Please join us for a self-defense class benefiting Womanspace, on April 6 from 2-3:30 PM at Princeton Academy of Martial Arts. Please see below for more information and to register.
Author: Erica Torsiello
The Vagina Monologues
Several local universities will be holding performances of The Vagina Monologues, with proceeds benefiting Womanspace:
Princeton University: Feb. 20, 21 & 22 @ 8PM: Theater Intime
The College of New Jersey: Feb. 21 @ 8PM: Mayo Music Hall
Click here for more information about The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler’s award-winning play.
Annual Appeal 2018: “Giving is the greatest act of Grace”
Peace begins at home is the cornerstone on which the mission of Womanspace was created 41 years ago. Inherent in that belief is the absolute necessity of respect and mutual respect. As adults, we lead by example, starting in families where young girls and boys can learn that they have the right to say “no” to unwanted touch. We need to teach our little girls that their voice matters and teach our little boys it is critical that they hear and respect those voices as well as knowing their own voice matters to say “no.” The news today is filled with so many stories about the violation of boundaries and about the voices of victims and survivors speaking out for the first time. It is imperative that we listen to those voices and help our children understand the importance of respecting the experiences of others.
As a parent, it is sometimes difficult to know how to talk about these issues. Children are never too young to learn about boundaries and respect. The root of violence against individuals, domestic and sexual violence starts early; therefore, the conversation needs to start now.
Talk about boundaries and respect. If you are a parent or a significant adult in a child’s life, you can emphasize everyone’s right to say no to an unwanted touch. Ted Bunch, Chief Development Officer of A Call To Men, helps to educate men on healthy, respectful manhood and aims to prevent violence against women. “We have to have conversations much earlier about respectful boundaries,“ Bunch said, “We’re talking about respecting your body and the bodies of others, being able to say no and understanding that someone is not supposed to touch me in certain ways.” A conversation with a child is imperative to tell them “If somebody wants to give you a hug, it’s OK to say, I don’t want a hug.” For older boys, this might mean cultivating a clear conversation about consent. It is important to model behavior at home.
Make it clear that emotions are OK. It is important to teach our boys to have the full range of emotions, let them cry and experience their feelings. Model gender equality at home, things like equal chores for daughters and sons. Most of all, tell your children they can come to you with anything without judgment that no topic is off the table. Raising kind children will ensure the maturing of kind adults.
Womanspace programs and services continue to evolve as needs in the community grow and change. This evolution includes being a daily voice in the community for respect and consent. Since 1977, Womanspace has served over 368,725 individuals effected by interpersonal violence; 71,393 women, 13,717 children and 5,153 men. During fiscal year July 2016 through June 2017, Womanspace served a total of 11,900 adults and children, providing them with critical lifesaving services including:
- Hotlines: Domestic violence and sexual assault crisis hotlines and Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline. Our 24-hour Emergency Services team responded to 6,476 callers.
- Emergency Safe House: 88 women and 75 children found refuge in our 24/7 safe house.
- Domestic Violence Response Team: Helped 102 children, 569 women, and 97 men through their trauma.
- Sexual Assault Response Team: Helped 13 Children, 43 women, and 2 men through their trauma.
- Individual Counseling and Support Services: Counseled 318 adults and children in their path to healing.
- Professional Training and Community Education: Over 5,301 individuals were educated and trained through these outreach presentations.
Please join us in our commitment to end domestic and sexual violence. Choose to give generously this year and know that your contribution will benefit thousands of adults and children who we serve here in the Greater Mercer County area.
“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
Let’s help to make that change!
#GivingTuesday Gift Match!
Your donation can provide double the financial resources to help victims of domestic and sexual violence. In honor of #GivingTuesday, a generous donor, Robin Gosnell, has offered to match all gifts made on November 27, up to $1,000. #Giving Tuesday is a day of global giving, celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which helps to kick off the charitable season. Click here to learn more.
Your support will help Womanspace provide crucial services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Please click here to make a donation, or you can send a check to our office (1530 Brunswick Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648), dated November 27. Thank you for helping us to prevent abuse, protect families, and change lives.
Communities of Light Launch 2018
Womanspace kicked off our 17th Annual Communities of Light project with a launch event on October 23 at D & R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, N.J. The evening included a free reception with food and drink donated by D’Angelo Italian Market, Terhune Orchards, Pennington Quality Market, and Terra Momo Restaurant Group, and music by young artists Sahil Navani and Dillon Schindler from Fusion Academy Princeton.
Pam Mount, owner of Terhune Orchards, served as the Communities of Light Honorary Chair and spoke to guests about the importance of community in supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence.
This annual campaign, which marks National Domestic Violence Awareness month, will culminate with a county-wide lighting of luminaries on December 3. Communities of Light helps Womanspace raise money and awareness about domestic and sexual violence, while spreading a message of peace and hope. For more information, or to purchase a luminary kit, please click here.
Special thanks to Pro One Photography.
Holiday Wish Lists
Help make the holiday season extra special for our clients! Please see our Thanksgiving wish list below or click here to download a copy. See our holiday wish list below or click here to download a copy. If you wish to make a monetary donation or to see our year-long list of needs, please click here.
Please note that we cannot accept frozen food and request that Thanksgiving donations be dropped off by November 16.
Please drop off holiday donations by December 1.
Womanspace Annual Meeting, 2018
Womanspace’s Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday, October 16 from 12-2 PM at the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton. The meeting included the annual report on the state of the agency and recognition of Womanspace staff and Board Members. Special thanks to McCaffrey’s and Milk & Cookies for donating desserts, and the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton for their hospitality. We were pleased to honor the following …
Staff:
Marsha Collins (10 Years)
Linda Singleton (20 Years)
Susan Adams (30 Years)
Board Members:
William Spain (21 Years)
Meaghan Cannon (24 Years)
Frances Zeitler (29 Years)
Maeve Cannon (29 Years)
Ed Schmierer (32 Years)
Executive Director Pat Hart with staff honorees Susan Adams and Linda Singleton.
(From Left) Board Members Ed Schmierer, Meaghan Cannon, Executive Director Pat Hart, Board Members Fran Zeitler, Maeve Cannon, and William Spain.
NJ Man of Strength and Board Member Ed Schmierer with Executive Director Pat Hart.
Board Member Fran Zeitler reads a poem about Domestic Violence.
Attendees enjoying lunch and the program.
Desserts donated by McCaffrey’s and Milk & Cookies.
Honorary Chair Announced!
Communities of Light 2018 Honorary Chair: Pam Mount
We’re excited to announce that Pam Mount, owner and operator of Terhune Orchards, will serve as our 17th Annual Communities of Light™ Peace Begins At Home Honorary Chair. Pam is an avid conservationist and agrotourism leader in New Jersey. Womanspace is thrilled to be working with Pam, a longtime supporter of Communities of Light and active member of the Mercer County community.
In addition to her role at Terhune, Pam has served on numerous state and local councils and boards, including the Lawrence Town Council, New Jersey Agricultural Society, Sustainable Jersey, and the Lawrence Community Foundation- just to name a few. Pam also served as mayor of Lawrenceville, and as a Peace Corps volunteer in the South Pacific. Pam was honored by the New Jersey Society of Women Environmental Professionals (NJSWEP) for her efforts to promote environmental sustainability in the local community and beyond, and has been honored for her Sustainable Jersey work. Pam has three children and nine grandchildren.
The Communities of Light campaign occurs every October in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness month. Beginning with our launch event on October 23, we encourage businesses, neighborhoods, and community organizations to purchase luminary kits, raise awareness of Womanspace’s services, and spread the message that “Peace Begins at Home.” The campaign concludes with a countywide luminary lighting on December 3, which serves as a powerful symbol of hope for those impacted by domestic and sexual violence in Mercer County.
Please join Womanspace for a free reception on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at the D&R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, New Jersey at 5:30 PM. All are welcome, but space is limited. Be sure to register by calling 609-394-0136 or emailing eat@womanspace.org.
Click here for sponsorship opportunities and more information on Communities of Light.
Save the Date! Barnes and Noble Book Fair
Womanspace’s annual Book Fair at Barnes & Noble (Princeton Marketfair) will be held on Thursday, December 13 from 9 AM-10 PM. You can also support through online purchases! Please see flyer below for more details.
Peace Begins at Home
Help light up the community with Womanspace for our
17th Annual Communities of Light™ Event
December 3, 2018
Link up – Illuminate- Light
During the winter solstice in December, Communities of Light™ (COL) candles line the streets of central New Jersey – a powerful symbol of hope for men, women and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in our community. Communities of Light raises awareness of the services available to help those victims in Mercer County. The candles come from luminary kits which help spread our important message that Peace Begins at Home.
December 3 Municipal Lighting Information
East Windsor: Lighting will be at 5PM at East Windsor Municipal Building followed by refreshments. 16 Lanning Blvd. East Windsor, NJ, 08520
Ewing Township: Ceremony will be held at 5PM at the Ewing Township Municipal Building. 999 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ, 08628-1544.
Hamilton: Lighting at Dan Benson’s office 4:15-4:30PM. 3691 Nottingham Way, Trenton, NJ 08690
Hightstown: Proclamation and lighting at 4:30-7:30PM in front of the Hightstown Public Library. 148 N Main St Ste 2, Hightstown, NJ, 08520-3249
Hopewell Township: Municipal Building lighting at 4:30PM. 201 Washington Crossing Pennington Rd, Titusville, NJ 08560
Lawrence Township: Main Street Association: Weeden Park at 4:30PM
Pennington Borough: Lighting at Town Hall. 30 N Main St, Pennington, NJ, 08534-2203
Princeton: 4:30PM-5PM SHARE lighting up Washington & Harrison Streets: Lighting, Post lighting reception: 5:30-6:30PM. Jammin Crepes reception (invite only)
Robbinsville: 4:30-5:50PM at the Municipal Building, light refreshments by Friendly’s.
Trenton: Lighting at 5-6PM Trenton City Hall. 319 East State Street Trenton, NJ 08609.
West Windsor: West Windsor Township: 5PM at the Municipal Building and Police Department. 271 Clarksville Rd, West Windsor, NJ, 08550-0038.
Community Lightings:
Rider University
The Lawrenceville School
Allentown Business Community Association
PASH
Princeton University- SHARE & Eating Clubs
Heavenly Havens Creamery- Allentown
Willamenas- Allentown
Palmer Square
Trenton Social
Click here for information about our Communities of Light Launch Event on October 23!
Filmed and Produced by @sarahcopleymedia
Communities of Light Retail Locations to Purchase Kits
Please note: kits will be available at retail locations by late October/early November. Please contact retailers for kit availability.
Amerikick, 2901 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Casa Aziz, 4 Hulfish St., Princeton, NJ 08542
Chance on Main, 34 South Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534
DiverseStyle Salon, 3371 Brunswick Pike US Hwy 1, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648
Domain Computer Services, Inc., 1 Corporate Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512
Doctor’s Express Urgent Care, 2222 Route 33, Suite H, Hamilton, NJ 08690
ERA Central Realty Robbinsville, 20 Main St., Robbinsville, NJ 08691
Everson’s Karate and Cardio Kickboxing, 2330 Hwy 33, Suite 102, Robbinsville, NJ 08691
Flip Body Fit, 2103 Whitehorse Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619
Greater Eldridge Park Neighborhood Association (GENPA), 78 Meriline Avenue, Lawrence Twp., NJ 08648
Hamilton Horizons Federal Credit Union, 3535 Quakerbridge Road, Ste. 600, Hamilton, NJ 08619
Hamilton Washery, 121 Graffam Ave, Hamilton Township, NJ 08610
Heavenly Havens Creamery, 33 South Main St., Allentown, NJ 08501
Investors Bank, 160 Lawrenceville Pennington Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Karl Weidel Insurance, 23 South Warren St., Trenton, NJ 08610
Lawrenceville Home Improvement, 2821 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
McCaffrey’s Food Market- Princeton, 301 N Harrison St, Princeton, NJ 08540
McCaffrey’s Food Market- West Windsor, 335 Princeton Hightstown Rd, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550
Mrs. G TV and Appliance Store, 2720 US-1 BUS, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648
Optique Boutique, 3371 US Hwy 1, Unit 154 Mercer Mall, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648
Pennington Quality Market, 25 Route 31 South Suite X, Pennington, NJ 08534
Princeton Center for Yoga and Health, 88 Orchard Road, Skillman, NJ 08558
Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
Tony’s Farm and Garden Center, 1369 Route 130, Windsor, NJ 08561
Weidel Realtors, 190 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
Wilhelmina’s Gift Shop, 6 Church Street, Allentown, NJ 08501
Click here to download a flyer.
Click here to download a Retailer Participation Form.
To read about our Honorary Chair, click here!
Get Involved today by purchasing a sponsorship and/or luminary kits!
Please note, luminary kits can be purchased at retail locations or on our website. If you purchase a kit on our website please visit our office (1530 Brunswick Ave., Lawrenceville NJ). We do not offer shipping.
