Yolo County – October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On October 1st Empower Yolo, in partnership with local businesses and organizations in Yolo County, kicked off its 5th Annual Paint Yolo Purple – Month of Action campaign. October’s Paint Yolo Purple (the color purple representing Domestic Violence Awareness) campaign is meant to raise awareness about domestic violence, and help fund Empower Yolo’s essential intervention and prevention services for victims of domestic violence.
This year’s awareness efforts will also focus on broadening our dialogue and being more inclusive. Empower Yolo will host Sandra Kim, Founder and President of Everyday Feminism on Wednesday, October 23 for a special luncheon and presentation. In an effort to expand our collective work and expand our notions of domestic violence work rooted in feminist praxis, Sandra will provide insight into bringing intersectionality and inclusiveness into our daily feminist work and into building an intersectional and inclusive movement to end domestic violence.
It is a wonderful opportunity for Empower Yolo in partnership with the Women’s Resources and Research Center at UC Davis to host Sandra Kim. “I understand that I as an activist and feminist, and we as a society, cannot hope to offer healing or even the possibility of true societal change, unless our work considers our own participation in societal, cultural, racial, and gender power dynamics. Sandra Kim, as founder of Everyday Feminism, seeks to help us understand our own part in supporting a society that condones marginalization and violence against multiple identities, thus empowering us to challenge the structure for the benefit of all. Intersectional and inclusive activism is the path to helping us eliminate domestic violence, says Cathy Farman, Empower Yolo vice chair of the board.
Empower Yolo’s efforts to help survivors of domestic violence have been successful. In 2018 Empower Yolo provided safe shelter to 286 survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking for 22,333 bed nights. In addition to shelter, Empower Yolo also offers many other services to survivors of abuse including: legal advocacy, therapy for adults and children, support groups, financial empowerment services, help with transitional housing and much more.
“I’ve served on the board of Empower Yolo, since it was the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center and before it merged with Center for Families. My pride in the work of Empower Yolo has only grown, as its mission has expanded to be the front-line service provider for Yolo County’s most vulnerable residents. We assist those who have suffered sexual and/or domestic violence, as well as those who need help participating in the safety nets offered by our community–helping people find food, housing, medical benefits, and other support services. Our client navigators are experts in locating resources within Empower Yolo, the county or with other local nonprofits. We provide services to thousands of people every year–free of charge,” says Farman.
The Paint Yolo Purple Campaign includes: a countywide umbrella and phone charger drive at Empower Yolo offices, and resource centers. The campaign’s kick off event was Mojo’s Celebrity Bartending Night in Woodland on October 3rd. Thank you to Mojo’s and our celebrity bartenders, Cathy and Chuck Farman. If you weren’t able to attend the event stop into Mojo’s for the cocktail for a cause, which benefits Empower Yolo for the entire month of October.
Other events include: the Yolo Association of Realtors’ 14th Annual Affiliate Golf Tournament at the Yolo Flier’s Club in Woodland on October 7th which will benefit Empower Yolo; registration is at 8:30 a.m.; and a Luncheon & Presentation with Sandra Kim on October 23 in Davis; rsvp to [email protected]; $50 minimum donation is requested; only a few seats are still available. To learn more about Sandra Kim go to: https://everydayfeminism.com/speakers-bureau/sandra-kim/.
For dates, details, umbrella drive locations and a full calendar of events go to empoweryolo.org, or pick up information on-site at Empower Yolo, 175 Walnut Street in Woodland, or the D Street Family Resource Center, 441 D Street in Davis. Help us Paint Yolo Purple in this Month of Action by following us each day in October to learn more about how you can support survivors of abuse, and by participating in these great events.
You can also help by donating online any time this month at empoweryolo.org in honor of or in memory of survivors you know who have been impacted by domestic violence. Help us reach our goal of $10,000 to help support our emergency shelter, and to run vital programs for our clients.
Through your support and participation Empower Yolo will have more opportunities to broaden our reach to help more clients and learn to be more inclusive. Our awareness efforts this month are meant to help us “update our feminist learning and to help us better listen to the voices of marginalized people,” says Farman. Join us this month in the dialogue and movement to end domestic violence in our community.