​Each year​ all student's at Ware High School respond to a school-wide writing prompt on healthy relationships.  After all student responses are posted on the walls of the school hallways for several weeks, ten writings are used to make posters with student photography.  These posters are currently up in the school. ​                   MORE POSTERS

Partnering to Address Domestic and Sexual Violence
​ Ware Regional Domestic Violence Task Force
and
Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership
Against Domestic Violence
 Present
 Partnering to Address
Domestic and Sexual Violence
 
Training is free of charge and open to the community
Thursday, November 12, 2015    12:00 – 2:00 PM
United Church of Ware, 49 Church Street, Ware
 
Today, many women who identify as Christian stay silent about abuse – often with tragic or fatal results - because of misconceptions about Christian teachings. In this training we will look at these misconceptions, consider how to address them, and discuss how faith communities and those working to end domestic and sexual violence can partner to promote peace and safety.  
Click here for PDF: Download File. 
 
To register contact:
Reverend Charles Taylor at revcharles@unitedchurchofware.net
Sister Angela at allsaintsparish@verizon.net
Pastor Deb Shepard at Triparish@verizon.net
or Monica Moran at moran9@comcast.net or 413-230-6938
(Please register by November 6th! A light lunch will be provided.)
 
This project was supported by Grant No. 2014-TA-AX-K018, awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Support for this training also provided by the Ware Regional Domestic Violence Task Force. Funding for the Task Forces is provided by the Towns of Ware and Hardwick through grants provided by the U.S. DHUD, and the DHCD, MA CDBG Program.  The Towns of Ware and Hardwick are equal opportunity employers.

Approximately 100 people came out Saturday afternoon in Ware to raise awareness about domestic violence.  The event, organized by Jennie Simmons and the Ware Regional Domestic Violence Task Force, included speakers, survivor art, and a one mile walk through downtown Ware.
 
The Ware High School Domestic Violence Task Force came out in force with more than 25 students holding signs such as ‘domestic violence - controlling what you do and who you talk to’, ‘healthy relationships -making decisions together’ and ‘healthy relationships -having outside friendships or activities.’
 
Speakers included Senator Anne Gobi, Representative Todd Smola, District Attorney David Sullivan, Ware Selectboard Chair Nancy Talbot, Reverend Charles Taylor, and local author and survivor of domestic violence JAC Patrissi.  Patrissi told the crowd, “Some day when there is no more domestic violence – and I assure you that day will come – we will look back at events like this and understand - this is how we did it.”

 Students from the Ware High School Domestic Violence Task Force produced a "must see" video on teen relationships. Video   The students were recognized by the Massachusetts Attorney General for the efforts

​In 2013, the Task Force worked with their partner, the Ware High School Domestic Violence Task Force, to develop a school-wide writing prompt about relationships.  All Ware High School students took five minutes during a school day to write a response to the question "What makes a relationship healthy?"  In 2014, the Ware High School Task Force worked with an after school photography group, Girl's Eye View, to turn some of the best writing prompt responses into posters using student photography. These posters, which feature student photography and student writings, hang in the halls and in the classrooms at Ware High School.