City of Milwaukee Hosts 3rd Annual Love Without Violence Conference During Domestic Violence Awareness Month

MILWAUKEE—The City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention and Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is calling on all Milwaukee area residents to wear purple on Purple Thursday, October 21, 2021 to stand in solidarity with local survivors and to honor the lives lost to domestic violence. The effort is part of the annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Milwaukee. Several buildings in Milwaukee will shine purple in solidarity, including the Wisconsin Center, Mitchell International Airport, the Hoan Bridge, and other local businesses and organizations.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from a national “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 through the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who work to end intimate partner violence. Locally, Mayor Tom Barrett, the Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, along with local organizations stand together to:

• Honor those who have lost lives because of domestic violence
• Celebrate those who have survived
• Increase community awareness of resources and services
• Educate on all forms of domestic violence and warning signs

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Office of Violence Prevention will host the 3rd Annual Love Without Violence Conference October 20-22. This year’s conference will be a virtual event that can be accessed through Zoom conference and Facebook Live on the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention page. The virtual format will allow for more survivors and advocates to attend this critical conference. Participants can register for the virtual Love Without Violence Conference at bit.ly/OVPLove.

The conference will feature three days of dynamic speakers and compelling conversations on the realities of domestic violence. It will bring together survivors, advocates, and organizations working in the area of family violence to educate, mobilize and raise awareness to support efforts to prevent domestic and intimate partner violence in the community. Equity will be a central theme of this year’s conference as participants look at the systemic factors that perpetuate violence, including racism, patriarchy, and sexism.

The City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention joins its national allies in emphasizing a call to action to bring not only awareness to the issue of domestic violence but demand action to break the cycle. The City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention asks everyone to commit to doing at least one thing to help prevent domestic violence through awareness, advocacy, or posting on social media using the hashtag #DVAM21MKE. By taking a stand, the nation is reminded that there are still countless people impacted by domestic violence, including survivors, their children, families, friends and the community.

Locally, the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention asks every individual, employer, and organization to wear purple on Purple Thursday, October 21 to show support for survivors. Residents are asked to share their purple on social media using the hashtags #PurpleThursdayMKE and #DVAM21MKE. Through the Office of Violence Prevention and the Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the City remains committed to raising awareness of the issue and engaging all segments of the community in putting an end to domestic violence.

For immediate support or shelter, please call the ASHA Project at (414) 252-0075 or the UMOS Latina Resource Center at (414) 389-6510.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.