For tickets: http://nantuckethospital.org/ways-to-get-involved/events/womenwellness/
Join us Monday, August 6th @ 7 pm
Come support comedy and A Safe Place!
Walk In Her Shoes Sunday, June 24 was a success thanks to our Nantucket community! Our sincere thank you for all the walkers and volunteers.
JOIN US for WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES 2018, the Agency’s signature fundraising event on Saturday, June 23rd. This year the entire Nantucket Community is invited to walk up Main Street to raise awareness of the profound issues of domestic violence and sexual assault on our beautiful island. Men, women and children will walk to promote knowledge and sensitivity of these issues which we are fighting every day. The success of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes means so much to everyone at A Sa
fe Place. With the community’s past support for the past five years, we’ve been able to raise awareness about sexual violence against women by teaching both men and women how to be “empowered bystanders.” While this day is full of fun, it drives home this important message and is a symbolic gesture for all of us to express empathy for women who everyday face the threat of violence.
Last year over 60 men & boys showed us they could “strut their stuff” in the highest heels. This year we are inviting women and children to participate in the Walk – with or without high heels
Registration is only $20 and we encourage businesses, clubs and other organizations to form teams and challenge each other for the most funds raised. Check out our Crowdrise page at: www.crowdrise.com/WalkaMileinherShoesNantucket2018 and on Facebook @asafeplaceACK
Please join us at Children’s Beach Saturday June 23rd 10AM, Rain Date Sunday June 24th. Hope to see you there!
Please take a moment to read and reflect on the names of those in Massachusetts who were victims of Domestic Violence Homicide since last October. Honor their memory by moving forward with resolve to help those currently struggling with violence in their homes and to work to prevent violence in the future by modeling healthy relationships.
A Life Has Ended
A life has ended, with the passing of a friend,
the memories of times, have come to an end,
their threads wove the fabric of an earlier day.
A life has ended, with the passing of a friend,
sunrises and sunsets, bright days and dark nights
circled again and again, and gave context to this life,
moment after moment, their life was lived each day.
A life has ended, with the passing of a friend,
lives have been touched by the dear one’s journey,
laughter, tears, hopes, fears, a life has come to an end
memories hold their spirit alive, in my own life.
A life has ended, with the passing of a friend,
the loss of future moments, that will not be,
grateful for moments shared, that nourished me,
moments lived, in casual belief, they would never end.
A part of me has ended, with the passing of a friend,
be they gone from the earthly plane, their spirit soars,
to renew again, in summerland, heaven or another life,
I know not where, but their love remains with me,
for in this life, we friends, did share.
I miss my friend, but they will always be near, inside
of me, inside you, and all who took time to hear,
the music of this life so dear, a life now silent,
living only in the memory, of those who survive.
Copyright Abby Willowroot 2009
photo courtesy of Shawn Monaco
You can spend time doing something with your family and friends (or by yourself) and still support A Safe Place!
Make your donation to Take a Night Off online or print out the RSVP Card (PDF) and send it to A Safe Place, 5B Windy Way, Nantucket, MA 02554.
1. If you suspect a friend or family member is in an abusive relationship, encourage her or him to get help.
2. Call the police if you hear or see a couple or family fighting.
3. If someone discloses abuse, listen without judgment and offer help when she or he is ready to seek help.
4. Take claims of abuse seriously. Domestic violence affects women and men who differ by age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, and cultural background.
5. Distribute A Safe Place cards and brochures to help raise awareness about the various forms of domestic abuse.
6. Educate yourself and your loved ones about domestic abuse, and recognize that domestic abuse is characterized by a pattern of power and control.
7. If you suspect that a friend or family member is in an abusive relationship, seek help to learn about how you can best support your friend or family member.
8. Talk to your children about building healthy relationships and how to recognize signs of abuse.
9. If you see a couple getting into an argument, create a simple diversion—such as asking for the time or directions—to help de-escalate the situation.
10. If you witness a friend or family member abusing his or her partner, express your concern and encourage your friend or family member to seek help.
11. If your child witnesses abusive behavior, explain why the behavior is wrong or hurtful and seek help if needed.
12. Familiarize yourself with domestic violence red flags, and seek help if your partner:
13. Speak up if you see an animal being hurt.
14. Be aware and inform others that animal abuse is linked to domestic violence.
Please take a moment to read and reflect on the names of those in Massachusetts who were victims of Domestic Violence Homicide since last October. Honor their memory by moving forward with resolve to help those currently struggling with violence in their homes and to work to prevent violence in the future by modeling healthy relationships.
Passing Beyond Sight
Those we love must someday pass
beyond our present sight…
Must leave us and the world we know
without their radiant light.
But we know that like a candle
their lovely light will surely shine
To brighten up another place
more perfect… more divine.
And in the realm of Heaven
where they shine so warm
and bright.
Our loved ones live forevermore
in God ’s eternal light.
We hope that you are participating in the Silent Witness prevention and awareness competition this month. Use this form ASP Silent Witness Project (PREVENTION COMPETITION) – PDF to write all the tips you find on each witness and return to A Safe Place.
Bullying is a problem most of us witness in our lifetime. Whether we are the bullied, the bully or an observer, we know what it is and what it looks like in a classroom, on the playing field, on the bus, or in the work place.
Cyber bullying is the newest way for people to tease, taunt and hurt other people. It can occur 24 hours a day and can be done anonymously which makes it that much more damaging – there are few limits.
According to Ryan’s Story, the website operated by Ryan’s parents, John and Kelly Halligan, early concerns about Ryan’s speech, language and motor skills development led to him receiving special education services from pre-school through the fourth grade. Ryan’s academic and physical struggles made him the regular target of a particular bully at school between the fifth and seventh grade. In February 2003, a fight between Ryan and the bully not only ended the harassment at school, but also led to a supposed friendship.
However, after Ryan shared an embarrassing personal story, the newly found friend returned to being a bully and used the information to start a rumour that Ryan was gay. The taunting continued into the summer of 2003, although Ryan thought that he had struck a friendship with a pretty, popular girl through AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Instead, he later learned that the girl and her friends thought it would be funny to make Ryan think the girl liked him and use it to have him share more personally embarrassing material—which was copied and pasted into AIM exchanges with her friends. On October 7, 2003, Ryan hanged himself in the family bathroom. After his son’s death, John discovered a folder filled with IM exchanges throughout that summer that made him realize “that technology was being utilized as weapons far more effective and reaching [than] the simple ones we had as kids.”
Aftermath: There were no criminal charges filed following Ryan’s death because no criminal law applied to the circumstances. Seven months after Ryan’s death, Vermont’s Bully Prevention Law (ACT 117) was signed into law by Governor Jim Douglas. John Halligan also authored Vermont’s Suicide Prevention Law (ACT 114), which passed unchanged in April 2006.
You can read more case studies here.
The simplest definition of cyberbullying is the use of technology by a young person to harass, embarrass or threaten another young person. Some common examples* of cyberbullying are:
* Nancy Willard with the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use (CSRIU) has developed this useful taxonomy of the various forms of cyber bullying. Visit CSRIU’s site.
Most of us have heard of chat rooms, text message, facebook, instant messenger, twitter and perhaps instagram. These are the most widely used electronic mediums and most familiar to youth and adults alike. Of course, every day there seems to be some new website or “app” that is gaining in popularity. Myspace is out. Snapchat is in.
Recently, some mobile apps that tout their anonymous posting ability have been gaining popularity. These can be very welcoming opportunities for people bent on bullying. This article in NY Magazine describes several anonymous apps and what their capabilities are and this Boston Globe article describes the fallout some users of the apps have experienced.
Here is just one quote from the NY Magazine article that exemplifies how dangerous these can be:
App Store description: “Yik Yak acts like a local bulletin board for your area by showing the most recent posts from other users around you.”
What makes it different: Yik Yak is beloved by teenagers (and loathed by their teachers), who use it for all manner of anonymous shit-talking. Will Haskell wrote earlier this year about how Yik Yak’s text-only posts “brought [his] high school to a halt,” after messages like ““K. is a slut” and “The cheer team couldn’t get uglier” made their way onto the app.
On June 29th, from 11am-1pm at Children’s Beach, Nantucket men, lead by members of Man Up will have the opportunity to do just that in a walk-a-thon event to raise funds for A Safe Place.
photo courtesy of Peggy Peattie/San Diego Union-Tribune/ZUMA Press
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® is an event designed to raise awareness about violence against women by asking men to literally walk a mile in high heeled shoes. It’s not easy to walk in these shoes, but it’s fun and will help the Nantucket community think and talk about some difficult issues: gender relations and men’s sexual violence against women.
We are encouraging good natured competition between teams and individuals who will be vying for prizes based on their creativity and fundraising totals.
Getting involved is simple. 
Just click to register or donate!
PHOTO BY GREG BARNETTE/Redding.com
This will be an eye-opening experience or many, a fun spectacle to watch for women, and, we hope, a conversation starter for all.
Please call our office if you are interested in volunteering or sponsorship opportunities.
