COLUMBUS, Ind. — Turning Point Domestic Violence Services is inviting the community to participate in a number of activities designed to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
“Connection is Prevention” is the theme for this year’s observance, which will begin Monday and continue through Oct. 24. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the organization’s in-person events and activities have moved to virtual or drive-thu events for safety reasons.
Events planned include:
- Drop-ins with Moby and the Prevention Team: From 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at Clifty Park and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Pence Park and apartments, join the Bartholomew County Prevention Team for activities.
- Wear Purple Day is Oct. 22, with those who do being asked to tag Turning Point on social media @TPdomesticviolenceservices.
- Also on Oct. 22, Men Take a Stand 2020 is planned, with the program and Stand Up Award set for noon at Columbus City Hall. Turning Point is calling on all community members to stand up for healthy relationships and this event with the men of Bartholomew County will be about taking a stand against domestic and dating violence.
- From 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 22, in the United Way Center parking lot, there will be a “S’mores Healthy Relationship drive-thu family activity, in the parking lot at 1531 13th St. S’mores making kits will be available to the first 100 families in the drive-thru event.
- On Saturday, Oct. 24, members of the Prevention Team will be attending the Donner Park Halloween Fall Fest from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Full month of October: The IUPUC Feminism Club, Turning Point, IUPUC Student Affairs and the Indiana Playwrights Circle, have joined forces to raise awareness and to educate the community about domestic violence by recording original monologues. They may be viewed on the IUPUC website at iupuc.edu/campus-life/title-nine/dvam.
Surrounding county events
Shelby County: Men Take a Stand 2020 in Shelby County has gone totally virtual. To team up with one of seven ambassadors, visit Facebook.com/tpdvshelby/.
Jackson County: At Brownstown Middle School and Seymour Middle School, students have created posters with healthy relationship messaging. At the Jackson County Public Library, Turning Point has a video message playing on its “Teen Page.”
Brown County: From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nashville United Methodist Church will partner with Turning Point Brown County and artist/therapist Martha Bowman from Centerstone to paint rocks that may be used to inspire others. Refreshments and other artistic opportunities will be available.
