This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/16/2022 08:33 AMMadison Youth & Family Services (MYFS) is partnering with Daniel Hand High School (DHHS) students to present an evening of reflection and awareness to address sexual violence. MYFS along with Girls United, a DHHS student-led MYFS committee, and the Jane Doe No More organization will bring Shining a Light on Sexual Violence, including speakers and survivors addressing the issues of sexual harassment and assault, to the Town Green on Sunday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m..
According to MYFS Assistant Director Melissa Balletto, her department has had a strong female student empowerment committee for almost 20 years; its current iteration is known as Girls United. The group’s efforts include mentoring of younger students, working with local women’s shelters and domestic violence survivors, and on women’s health issues. Every year the group focuses on a specific topic or event.
DHHS student and girls united Co-President Katy Beiner said this event is extremely important for students and residents.
“We mentor 8th grade girls making that transition to high school, and the different social dynamics and coping mechanisms they might need. We’ve done a feminine hygiene drive, we’ve gone to local women’s shelters and read to the kids and do crafts with the kids,” Beiner said. “So, every year we’ve kind of tried to pick something that we are really passionate about and this year is sexual harassment and assault. We try to focus on fostering the support of community of girls within Hand specifically, and then we try to bring that into or community to support women who are affected by issues ranging from domestic violence to all manner of problems.”
Fellow Co-President Sydney Aboulian said the group is focused and impassioned to get the word out on this difficult topic.
“We are really passionate about the idea of girls working together and coming together to create projects, because we all are stronger when we work together,” Aboulian said. “We have done projects focused on our student community, but we also want to bring that out to the Madison community and the shoreline community. That is why this event is so important. Doing that, I think we reach a lot of people.”
Beiner added, “This year the project we’re focusing specifically on is sexual violence. That’s not to say it hasn’t been a problem everywhere and at Hand specifically in the past, but I think that it’s been on the rise, unfortunately. And I think that we’ve been noticing it more at Hand. I know I personally got involved because I’ve had some people in my life affected personally by this. So, we realized as a club that people were seeming to accept this as the norm and we wanted to sort of erase that acceptance and promote awareness in general.”
Though the most recent survey data collected by MYFS from Madison students on sexual assault indicates a large percentage of students state they’ve never been the victim, there is still some concerning information in the numbers.
According to data supplied by MYFS, the percentage of Madison students reporting being sexually harassed is much greater than sexual assault, and especially for LGBTQ+ students, as compared with students identifying with other sexual orientations. Also concerning is the high percentage of LGBTQ+ reporting multiple incidents of harassment in comparison to other orientations.
Balletto said the conversation about sexual violence is difficult but is becoming, if not easier, at least more possible.
“I think there is more talk about it now, which is critical. And we as a school community, and not just from those who identify as female, but from the school as a whole, I think we are feeling more comfortable talking on this topic,” said Balletto.
Girls United member Rebecca Wahl said she feels events like the Shining a Light presentation are incredibly valuable to a community for the simple fact it allows a forum to those wishing to speak and those wishing to learn.
“What I think I’ve gotten out of Girls United is finding supportive voices. I think the most important thing is sometimes creating the atmosphere and the platform to bring it up,” said Wahl. “Most people think that anytime you have a solution it has to be this giant thing, and you have to take these giant steps, but what I’ve learned through Girls United is that half of the battle is just putting it on the plate. That is something our presidents and our club has done so well—making our student body aware, but also making them receptive to that and moving forward from there.”
According to Balletto, there will also be two school forums held the week of the April 3 event for Madison students.
The Shining a Light on Sexual Violence: Girls United of DHHS with presentations with Jane Doe No More will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 3 on the Madison Green in front of the First Congregational Church. Residents are encouraged to buy a luminary light ($3 each or 2 for $5) to show support for this cause via Venmo through @Melissa-Balletto. All proceeds will go to care packages for victims of sexual violence receiving treatment in hospitals. Find out more at @myfs.girlsunited.dhhs on Instagram or contact Balletto@madison.org.