2nd Annual Men Speaking to Men to Stop Violence Against Women Conference
The African American Men of Westchester, Inc. (“AAMW”) in partnership with Beta Alpha Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., My Sisters’ Place, and Grace Baptist Church Men’s Ministry are hosting a domestic violence awareness and education conference (“Conference”) entitled “Men Speaking to Men to Stop Violence Against Women” on Saturday, October 15, 2010 at Grace Baptist Church, Grace Plaza, 52 South Sixth Avenue, NY 10550. The conference is free and the day commences with breakfast and registration at 9:00 AM. The program runs from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. A free lunch will be provided. RSVP at www.aamw.com by October 11, 2011.
Intimate partner violence is a crisis in many communities across the United States. The statistics are staggering and should be responded to with outrage: 85% of reported victims of intimate partner violence are female who are overwhelming assaulted by their male partners, collectively, 20 percent of female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner; and approximately 40 percent of women report coercive contact of a sexual nature by age 19. Most egregious is the fact that the leading cause of death for women ages 15 to 45 is intimate partner homicide. In other words, women are being killed at the hands of the person they trust and love.
Men, youth and other community members throughout Westchester County are invited to this premier day of workshops and presentations designed to facilitate discussions about the impact of domestic violence and the role that men play. MTV’s sought after DVD titled “Thin Line” will be shown with an innovative and educational performance by Collective Conscious Theater, and workshops will cover a range of issues discussing causes of domestic violence, consequences to the community and community responses. “Our goal is to start an ongoing dialogue that encourages accountability and responsibility in our males by shifting the focus of domestic violence from why she stays or stays silent, to why he is violent,” says Honorable Bruce E. Tolbert of Yonkers, and Chairman of the Committee.
Melvin Burruss of Peekskill and President of AAMW said “Verizon Wireless has partnered with the Conference sponsors to collect no-longer-used wireless phones to benefit violence survivors. Through Verizon Wireless Hopeline program, theses phones will be refurbished and recycled. We encourage attendees to bring an old phone to the Conference and potentially help to save lives. We know how prevalent the problem of domestic violence is, and the Hopeline program goes a long way in helping to keep domestic violence victims safe.”
Among the conference supporters are Entergy, Journal News, Verizon Foundation, Westchester County Board of Legislators, and Westchester Community Foundation. Participating sponsors include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.- Zeta Nu Omega Chapter, Pi Iota Omega Chapter, and Xi Chi Omega Chapter; Antioch Baptist Church, Union Baptist Church, and Westchester Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
For more information, contact Melvin Burruss at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone, 917-693-3041. AAMW is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. For addition information, please visit www.aamw.com.