Imagine a week without violence! Imagine women walking the streets at night
without fear. Imagine police officers without guns. Imagine female genital
mutilation, domestic violence and rape as faded memories of a long gone era. This is the vision of the movement of the YWCA of
Greater Los Angeles (YWCAGLA). This is
what the YWCA Week Without Violence works to achieve. Week Without
violence is a nationwide and international effort, against the violence that
exists in our communities. The YWCAGLA
Week without Violence encourages individuals and communities to identify
realistic and sustainable alternatives to violence. Violence in all its forms undermines our
quality of life. We organize the Week
Without violence so that people are reminded that there are ways through and
out of violence.
Imagine a second…a minute…an
hour…a WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE in our world!
Everyone is welcome to join the YWCA in our campaign to stop VIOLENCE!
Week Without Violence is observed
every third week in October, each day of the week includes a theme in the
campaign to promote a week without violence.
The weeklong education campaign addresses different types
of violence by exploring the following themes:
Day of Remembrance – October 14, 2012
The Day of Remembrance provides a platform for the
community, speaking about violence can help to identify feeling of loss and
anger, and to heal from them. This day
serves as a reminder that messages of peace and harmony can encourage people to
work together to eliminate violence in our society. Transform sorrow and grief
into hope and action.
Suggested Activities:
- Acknowledge and
Rebuild
– Hearing from others about their experiences of violence and loss reminds us
that we are not alone. Support and help
is available in many forms, through many different channels – join a support
group, contact a family service center YWCA or your local church.
- Contemplate and
Meditate
– Arrange a gathering to focus on meditative arts like Tai Chi or Yoga.
- Explore Your
Sensitivity
- Attend a Remembrance or Memorial Service
Protect our Children – October 15, 2012
Children are most likely to encounter violence in their
own home. Living in a violent home hurts
children even if they aren’t being directly abused. Often they have difficulty concentrating in
school. They can seem aggressive or
withdrawn and can have difficulty making friends. Children from families that are living in
poverty, poor housing, experiencing unemployment, substance abuse and family
violence are more likely to become involved in youth delinquency and adult
criminal activity according to the National Crime Prevention Council. Activities on this day provide youth and
their family with alternative to violence and promote available resources in
the community.
Community investment in family
support programs and accessible recreational facilities promote healthy family
relationships and positive child development. These programs can help families and children build healthier
relationships at home and at school.
We all know that child-rearing is
not an easy task, but hurting a child is never the solution. Child abuse affects the whole community, not
just the child and family involved. An
abusive childhood can leave a lifetime of physical and emotional scars. Consider these anger management ideas:
- Don’t
be afraid to ask for, or offer, help
- Give
yourself a break & put some distance between you and your child – stop,
take time out, go for a walk
- Take
ten deep breaths or splash cold water on your face
- Phone
a friend to let off steam
- Consider
why you are angry in the first place
- Practice
calmer ways of getting your message across
- Join an anger management class, and/or support group
Making our Schools Safer – October 16, 2012
Experience has shown the YWCAGLA that young people are
interested in learning how to be non-violent.
We also know that young people are very involved in affecting change in
their communities and have lots to contribute.
If we can reach young people with messages by other young people that
help them deal with the issues they are struggling with without causing damage
to themselves or others, we all win. The YWCAGLA works with teachers,
principles and parents to work towards understanding school-based violence and
finding solution to prevent violence in schools.
Bullying has been recognized as an issue in schools and
many schools and community agencies. The
fact that multiple forms of violence exist in intimate relationships, even in
the dating relationships of very young adolescents, means that girls and boys
are struggling with issues around power and control at a young age.
Suggested Activities:
- Random Acts of Kindness Challenge
- Essay, Drawing, Poetry and Photography Contest to express different feelings about violence.
- Play Out Violence – create plays or vignettes that explore healthy expressions of conflict and alternatives to violence.
Confronting Violence against Women – October 17, 2012
The California Bureau of Statistics reports that one in
four women have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual
violence as defined under the Criminal Code, since the age of 16. The YWCAGLA understands the grim reality of
violence against women; girls and women tend to internalize violence and
discrimination against them. Girls and
women often try to mask their pain through eating disorders, substance abuse,
self-harm and attempts at suicide. During this week the YWCAGLA inform the community of resources such as
shelters, parenting classes and workshops on healthy relationships and self
esteem that are available to help them deal with violence in their lives. The YWCAGLA believes in empowering women’s
self-esteem and promoting economic independence that can help women speak out
against violence.
Suggested Activities:
- Healthy Relationships Workshop
- Anger Focus Workshop
- The Clothesline Project
- The Hands Project
Facing Violence Among Men – October 18, 2012
The YWCA/GLA believes men can help stop violence by
acting as positive role models. By
demonstrating positive and healthy interactions between each other and women
they can teach other men and boys alternatives to relationships that rely on
domination and control. Increasing
numbers of men are realizing that they need to take responsibility for what
they do. Many are asking for help to
change the way they act. The YWCAGLA supports violence prevention education by
producing educational materials, and facilitating workshops.
Suggested Activities:
- Organize a seminar on Dating Relationships and Aggression
- Host a Boys and Men Sporting Event to emphasize that, win or lose, boys and men can learn from their mistakes without feeling ashamed, and that praise feels a lot better than put-downs.
Eliminating Discrimination and Hate Crimes – October 19, 2012
Discrimination is often a “hidden thing” in the
workplace, in schools and in the media.
By acknowledging that forms of bigotry such as sexism, and racism and
homophobia exists and communities can work toward change. The YWCAGLA eliminates racism and
discrimination by providing ways to understand that hate and discrimination are
supported by our society. The YWCAGLA
encourages the community to recognize and challenge the beliefs, values and
assumptions that sustain negative stereotypes.
Suggested Activities – 10 Simple ideas to eliminate
racism:
- Don’t laugh at racist, sexist, ageist, homophobic and other stereotypical jokes or assumptions.
- Make an effort to get to know people different than you.
- Learn about other people and their culture.
- Think before you speak.
- Be a role model.
- Don’t make assumptions.
- Explore the unfamiliar.
- Work on projects with members of groups different from your own.
- Be a proactive parent.
- Support anti-prejudice and anti-racist organizations.
Promoting Wellness: Healthy and Creative Alternatives to Violence – October 20, 2012
The YWCAGLA
believes it is important to take care of our physical, emotional and spiritual
well being all year round. Fitness
training and physical activity promote good physical health and can help
develop self-esteem, confidence and leadership skills. Accessible and holistic programs and
services, encourages active living, creative expression and personal well being
for women, children and men. Physical activity and creative projects can help
channel negative feelings into positive energy. When people feel good about themselves, they feel good about others as
well.
Suggested
Activities:
- Self-Defense classes
- Create alternatives to violence
- A Real Sport – Playing a sport, coaching, trying a new sport. “Walk/Roll-a-thon”, a “Bike Ride to Put the Brakes on Violence” or “Swim Against the Tide of Violence.”
