MetroWest Women's Commission Hosting Domestic Violence Talks

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women will mark Domestic Violence Awareness month in October with a series of panel talks featuring local officials and experts discussing different aspects of the problem.

Here's more from an MWCSW press release:

The MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women invites you to a series of virtual panel discussions on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month. These events are open to people of all ages and are free, however registration is required. To register, visit the Commission's Facebook page. Registration will end at noon on the day of the event. You will receive a Zoom link to the event the afternoon of each event you register for.

Each Thursday we will be focusing on a different aspect of domestic violence. We begin on Oct. 7 with a panel featuring those on the frontlines combatting domestic violence followed by a discussion with family members of victims of domestic violence on Oct. 14. Our Athena Council will host a listening circle for teens on Oct. 21, and on Oct. 28 we will host a roundtable discussion with those involved in our school systems about what is being taught regarding healthy relationships in our schools.

• Oct. 7: On the Frontlines—Organizations and Services Combating Interpersonal Violence in the MetroWest and Greater Massachusetts. Panelists will include Mary Roche, Outreach and Prevention Specialist for Voices Against Violence; Hema Sarang-Sieminski, Esq., Policy Director for Jane Doe; and Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan.
• Oct. 14: Shattered—The Impact of Interpersonal Violence on Loved Ones: Families Share Their Stories. Panelists will include Malcolm Astley and Mary Dunne, parents of Lauren Astley (1993-2011) and Stephanie Deeley, sister of Kim Boleza Parker (1967-2013).
• Oct. 21: But is it Love? Teens Discuss the Crisis of Interpersonal Violence and What THEY Need. A teen-only listening circle hosted by the MWCSW's Athena Council.
• Oct. 28: The New Frontier—Advocating for Healthy Relationship Education in the Classroom: How Do We Get There? A round-table discussion open to teachers, administrators and school committee members to discuss what schools are already doing to teach healthy relationships, the resources available to educators and school leadership and to brainstorm in-a-perfect-world curriculum models for teaching healthy relationships in our schools.

The MWCSW was enacted by law and established on Jan. 8, 2015, to give voice to all women in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts. We strive to provide a permanent, effective voice for the women living and working in the region. We work at the local level to raise awareness and advocate for issues affecting women in the 28 communities we represent: Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopkinton,
Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, Northborough, Norwood, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Weston and Wrentham.