Domestic Violence Awareness Month
First observed in October 1981 as a national “Day of Unity,” Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is held each October as a way to unite advocates across the nation in their efforts to end domestic violence. Communities and advocacy organizations across the country connect with the public and one another throughout the month to raise awareness about the signs of abuse and ways to stop it, and to uplift survivor stories and provide additional resources to leaders and policymakers. Each October the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County engages in several, countywide, grassroots outreach efforts to increase awareness.
Starting as a community effort in Schuylkill Township in 2021, DVCCC has expanded our Light the Night for Hope & Healing awareness effort and event, countywide! Our purple lights – decorating trees, gazebos, and historic buildings across the county – glow throughout the month to not only remember those we have lost to domestic violence in Chester County, but to shine as a beacon of hope to those who still may be living with abuse: you are not alone.
On Tuesday, October 6th at 6:45 PM, you’re invited to join our annual, countywide Light the Night for Hope & Healing event as part of our Domestic Violence Awareness Month efforts – and this year, we are doing things a little differently!
While there will still be a couple of speakers at each location, the heart of the evening will be an interactive experience:
- At Coatesville & West Chester’s events, participants will be invited to decorate luminary bags with messages of hope, healing, or remembrance and place a glowing purple tea light inside.
- At Phoenixville & Kennett Square’s events, participants will be invited to write messages on wildflower-seeded dove ornaments and hang them from our community trees as a living tribute.
Please wear your purple, make signs, raise your voices, and we have purple glow sticks ready for you to help us as we Light the Night for Hope & Healing!
West Chester – The Historic Courthouse, 2 N High Street, West Chester, PA
Phoenixville – Schuylkill Township Municipal Grounds, DVCCC Tree of Hope & Healing, 111 Valley Park Road, Phoenixville, PA
Coatesville – NEW LOCATION: The Coatesville Center For Community Health, 1001 Lincoln Highway E, Coatesville, PA
Kennett Square – DVCCC Tree of Hope & Healing, 600 S Broad Street, Kennett Square, PA
The Colonial Theatre presents a Domestic Violence Awareness Month Screening of
It Ends With Us
Wednesday, October 14th at 7PM – with an expert panel discussion to follow.
227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA
We are honored to continue our annual awareness partnership with our friends at The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville and are looking forward to exploring more about It Ends With Us – both the on screen portrayal of domestic violence as well as the real-life drama around the film’s production and release during our post-film panel discussion!
Link for tickets coming soon!
Every October in communities across Chester County, DVCCC “Paints the Town Purple” with ribbons hung from the light poles. Special thanks to Colonial Gardens in Phoenixville for supplying these beautiful ribbons. This year, keep an eye out for our ribbons in…
- West Chester
- Kennett Square
- Coatesville
- Phoenixville
- Oxford
- Downingtown
- Malvern
- Parkesburg
- West Chester University
- Lincoln University
We are so grateful to our local libraries for helping increase our outreach in October – this year keep an eye out for materials & displays at:
- Spring City Public Library
- West Chester Public Library
- Oxford Library Company
- Parkesburg Free Library
- Kennett Library
We also developed a book list – with both fiction and nonfiction selections – for you to explore throughout awareness month as a way to learn more about this issue.
Find a title and pick it up from your local library by using the catalog search and/or InterLibraryLoan at www.ccls.org
There is nothing like a warm cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa on a crisp autumn day in October.
To help enhance awareness, we have partnered with several coffee shops in Chester County this month to enhance outreach – with each location providing DV Awareness Coffee Cup Sleeves with their To Go cups!
You can find DVCCC’s Coffee Cup Sleeves this October at:
The County Cup – Countywide Locations:
Chester County Government Services Center
601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market Street, West Chester, PA
TCHS Pennock’s Bridge, Chester County Learning Center,
& ACCELerate Skilled Nursing and Rehab
Dia Doce/Cathey’s Coffee Bar
100 S High Street, West Chester, PA
Landhope Farms
Oxford: 250 Limestone Road, Oxford, PA
Unionville: 101 East Street Road (Routes 926 & 82), Kennett Square, PA
Saxbys Coffee at West Chester University
701 S High Street, West Chester, PA
