Category: Current Events

We are thrilled to invite you to a special event that honors and celebrates you—our valued community members! Join us for Womanspace & Partners’ Community Appreciation Day, an end-of-summer celebration designed to give back to our incredible community for the unwavering support you have shown Womanspace throughout the year. And the best part? It’s completely FREE!

When:
Saturday, August 31, 2024 |. 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where:
Mercer County Community Park {East}
1346 Edinburg Rd., Princeton Junction, NJ 08550

Why You Should Attend:

This day is dedicated to showing our heartfelt appreciation for your continuous support. It’s an opportunity to come together, enjoy delightful food, engage in fun activities, and build stronger community bonds. This event is our way of saying “Thank You” for your commitment to Womanspace and our mission to provide support and resources to those affected by domestic and sexual violence. Your involvement and support significantly impact our ability to serve those in need.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you and express our gratitude in person. Let’s make this a memorable day for everyone!

For more information, please contact:

Varonda Kendrick at 609-649-4090 or email at dvvrt@womanspace.org

Strengthening Our Roles and Ecosystems for Social Change

with Deepa Iyer

During overlapping crises, how do we strengthen our ecosystems and sustain our own work for the long run? Join an interactive virtual talk by Deepa Iyer (Building Movement Project) to understand our social change roles, the characteristics of strong ecosystems, and approaches for long-term sustainability. You’ll leave with a framework and tools to anchor yourself and take back to your organization and coalitions.

This event will take place August 23rd at 6pm via zoom. Register for the zoom event here!

Honoring Elizabeth Smart, Child Prevention Abduction Advocate & Victim of Child Abduction

May 16^th, 2022 –  Almost 20 years after her abduction and a decade-long career in national advocacy work, Elizabeth Smart’s greatest achievement is simply surviving. “There are many things that I’m proud to be a part of – like AMBER Alerts and other safety legislation being passed,” Smart said during the virtual BBS event held via zoom on May 12th. “But I’m most proud of who I’ve been able to become in my adult life.”

Elizabeth Smart is the 2022 recipient of the 26^th Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award. In 2002, Smart was abducted from her home at the age of 14. For the next nine months, her captors controlled her by threatening to kill her and her family if she tried to escape. Since her rescue, Elizabeth has become an advocate for change related to child abduction, recovery programs, and national legislation. She is the founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, an organization out of Salt Lake City seeking to end the victimization of sexual assault and abuse through prevention, recovery, and advocacy.

The virtual event began with an introduction by CEO & President Nathalie Nelson who recognized the commitment Barbara Boggs Sigmund and her family have made to the Womanspace mission since the organization’s inception. Elizabeth Smart then gave a powerful retelling of her kidnapping followed by a Q&A led by Immediate Past Board President Rev. Matt Rhodes.

Rhodes and Smart discussed how faith can guide survivors through their healing journey: “I grew up very faith-based and it made a huge impact on my survival when I was kidnapped. Knowing there was an all-powerful God on my side was a comfort. As an adult, faith is still a big part of my life. Whatever brings you a greater peace is where you should be,” Smart said.

The conversation then led to Smart deciding to write her published book My Story. “For years I didn’t speak about my story. I had zero desire to ever write or speak about it,” recalled Smart. “When [the trial] finally happened, I was twenty-three and I had to spend multiple days on the witness stand. The next day I went to the grocery store with my mom and I remember looking at the magazine rack and seeing my face on every magazine. I glanced through one thinking ‘this is a list of facts and not my story’. If these facts are out there, I might as well give it context and meaning in my own words.”

Smart also addressed the #MeToo movement and the need for further education on the impacts of sexual harassment: “Sexual abuse is nothing new – it’s always been here. We have a gaping chasm in this country that we’ve been sweeping under the rug for years. These conversations can be really uncomfortable and triggering – but they are also so important and necessary to have.”

Finally, Rhodes and Smart wrapped up the Q&A praising advocates, volunteers, and professionals who support survivors. “I am so grateful for organizations like Womanspace. I have the deepest appreciation for every individual who takes on work in the field of domestic and sexual violence prevention.”

The Womanspace team thanks Elizabeth Smart for sharing her story with our community. Her heartfelt words of wisdom are making a difference in the lives of survivors. A massive thank you to our volunteers and donors who dedicate their resources to help victims of abuse in Mercer County. This night would not have been possible without our sponsors, volunteers, and staff members. We look forward to seeing everyone in person at next year’s Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award Event.

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Watch the Youtube Livestream Here!

Help light up the community with Womanspace for our 20th Annual Communities of Light™ 

December 6, 2021

In the early December winter, 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.

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Thank you to everyone who participated!

Hamilton Lighting with Kaitlynn Ely, Development Associate; Mayor Jeff Martin; Assemblyman Benson; and Hamilton Police

Princeton Lighting with Mayor Mark Freda; Nathalie Nelson, Associate Executive Director; and Board Members Fran Zeitler and Joan Bartl

Princeton Police Department

Pennington Lighting with Mayor James Davy and his wife Lucille Davy with Pennington Police

Old Hights Brewing Company with Michelle Bajwa, Board of Directors President and Councilwoman Cristina Fowler with friends

The Lawrenceville School Stanley House

Lawrenceville Community Members with Lance Maloney, COL Committee member and Paula Sollami-Covello

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Buy your Luminary & Virtual Luminary kits, Sponsorship, or make a donation to COL today!

Click here to download a Sponsorship Form

Interested in being a COL Neighborhood Coordinator? Click here.

Thank you to our sponsors!

 Michelle & Rashaad Bajwa   

      Brian Zack, MD    

      Chief William Spain   Joan Bartl     

Mayor Janice Mironov           

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Visit one of the following retail locations to purchase a luminary kit and support Womanspace!
Luminary kits are officially in! Please check with individual retailers as to their availability. 

Terhune Orchards (330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ 08540)
Pennington Quality Market (25 Route 31 South, Suite X, Pennington, NJ 08534)
Keller Williams (2355 Route 33, Robbinsville, NJ 08691)
McCaffrey’s Princeton (301 N. Harrison St., Princeton, NJ 08540)
McCaffrey’s West Windsor (335 Princeton-Hightstown Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550)
Dandelion Wishes (45 West Broad St., Hopewell NJ 08525)
Old Hightstown Brewing Company (123 West Ward Street Hightstown NJ 08520)

East Windsor Police & Court Building (50-98 1 Mile Rd Exd, East Windsor, NJ 08520)

Kits are also sold at the Womanspace Administrative Office (1530 Brunswick Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648)
*** Due to COVID-19, please call to schedule pickups. 609-394-0136

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The Mayors of Mercer County have been named the 20^th Annual Communities of Light Honorary Chairs. Without our close association with them, we would not be able to assist and advocate for our clients as seamlessly. Our Chairs are:

Janice Mironov of East Windsor, Bert Steinmann of Ewing, Jeff Martin of Hamilton, Larry Quattrone of Hightstown, Paul Anzano of Hopewell Borough, Julie Blake of Hopewell Township, Jim Kownacki of Lawrence, James Davy of Pennington, Mark Freda of Princeton, Reed Gusciora of Trenton, David Fried of Robbinsville, and Hemant Marathe of West Windsor.

“Supporting Womanspace is important, the mission of Womanspace is important. No one should have to endure abuse in any form.  Having advocates and a place to turn to is critical for anyone in this type of situation. Womanspace is deserving of support from all of us.  Please add Womanspace to your list of organizations to support.” – Mark Freda, Mayor, Princeton

The Communities of Light campaign launches every October in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness month. 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 6, which serves as a powerful symbol of hope for those impacted by domestic and sexual violence in Mercer County.

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Bert Steinmann of Ewing

Jeff Martin of Hamilton

Julie Blake of Hopewell Township

James Davy of Pennington

David Fried of Robbinsville

Reed Gusciora of Trenton

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National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It also provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. This year’s National Night Out will be held on August 3 at various locations throughout the county (see below):

Confirmed:

Ewing
Ewing Senior Center
Lower Ferry Rd.
6:00 – 8:00

East Windsor
Police Headquarters
One Mile Road
6:00 – 9:00

Robbinsville
Municipal Complex
6:00 – 9:00

Hightstown
Association Park
Grant Street
6:00 – 8:30

Hopewell
Stony Brook Elementary
6:00 – 8:30

West Windsor

West Windsor Community Park
6:00 – 9:00