Category: Current Events

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

 

Join us on Saturday, November 10 from 1-2:30 PM for a self-defense class benefiting Womanspace at Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in North Princeton. Please see flyer below for more details.

Womanspace invites the public to celebrate the launch of the 17th Annual Communities of Light on Tuesday, October 23, from 5:30-7:30 PM at D&R Greenway Land Trust, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ. The launch will include a free reception and a speech presented by the Communities of Light Honorary Chair. There will also be 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.

This annual event marks National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October). The campaign will culminate in the Communities of Light Luminary Lighting Event on December 3, 2018, which includes hundreds of individual participants and community groups throughout the 12 municipalities in Mercer County. To RSVP for the Launch Event please call 609-394-0136 or email eat@womanspace.org. 

The Women’s Council of Realtors will be holding a designer bag auction to benefit Womanspace on October 18 from 6-9 PM at the Mercer Oaks Country Club. Please see more details below.

Please join us on October 12 and 13 for an art show benefiting Womanspace. More details below.

Art Exhibit by Agata May’kowska
PROP & r.e.dSTORATION
37 N. Main St
New Hope, PA 18938

Short Artist Bio and Statement

Agata May’kowska was born and raised in Poland. She immigrated to Mercer County, New Jersey in 2005, where she has lived ever since. Agata survived extended periods of sexual and psychological abuse, leading her to become homeless.  She has recovered fully from these difficulties and has now spent years volunteering in online support groups and with a local “street church” ministry that helps the homeless in Trenton. She has gone on to create a successful small business and become a very happy single mother to her beautiful teenage daughter.  In late 2017 she decided to use her work as a platform to bring awareness to psychological abuse and provide victims with a visual form to express their struggle and the power and beauty of their healing.

Working with acrylics and mixed media such as paper, broken mirrors and fabrics, she has been dedicating her work mainly to inspire others to appreciate the complexity and beauty of emotional healing and to live their lives wholeheartedly.

The artist is donating 10% of sales from her art to support non-profit organizations in preventing abuse, educating people and helping victims recover.