ANDVSA promotes and sustains a collective movement to end violenceand oppression through social change.

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The NFL and Social Change:Let’s Continue the Conversation to End Domestic Violence

The level of media attention and public outcry around the Ray Rice case of domesticviolence is astonishing. We have not seen this level of public dialogue aboutdomestic violence since the O.J. Simpson trial over 20 years ago. Is it just acoincidence that both cases involved the world of the National Football League andits superstar heroes?

The current public discourse about domestic violence is complex, and there aremany layers to peel back to get at the core of the issue. It is not simply about oneindividual’s assault on his fiancée. It is not simply about an institution’s policy toimplement weak sanctions, or a decision to strengthen that policy. It is not about whyit is so difficult for victims to simply leave an abusive situation. It is also not simplyabout the graphic evidence of a brutal assault shown in video footage. No, it is muchmore complex than any of these elements.

For the first time in over two decades, people seem to be universally talking openlyabout domestic violence – at their dinner tables, at the water cooler, with theirfriends, families and coworkers. Everyone has an opinion. But it is important to takea step back and realize that this public conversation involves much more than initiallymeets the eye.

It is true that the world of the NFL, and football culture in general, exalts physicaldominance as a virtue. And there is growing research that domestic violence is aneven more common problem among football players than it is in the generalpopulation. However, it is illogical to draw a conclusion that football is to blame fordomestic violence, just as it is shortsighted to think that punishing one football player

for one incident, or firing a Commissioner for neglecting to implement more severepolicies sooner, will change the predominant cultural norms that perpetuate domesticviolence in our society. The reality is that domestic violence exists not only in familieswhere there are football players, but in all types of families. It is estimated that 1 in 4women experience domestic violence during their lifetimes, more than 12 millionpeople in the United States per year. We do not have the final numbers yet of howmany people sought domestic violence and sexual assault services in 2013, butgeneral sentiment from our programs is that we have seen a strong increase in therequest for services statewide.

As a result, we need to focus on shifting cultural norms that accept or toleratedomestic abuse. If we don’t focus on this kind of social change, we will be back herein another 20 years, expressing outrage, yet again, over another high profile case asif it is the first time it has happened.

We should not need to see a video to be outraged by the prevalence and severity ofdomestic violence. The words and experiences of survivors speak for themselves.We shouldn’t rush to point fingers as if blaming someone for this assault will solvethe epidemic of domestic violence that exists in our communities. Instead, we mustbe catapulted to action by the events and discussions in the media over the past fewweeks. To encourage men to step up, raise this issue, and have difficultconversations among other men about masculinity and violence. To acknowledgethe intersections of our discourse with race and gender oppression. To createopportunities for communities to get involved, for bystanders to learn how tointervene effectively, and for institutions to reflect on and strengthen their policiesaround domestic violence.

And through it all, we must never forget that here in Alaska, there are victims ofdomestic violence in shelters because their homes are not safe. Every one of them,and the dozens more who called our victim service agency hotlines looking forservices, deserve our full effort to change society so that all of our institutions, notjust the NFL, send a strong message that domestic violence will not be tolerated.

Safety Planning in Rural AlaskaDate: October 7, 2014Time: 2-3:30pm (Alaska time)

What's New from ANDVSA forAdvocatesDate: October 14, 2014 Time: 11am-12pm (Alaska time)

DV and SA Laws 101Date: October 21, 2014 Time: 10-11:30am (Alaska time)

Criminal Justice and Working withDA’sDate: November 4, 2014Time: 2-3:30 pm

These webinars are available for ourmember and affiliate programs only.For more information, including how toregister for these webinars andrecordings of past webinars, pleasecontact Ariel Herman ataherman@andvsa.org

October is Domestic ViolenceAwareness & Action Month!

Domestic Violence Awareness monthbegan as the "Day of Unity" which wasfirst held in October of 1981. The goalwas to connect advocates around thecountry. Today, this is a national eventthat thousands of people participate in.To learn more about the history visit:www.nrcdv.org/dvam/DVAM-history

Throughout Alaska our programs willbe hosting events to raise awarenessabout domestic violence,honor survivors, and to work togetherto create positive change in ourcommunities. To see what events aregoing on in your community, visit: www.andvsa.org/communities-servedand follow the link to your localprogram.

ANDVSA will be highlighting many ofthese events on our Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/andvsa Listed below are some featuredevents.

Anchorage:

Online Course, Understanding DomesticViolence & Sexual Assault

A great way to honor Domestic ViolenceAwareness month is to take this onlinecourse! In partnership with University ofAlaska Southeast, ANDVSA will host thisclass beginning on October 1st. The fiveweek online course can be taken at yourown pace and it is deisgned to increase yourunderstanding of how domestic violence andsexual assault impacts our world. ArielHerman, ANDVSA's Training ProjectCoordinator, will be teaching the course. Thedeadline to register for this course is October1st. The course costs $75 for non-membersand $55 for members. Scholarships formembers and affiliates are available. Tolearn more and/or registervisit: www.andvsa.org/onlinecourse/

Attorney General Award Jacob Sonneborn, of Ashburn and

Wednesday, October 1st from 12pm-1pm at the Covenant House Opening Ceremonies for DomesticViolence Action MonthHosted in part by AWAIC

Barrow: Hosted by AWIC Wednesday, October 1st Pick up flameless candles and purpleribbons at Utiqiagvik PresbyterianChurch on Sunday to display in thewindow on October 1st in solidarity withvictims and survivors of domesticviolence.

Kenai: Hosted by The LeeShoreCenter The LeeShore Center will be holdingtheir semi-annual CommunityAwareness Workshop on DV/SAOctober 6-10. Invited guest speakersinclude representatives from the KenaiDistrict Attorney’s Office, Office ofChildren’s Services, Independent LivingServices, Kenai Police Department,Kenai Youth Facility, and agency staff.Facilitator is Barbara Waters,Educational & Training Coordinator forLeeShore. This 40 hour training costs$35 which covers all materials and isopen to the community as well asrequired training for all new LeeShorestaff. Call (907) 283-9479 for moreinformation.

Juneau: Events hosted throughAWARE5th Grade Poster ContestFriday, October 3 from 4:30 to 7pm atthe JAHC Come see the creative posters Juneau

Mason, is the AG Award recipient foroutstanding service to domesticviolence victims. He will be honored atthe annual Domestic Violence Actionkick off event in Anchorage on October1st at noon at the Covenant House.Jacob has helped ten victims ofdomestic violence, sexual assault, andstalking with 13 different family lawmatters since 2008. He is a leader inhis firm, encouraging and mentoringother attorneys interested in pro bonowork. He is the fourth attorney toreceive this award. All prior winnersare ANDVSA volunteers are werenominated by us - John Hoag 2010,Allen Bailey 2011 and Danielle Ryman2013.

Pro Bono Program: A Year inReview

In one year, 280 family law,housing, consumer and/or othercivil matters were handled forvictims of domestic violence andsexual assault by volunteers andstaff attorneys. 350 victims of domestic violenceand sexual assault applied forservices. ANDVSA provided legalservices to 52% of victims whocompleted the applicationprocesses while ANDVSA wasunable to serve 48%. 107 cases were handled byvolunteers equalingapproximately 1.2 million indonated legal services.

kids have created! This year's themewas "Ingredients for a Safe Home."

UAS Self-defense Class for WomenSaturday, October 18 from 10am to4:30 pm in the Dance Studio at theUAS Rec CenterThis event is open to UAS womenstudents and faculty only andregistration is through the UASRecreation Center.

DVAM Skating EventWednesday, October 22 from 6:30-8pmat Treadwell ArenaIn partnership with the NationalOrganization for Women, TreadwellArena will be turning the ice purple!Proceeds from a towel drive will go toAWARE.

For more events in Juneau visit: www.awareak.org

Petersburg: Hosted by WAVEWAVE is encouraging people to painttheir nails purple for October and tag uson Facebook or Twitter#petersburgwave

Lead On is a yearly youth leadershipconference which takes place inAnchorage, and which engages youthto be leaders and help change normsaround teen dating violence in their

Thank you to this year'sPick Click Give donors!

This year, ANDVSA received $5,350 indonations. This was one of our mostsuccessful Pick Click Give campaignsto date. We are grateful for thecontinued support of Alaskans who arecommitted to ending domestic violence,sexual assault and stalking.

schools and communities. At Lead Onyouth learn skills around healthyrelationships, and implement them withprojects in their own communities. Thisyear, youth from Akiachak, Alakanuk,Akhiok, Anchorage, Atmautluak,Bethel, Cordova, Dutch Harbor,Dillingham, Fairbanks, Homer, HooperBay, Iliamna, Juneau, Kiana,Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kwethluk,Metlakatla, Napaskiak, Nenana, New Stuyahok, Nome, Nulato, Old Harbor,Ruby, Savoonga, Scammon Bay,Sandpoint, St. Michael, St. Paul andTogiak will join us for Lead On 2014 inAnchorage in November. At Lead On,youth and interested communities helpplan projects and learn skills aroundyouth leadership and the prevention ofviolence. To find out more visitwww.standupspeakupalaska.org/lead-on/ Email cplesa@andvsa.org or call586-6566 for more information.

On September 22-24 two trainers,Nadia Feltes and Sherene Abraham,from The National Domestic ViolenceHotline joined twenty advocates andANDVSA staff in Anchorage. Theadvocacy training covered manyamazing topics like: compassion fatigue and fostering

resilience, domestic violence andpregnancy and sexual violence. Therewere many great breakout groupconversations about how to answerhotline calls in an effective way, how towork with challenging callers andadvocates had time to really work withone another on new ideas for safetyplanning.

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Copyright © 2014 ANDVSA, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:130 Seward St., Suite 214Juneau, Alaska 99801