enables survivors, as well as their friends and supporters, to make a powerful statement during Domestic Violence Awareness month,” says Debra A. Greenwood, President and CEO of The Center for Family Justice. “It is an inspirational and symbolic way to draw community awareness to this cycle of violence which impacts every community.”

Stephen Hodson a member of Trumbull Rotary has been involved in organizing the Clothesline Project in Trumbull for several years. “The Clothesline Project has become a tremendous vehicle for survivors of domestic violence to progress in their healing by writing, drawing or finding other creative ways to express their feelings in a t-shirt that is hung on a line in the autumn breeze,” Hodson said. “Students of all ages have also participated by decorating shirts in support of survivors and this has led to an increased awareness in both the schools and the communities where we live.”

For More information or to participate in the Clothesline Project call the Trumbull Library at 203-452-5197

 

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR FAMILY JUSTICE

The Center for Family Justice Inc. (formerly The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County Inc.), brings all domestic, sexual and child abuse services – crisis intervention, police, prosecutors, civil/legal providers, counseling – under one roof, in our headquarters in Bridgeport, CT. Together, we work to break the cycle of violence by helping those in crisis restore their lives. Although our name has changed, we continue with the work we have provided for 12 decades, providing free, confidential, bilingual crisis services in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. It is the comprehensive services our partners are providing that are streamlining the road to healing and self-sufficiency.

 

Within the past year, The Center answered more than 1000 calls on a 24-hour crisis hotline; assisted with the civil and criminal court processes for more than 2,500 survivors of domestic violence; responded to more than 500 survivors of sexual assault and their families; provided a safe home for more than 150  women and children fleeing domestic abuse; coordinated the investigations of more than 283  cases of child sexual and severe physical abuse, developing service plans for the young survivors and their families; and provided psycho-educational support to more than 1,200 survivors of domestic violence, planning for their safety and promoting self-sufficiency.

 

As part of our mission, The Center educates approximately 4,600 members of the community about the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse to prevent future violence and spread the word that about the services we offer at The Center for Family Justice. Annually, we teach more than 3,000 children and teens about building healthy relationships, bullying prevention and dating violence.

 

For more information, visit www.CenterForFamilyJustice.org.