HopeWorks Honors Domestic Violence Victims

COLUMBIA, MD - From Hope Works: In the United States alone, three women a day die because of domestic violence.[i] This silent epidemic touches every community in the country, including Howard County. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Across the nation, local communities will engage in various campaigns to alert the public about this social issue.

As part of a series of events for DVAM, HopeWorks of Howard County will host a Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, October 5, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in their training space at the Nonprofit Center at 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, Maryland. During this free event, community members come together to remember those who have lost their lives because of domestic violence. Doors open at 6:45.

The Candlelight Vigil will feature insight from survivor/advocate Deborah Kevin, poet/advocate Brooke Abercrombie, Detective/Corporal Molly Gale from the Howard County Police Domestic Violence Unit, Jennifer Pollitt Hill, Executive Director of HopeWorks, and music from harpist Sarah Dubac. Community members will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on ending violence in our community during a participatory moment of reflection.

According to Jennifer Pollitt Hill, Executive Director of HopeWorks, “The vigil is an opportunity to connect with the people behind the statistics of domestic violence. Victim/survivors of domestic violence are not “those people” – they are “us” and the annual HopeWorks vigil reminds us of the very real toll this violence takes on our community.”

For more information about the Candlelight Vigil and other events please contact Vanita Leatherwood, Director of Community Engagement, or call 410 -997 - 0304.

About HopeWorks

Founded in 1978, HopeWorks of Howard County is a private nonprofit agency. HopeWorks’ mission is to support and advocate for people in Howard County affected by sexual and intimate partner violence and to engage the community in creating the change required for violence prevention.

Image via Hope Works