New Title for Women's Safety, Support

Author: Anne DeWitt

"Working towards elimination of physical, sexual and emotional violence against women and children through direct service, education and social change."

Thus reads the mission statement of WomenSafe, formerly known as Addison County Women in Crisis. The private non profit agency recently elected to change its name to WomenSafe.

According to Kristin Fontaine, domestic violence program coordinator, WomenSafe's administrators were looking for something "a lot more positive." They were also concerned that the old name might be deterring women who felt uncomfortable labeling their situation a "crisis." WomenSafe also has the dual advantages of being easy to remember and easy to find in the phonebook.

Feedback about the renaming has been largely positive, said Fontaine, explaining that WomenSafe went through a lengthy process of determining how the public would react. "I expected a lot more problems," she admitted. An event heralding the name change will take place this Friday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Kirk Alumni Center and will also serve as a celebration of the agency, which has been providing vital services for over 20 years.

Established by volunteers in 1980, WomenSafe has grown to a staff of five full-time employees. The organization is funded with money from The United Way and federal, state and local grants in combination with donations of time and money. WomenSafe is an independent, autonomous organization, although it is affiliated with the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, a group of 16 programs like WomenSafe which share resources and coordinate efforts to promote legislative action. WomenSafe is also a part of the Addison County Domestic Violence Task Force, which seeks to address local issues of domestic violence.

Its name may be changing, but WomenSafe will continue to provide the same resources and support for victims of domestic or sexual violence. A 24-hour hotline is available for emergencies and the organization works with EMT teams to help train them in dealing with crises.

WomenSafe is involved in legal advocacy, which means accompanying people to court and helping them through divorce or child custody cases. WomenSafe also does police and medical advocacy, which can be as simple as sending a worker to be with someone at the hospital or police station. Similarly, the group works with women to get them financial support or into a shelter and provides support groups for victims.

Fontaine calls domestic and sexual violence "a big problem" in Addison County, although she said that levels here are comparable to those nationwide. During the last fiscal year, July 1, 2000 to June 20, 2001, WomenSafe helped over 600 people, providing over 3,400 units of service, one unit of service being equivalent, for example, to accompanying someone to court.

In addition to dealing with existing problems through advocacy and related endeavors,

WomenSafe also seeks to prevent new instances of violence through education in the community. This effort includes outreach to students from preschool through college. An awareness-raising event at Middlebury College that has taken place for several years is the annual production of "The Vagina Monologues," which will be performed on Feb. 14 in the McCullough Social Space.

Written by Middlebury alumna Eve Ensler '94, "The Vagina Monologues" addresses the issue of social and female reticence about vaginas. The show has been performed across the county and internationally, and Ensler donates the rights to the play as long as all proceeds from the event go to agencies like WomenSafe, which will be this year's beneficiary.

This year, Wonnacott Commons is sponsoring "The Vagina Monologues." Publicity for the play kicked off with sales of Condom Grams: a condom lollipop attached to two real lollipops to form a little bouquet with a card advertising the play. Sold for $3 apiece to students who could have them sent to friends through intercampus mail, Condom Grams raised $300, which will be used to put on "The Vagina Monologues," and profits will be donated to WomenSafe.

Katie Simpson '02, producer of this year's "The Vagina Monologues," described the event as extremely successful so far. "It's all worked so well — I feel like it's a sign we're doing the right thing."