October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is the official beginning of spooky season...it is when we place sheets on our pets and pumpkins on our heads for themed photo sessions. You can find us binge watching our favorite scary movies and splurging on our favorite fall drinks. We embrace the falling leaves, crisp mornings, and long evenings. It is a time for softening, slowing down, and resting.

October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is a time of purple ribbons and fundraising events. It adds an extra layer of spookiness to the month for those of us who are haunted by experiences of intimate partner violence and domestic violence. The drive for awareness and education can feel out of-touch and overbearing. It can feel clinical.

This October, Whitehall non-profit We Are HER is embracing community. We are leaning into connection instead of education. We are very aware of the impact of domestic violence, so much so that we often focus on statistics instead of the fact that we aren't alone. What we've experienced can feel incredibly isolating, but we are not alone.

Below are podcasts from amazing community organizations. We hope that you are able to find support, strength, and inspiration from these incredible resources.

The FreeFrom Podcast: FreeFrom is dedicated to building an ecosystem of support, to ensure survivors of IPV and GBV have the resources to get safe, heal, and prevent future harm.

rePROS Fight Back: Join us for a deep-dive into reproductive health, rights, and justice issues like abortion, birth control, sex education, women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and more.

Narcissist Apocalypse: Narcissist Apocalypse is a Purple Ribbon Award-winning storytelling podcast...Our guests share their stories of abuse survival, providing a source of validation, education, inspiration, and hope for those going through similar experiences.

Root For Each Other: Designed to shed light on issues of domestic violence that continue to oppress victims daily - these conversations will educate and empower listeners to recognize the insidious footprint of DV in our communities as well as best practices for effective advocacy.

She Is Your Neighbor: Each week, we address hard topics like the connection between addiction and abuse, how violence impacts South Asian communities, learning from domestic homicides, and more.

Genesis The Podcast: Listen every week for fresh content related to domestic violence, to connect with world-renown professionals, participate in exclusive events and training opportunities, and take action against domestic violence.

We Are HER: Don't forget We Are HER's podcast is available for all journeying to become HEALED, EMPOWERED, and RESTORED. More information available at weareher.net.