Dear CUCC Friends and Neighbors,
October marks Domestic Violence Abuse Awareness Month. Statistics suggest that we all know someone who is currently living in an abusive situation or has suffered from domestic violence at some point in their past. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. (https://ncadv.org/statistics)This week, we also celebrate National Coming Out Day as well as the International Day of the Girl. In 2011, as the result of youth advocacy around the world, the United Nations declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. Its mission is “to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.” (http://www.dayofthegirl.org)
As we already know, sharing our own stories holds the key to healing and empowerment. The Movement to End Violence reminds us:
“Storytelling is at the heart of what we do as advocates and movement builders. There’s a story behind why we started doing this work, a story that keeps us going, a story that connects us, and a story that will bring others along.” (https://ncadv.org)
This week, I was part of a social media thread which included stories from female clergy, new seminary grads to retirees. The thread was a safe space to tell our stories, but the unfortunate truth is that these stories are not only from the past, but the present. Girls and women, all over the world, in our own communities, in our offices, in our own homes, are still living with violence.
This week is the Sandy Hook Promise, “Say Something” Week, which reinforces the power youth have to prevent tragedies and save lives when they Say Something to a trusted adult. This week, I encourage you to look closer, listen deeper, and “say something” if you have questions about someone’s safety. Spirit is leading the way, Rev. Jenny Shultz-Thomas