Community Event Highlights: Safe Haven Domestic Abuse Center’s Candlelight Vigil

Safe Haven Candlelight Vigil

10/30/13

On October 10^th, Safe Haven Domestic Abuse Center in Shawano gathered for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Is the vigil an event, Safe Haven has hosted before?

Safe Haven hosts the vigil every year. This was our 11th year hosting the event at our facility.

Why a vigil?

A vigil allows us the opportunity to honor the victims that we may have lost but also give strength, encouragement and empowerment to those that speak out at the vigil to share their story. This a time for the community to unite to end violence in our community, while giving power (and control) to survivors.

How do you believe it helped sexual assault survivors?

It brings awareness (of our services and programming) to the community members that come to the event and allows survivors the opportunity to share their powerful stories and to have their voices heard and to be believed.

What did participants learn as a result of this event?

That are not alone and having a guest speaker share their story has a much larger impact to attendees. That impact results in an unbreakable bond of other survivors.

What did you learn as organizer (or one of the organizers)?

Having the survivors’ stories is important and brings a new level of awareness that is impossible to reach without their voice.

What are similar upcoming events readers might be interested in?

An event we’d like to highlight is our Take back the Night, which is held in April on the Shawano County courthouse front lawn. Survivor stories are a big part of that event.

Any resources you would like to point readers to?

The Courage to Heal Workbook: A Guide for Women and Men Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse by Laura Davis & Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A Women’s Workbook by Mary Ellen Copeland MS MA & Maxine Harris PhD

Two every powerful resources for survivors on their healing journey.

If you’d like to read more, an article was posted about this event in the Shawano Leader: http://www.shawanoleader.com/articles/2013/10/11/vigil-held-victims-domestic-violence

Thanks Safe Haven!