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Domestic Violence Awareness: Help Break the Silence!
Date: October 16, 2014
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Event Description
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this event is an opportunity to raise awareness about the issue and to support Family Shelter Service, a nonprofit located in Wheaton, which provides shelter and a multitude of services to victims of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse can take many forms and includes physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, emotional and financial abuse. Besides being an opportunity to fundraise for Family Shelter Service, the goal of this event is to reach out to the local community and provide a platform to discuss the topic of domestic violence; something which isn't often spoken about candidly. While many members of our community are victims of domestic violence, some don't know where to turn for assistance and others don't even realize that what they are experiencing is abuse. This event not only creates awareness of the problem in our society, but can offer a sanctuary to those who are in need of it as well. The program features two amazing women: Dr. Lourdes Ferrer, a survivor of domestic abuse who is also an education consultant, researcher, program developer, motivational speaker and author, and Lorena Gordon, an up-and-coming screenwriter and director whose production credits include The Wolf of Wall Street and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, among others. Following Dr. Ferrer's presentation, which will address her personal story as a survivor of abuse and the complex path to freedom, a clip of Lorena Gordon's short film Times Like These will be screened. She will then discuss why she chose to address this topic in her film and will facilitate a Q&A discussion about the film. The event will wrap up with a representative from Family Shelter Service providing statistics about domestic violence in DuPage County and educating the audience about the services which the organization provides to help people leave those devastating and dangerous situations.
