October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in communities across the country, and Walden is hosting a special awareness meeting for the St. Mary’s County Family Violence Coordinating Council on Wednesday October 26th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hope Place of Walden, 21770 FDR Boulevard in Lexington Park. 

 

Dr. Kathleen O’Brien, Executive Director of Walden and Chair of the St. Mary’s County Family Violence Coordinating Council, will present an informational session entitled “Why Doesn’t She Just Leave” to the group.  This presentation offers information about the nature of relationship abuse, challenges faced in escaping abuse, misconceptions about domestic violence, and local resources available to victims.  Attendees will also be able to view raw footage from the St. Mary’s County Family Violence Coordinating Council’s domestic violence awareness video project, to be shared by staff of the St. Mary’s County Public Information Office and Walden. 

 

A reception with light refreshments and the opportunity to tour Hope Place of Walden will follow the Council’s session. 

 

Other Domestic Violence Awareness Month special outreach activities facilitated by Walden include the exhibition on display at the Lexington Park Library Gallery through October 31st.  This exhibit features Clothesline Project t-shirt art created by trauma survivors and their supporters to educate the public about domestic violence and relationship abuse. 


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