Accomplishments and Milestones: Fall 2004 - Winter 2006

Ongoing Projects

• Maintained and expanded Rachel's Boxes in 50 locations, including one of our most publicly visible locations, Shaw's Market in Stow, MA.
• Placed and refilled "Tear off Sheets" with statewide domestic violence hotline and rape crisis telephone numbers.
• Published and distributed our quarterly newsletter, The Safety Net. Recent issues can be viewed online:
  • Winter 2008 Newsletter [pdf]
  • Fall 2007 Newsletter [pdf]
• Spoke to various church groups and congregations about the effects of domestic violence in our community; shared with them a personal experience which was very powerful for all involved.
• Continued to support and promote twelve-week programs to help women achieve safety and self-care, "Support Groups for Women with Controlling Partners".

School Education Program: Events and Expansion

• In December 2005, Lisa Kapler, wife of Red Sox player Gabe Kapler, spoke to students at five local high schools about being a victim of an abusive relationship. Videos were made and broadcast on community cable networks.
• Sponsored performances of The Yellow Dress, a dramatic presentation of a teen dating violence situation, at Bedford and Acton-Boxborough High Schools.
• Sponsored Doing the Right Thing, which was performed at two Concord middle schools, as well as training for teachers and sixth graders at Hale Middle School in Stow.
• Supported the MVP (Mentors in Violence Prevention, a Northeastern University Sports in Society program) at Acton-Boxborough High School.
• Purchased the "Second Step Program, A Violence Prevention Curriculum" for Stow elementary schools and Carlisle Middle School.
• Gave a donation to the Spectrum group at the Concord-Carlisle High School for the Shared Heart exhibit.
• Collaborated with Center for Parents and Teachers and sponsored (from our CCCC Grant) the March CCHS presentation on "Youth Engaged in Service: Promoting Positive Development While Reducing Risky Behavior"'. This was a follow up to an Alliance for Teen Safety forum on Teen Depression and Suicide.
• In February 2006, the Network wrote, printed and distributed 1500 copies of a new teen dating violence brochure, "Love Isn't Supposed to Hurt", to students in our local high schools.
• In March 2006, the Network funded and co-sponsored a Concord-Carlisle High School evening assembly, spearheaded by one of the students, entitled "Think Slavery is History? Think Again ". This was well attended by students and parents.

Community Outreach

• Hosted a public meeting in Concord in October 2005 featuring therapist Joan Rubin-Deutsch speaking on "The Nature of Relationships".
• Presented the Network's sixth Clergy Symposium on March 16, 2006. The topic this year was Teen Dating Violence.
• In January 2006, the Network co-sponsored the 2nd annual Family Homelessness Forum at the Tri-Con Church in Concord.
• Collaborated with DVVAP on the Golden Handcuffs Art Exhibit in Lincoln, MA.
• Facilitated the Concord-Carlisle Roundtable programs, including a presentation at Emerson Hospital featuring Carol Lambert, LICSW and Hadley Fisk, LICSW.
• Attended and presented at 15 CHNA meetings in Burlington.
• Continued membership in the Alliance For Teen Safety and contributed to Teen Dating Violence chapter of "Red Flags" Handbook.
• Marched in Town Day parades in Bedford and Concord and hosted information tables in Stow and Acton.
• V-DAY performance of The Vagina Monologues in Acton in February 2005 and in Concord in February 2006.

Some Memories from 2005-2006 from Our Members and Supporters:

"I loved marching in a local parade. The community aspect of the Network has grown a lot over the years.  People always ask me if we're still doing the groups...including many women who have been in the groups...even 5 to 10 years ago. Giving a presentation and feeling a powerful response and understanding from the audience about this work. Then remembering when the Network was the only act around."

"Please add many thanks from the ABRHS community for bringing The Yellow Dress to the high school. The Network's support of our work to combat men's violence against women, dating violence and sexual harassment (through special programs and support of the MVP program) is generous and much appreciated. On a personal note, I saw Vagina Monologues with my friend and we truly enjoyed the experience. At times we laughed and at times dotted away tears thanks to the moving performances and incredible script by Eve Ensler.

"I just want to acknowledge all the positive energy that went into bringing the Vagina Monologues to Acton and Concord.  It was an incredible experience for the women who came together for a short period of their lives to create a production that raised awareness as well as money for the Network and other Domestic Violence Prevention organizations."