HOULTON, Maine – October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and to stimulate conversations on this topic here in the Shiretown, two events will be held. The Houlton Band of Maliseets’ Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Center will host its 18th annual Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, Oct. 1, while the Hope and Justice Project will hold the second annual “Talk it Up Houlton” event on Monday, Oct. 5.
On Oct. 1, the Maliseets’ vigil, held at the Riverside Gymnasium on tribal land, will include a presentation, ceremonial drumming, candlelight walk and the lighting of special tree with purple lights to help raise awareness. Refreshments will be served. The event is open to any individual who wishes to participate.
For more information, contact Susie Fink at 532-3000.
On Monday, Oct. 5, the Hope and Justice Project will host its event at the Houlton Amphitheater in Monument Park at 5:30 p.m. Houlton area community members are invited to participate in an evening of awareness-raising for abuse and violence prevention. Keynote speakers include Lieutenant Brian Harris of the Maine State Police, Sheriff Darrell Crandall of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, and Barbara Theriault, mother of the late Amy Theriault of St. Francis who was killed by her ex-boyfriend on May 31, 2014.
A candlelight vigil will take place in remembrance of the domestic violence victims who have been killed in Maine over the past year.
“We have been hosting awareness events in Houlton for Domestic Violence Awareness Month for as long as I can remember,” said Hope and Justice Project’s prevention educator, Leslie Gervais. “What I love about this event is that it helps shed light on the ways that violence and abuse impact us all as individuals and as a community as a whole. It is sure to be an inspiring night.”
In addition, earlier in the day, Hope and Justice Project will host a reading and craft activity at the Houlton Cary Library After-School Program at 3 p.m. Free purple T-shirts will be available to all participants. Purple is the awareness color for domestic violence.
Hope and Justice Project staff members work with anyone who has experienced or been affected by abuse or violence in Aroostook County. For more information, visit their website at www.hopeandjusticeproject.org or email them at info@hopeandjusticeproject.org. To speak with one of their advocates, call the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-439-2323. Services are free and confidential.
