Tales from the Tent

One of the highlights of the summer so far was the summer Women Helping Women social/fundraiser for the local women's shelter. And I, being one of their social committee members, got to help with it! I did everything they needed me for--prepping up the silent auctions, running water to the guest speakers, wrapping up the prizes from the auction (including a fabulous Revel set of jewelry made by my own fair hands) and helping the guests take them to their cars, and disassembling the enormous tent they had rented. It was a good time, and the LaCASA staff really appreciated my efforts. They had gone ALL OUT for the event (trio of musicians including a harp player, fans in the tent, CICADA netting although those bugs haven't come this far north yet, and some uberfancy decorations), and it really paid off. We met capacity for the tent--700 guests and 40-some staffers running in and out to help them. What was especially surprising was the number of men there. I would say that among the 700 guests there were between 200 and 300 men. I was most impressed by the number of men because I feel it's an issue that they should get more involved in. They seemed as though they wanted to be there and help out the cause of aiding domestic violence survivors. The guests were pretty diverse--teens, adults, politicians, a minister, the owners of several local businesses, teachers, and even a local rock band named Avigilante to name a few.



I had arrived when the speakers began. Our speakers were a singer (and incest survivor) and the prosecutor for sex crimes in Queens, NY. The singer was first. She did a terrific acoustic song with an upbeat instrumentation, but some chilling lyrics about her experience. When she began to speak about her father's physical and emotional abuse of her, most of the audience was tearing up. It was heartrending--not just what he did to her but also how few people believed that harrowing story. The prosecutor was intense. She told her stories about the disbelief people have shown towards the survivors, and many people in the audience were crying by this time. It was heartbreaking to say the least, but it was also a good sign that the people cared.

My shift went until the end, so I stayed on to help the guests and dismantle the marquis tent when they had left (yep, I got to dismantle that huge tent in a dress! Yeah!). But seeing the crowds that showed up--all for the same cause--was so inspiring. They were all there because they cared about preventing and helping the survivors of sexual assault. They were there because they wanted to make a difference in their own way (several are now volunteering or working at LaCASA). It was an amazing sight and experience to behold.

I wish I could show this sight to anyone who thinks domestic violence is just the survivor's issue. The throngs of guests from our community and from other towns (not to mention the big staff) show that it is anything but! They really made me aware of the power of everyone's efforts.