October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.  Statistics show that in the United States, a woman is raped every six minutes and is battered every 15 seconds (Broken Bodies, Shattered Minds: Torture and Ill Treatment of Women, Amnesty International, 2001.)  No age level is immune from the potential of violence.  The Bureau of Justice states that ONE in THREE high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship.  These figures are sadly true and violence exists in every section of our society.  High school girls at Coe-Brown Northwood Academy are doing their part to spread awareness and make a difference to those working to combat this violence.  Members of the Athena Club, a leadership group for tenth grade girls, recently volunteered their time to do physical work at the administrative offices of “A Safe Place” in Portsmouth, NH.  “A Safe Place” was founded in 1978 to prevent and eliminate domestic abuse by providing crisis intervention, support services, education and advocacy to survivors, their families and the community.  All services are free.  The Coe-Brown girls were thrilled to have the opportunity to donate their time to such a worthy cause.  In addition to their volunteer time, the Athena Club wore ribbons, posted signs and participated in a self-defense seminar led by RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) Officer Diana Scott.   For more information about “A Safe Place”, contact Karen Toube, Community Services Advocate, at 603-890-6392.  The hotline number for those seeking help is 1-800-854-3552.

Pictured: left to right: Karen Taube (Community Services Advocate for A Safe Place), Jessie Felber, Amy Duderiwicz, Marianna Barnhart, Caryn Lasky (advisor), Christine Drew, Lily Poland, Anna Goscinski, Holly  Gahm (advisor), Laura Palmer, Anna Kofer, Megan Pogorek, Abbie Bowden.

        

 

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