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Cruise Night, 2012 - A Winter’s Evening Cruise of the Great Lakes: A Benefit for Catholic Charities Shelter Services
Sunday, February 26, 2012
5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Beech Activity Center
Reserve your tickets.
Join the “NO MORE” Campaign
A Call to Action – No More Domestic and Sexual Violence
This time of year, many of us will be gathered with friends and family to celebrate the holiday. We will enjoy food, fellowship and relaxation together as we think about the things for which we are thankful.
Yet, for many, this is not so. And for the family of Antonia Woods-Cratic, murdered by her husband in Wichita on November 12th, this holiday will never be the same. Antonia was Wichita’s 25th homicide victim of the year. What news stories didn’t capture is that she is the 10th victim of domestic violence killed by her partner this year. Domestic violence deaths in 2011 are 40% of all homicides. Antonia’s death makes it almost one a month. And we, agencies dedicated to helping victims of domestic and sexual violence, stand together to say, “enough is enough.”
Violence is increasing in our community. Victims have faced escalated and more violent physical assaults. Wichita police responded to an increased number of domestic violence calls during the first 10 months of 2011. Sexual violence advocates have assisted 298 people at the hospital reporting sexual assault to date in 2011. This is a 2% increase from last year. The numbers reflected here are only the numbers of people reporting. We know that many acts of domestic and sexual violence go unreported.
As the executive directors of Catholic Charities Harbor House, YWCA Women’s Crisis Center, StepStone, and the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, we are calling on the community to join us in a “No More” Campaign aimed at preventing domestic and sexual violence and increasing intervention support for victims.
What is needed to help stop the escalation of violence?
1. Hold public meetings on the issue
Talk about the issue openly to raise awareness that domestic and sexual violence affects every member of our community and work to identify solutions. The situation in our community demands better efforts to protect abuse victims and stop perpetrators before it’s too late.
2. Understand warning signs and learn what support services are available in your area. Call 211 or visit the websites listed below to find out what specialized support services are available. Attend a workshop or a training provided by our local domestic and sexual violence experts to learn more about how you can become a support person for a friend, family member, or coworker who has been a victim.
3. Increase funding for prevention and intervention services. Research indicates that when increased funding is provided to domestic and sexual violence services the general community is safer. Voice your support to local, state and federal officials for funding these essential services for women and other victims.
4. Stronger support for law enforcement and prosecution. More victim centered criminal justice systems encourage participation from victims and sends a vital message to offenders that the community will stand for this violence “No More”.
Join us in our “No More” Campaign. In the coming months we will be hosting community forums and working together to bring more awareness to this important community issues.
Women’s lives and our community are at risk. It is time that we say “No More!”.
Cynthia Colbert, Executive Director, Catholic Charities, Inc., http://www.catholiccharitieswichita.org/index.php/services/harbor-house/
Stacy Mann, Executive Director, YWCA, www.ywcaofwichita.org
Kit Lambertz, Executive Director, Stepstone, http://stepstoneks.org/
Kathy Williams, Executive Director, Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, www.wichitasac.com
Executive Director
Cynthia N. Colbert
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Wendy Glick
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Heather Welch
