TAKE ACTION MAINE: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

THE ISSUE

More than 10 million women and men experience intimate partner domestic violence each year in the U.S. In Maine, a domestic violence assault is reported to law enforcement every 2 hours and 5 minutes and comprise more than 40% of all assaults reported to law enforcement. Here and nationally, only about half of all domestic violence crimes are reported to police. 

Communities around Maine are holding events during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October to draw attention to intimate partner violence and rally support for prevention efforts. See below for a list of events and support centers.

EVENTS

• Oct. 1-31: Take Action Maine 2019, organized by Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence and their partners in the Take Action Maine Campaign. More info HERE. 

• Oct. 2: Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil in Skowhegan at 6 pm, organized by Family Violence Project Maine. More info HERE.

• Oct. 3: Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 pm in Indian Township, organized by the Indian Township Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center. More info HERE.  

• Oct. 3: End Domestic Violence Days: Piscataquis, 6 pm in Sangerville, organized by Partners for Peace. More info HERE.  

• Oct. 4: Daughters of Change Presents “The Opening,” 4:30 pm in Portland, organized by Daughters of Change and Through These Doors. More info HERE.

• Oct. 5: End Domestic Violence Days: Bangor, 11 am-1:30 pm in Bangor, organized by Partners for Peace. More info HERE.

• Oct. 7: Domestic Violence Vigils, 6 pm in Auburn, Rumford, Farmington, and Norway. Organized by Safe Voices. More info HERE. 

• Oct. 9: 22nd Annual Candlelight Vigil, 5:30 pm in Maliseet, organized by the Maliseet Advocacy Center. More info HERE.

• Oct. 10: Violence Against Women is a Men’s Issue, 3:30 pm in Orono, organized by UMaine Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, Rape Response Services, UMaine Honors College, and Partners for Peace. More info HERE.

• Oct. 10: Panel: What Trapped Me, What Freed Me: Survivors Speak, 6:30 pm in Augusta, organized by Holocaust and Human Rights Center and Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence. More info HERE.

• Oct. 16: Walk to End Domestic Violence, 5:30 pm in Rumford, organized by Safe Voices. More info HERE. 

• Oct. 17: Bar Harbor Domestic Violence Awareness Walk, 12 pm in Bar Harbor, organized by Next Step Domestic Violence Project and YWCA MDI. More info HERE.

• Oct. 20: Race to End Domestic Violence, 7:45 am-noon at the KVCC Alfond Rec Center, 15 Stanley Road in Hinckley. Organized by the Somerset Domestic Violence Task Force and the Family Violence Project. More info HERE. 

• Oct. 24: End Domestic Violence Days: Lincoln, 5 pm in Lincoln, organized by Partners for Peace and the Town of Lincoln. More info HERE.

• Oct. 24: Survivor Stories Project, 5:30 pm in Biddeford, organized by Caring Unlimited and Maine Repertory Theater. More info HERE.

• Oct. 24: Dine for Hope, 6 pm in Rockland, organized by New Hope for Women. More info HERE.

• Oct. 29: An Empty Place at the Table, 9 AM-6 PM in Damariscotta at the Skidompha Library, 184 Main Street. Organized by New Hope for Women. More info HERE.

• Oct. 30: Domestic Violence Summit: Building a More Accessible Safety Net for Survivors with Disabilities, 9 am in Lewiston, organized by Safe Voices. More info HERE.

• Nov. 2: Safe Havens Hearts & Hands: Addressing Domestic Violence in Skowhegan from 9am to 3 pm, organized by Family Violence Project Maine and Centenary United Methodist Church. More info HERE.

• Find more events HERE. 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY CENTERS IN MAINE

• Caring Unlimited, serving York County
• Family Violence Project, serving Kennebec & Somerset Counties
• Through These Doors, serving Cumberland County
• Safe Voices, serving Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties
• New Hope for Women, serving Waldo, Knox, Lincoln & Sagadahoc Counties
• Partners for Peace, serving Piscataquis & Penobscot Counties
• Next Step DV Project, serving Hancock & Washington Counties
• Hope & Justice Project, serving Aroostook County
• Wabanaki Women’s Coalition, serving Maine’s five Wabanaki Tribes
• Indian Township Passamaquoddy Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Center, located in Princeton
• Maliseet Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Center, located in Houlton
• Micmac Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Center, located in Presque Isle
• Passamaquoddy Peaceful Relations Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Center, located in Pleasant Point
• Penobscot Nation Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Center, located in Indian Island