Kicking Off Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By: Lauren Brisbo, Futures Without Violence Communications Team

Here at FUTURES, October connotes more than pumpkin spice lattes and trick-or-treaters.  It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a nationally-recognized effort to take a stand against gender-based violence.

As our president and founder Esta Soler mentioned in her TEDTalk last December, domestic violence in the U.S. has decreased by 64 percent over the past 30 years. But we still have a long way to go. The NFL’s recent handling  of domestic violence cases has shined a light on the fact that so much work needs to be done—not only to punish perpetrators, but also to educate players, coaches, and the public about healthy relationships.

We need solutions that engage men and boys, stop the victim blame game, and harness the power of technology and social media. In case you missed it, check out Esta’s TEDtalk, which charts three decades of tactics that have helped move the needle–from the Polaroid camera to Twitter.

This month, educate yourself and those around you about domestic violence. Together we can take a stand!

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