Display for Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October 2017.

Display for Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October 2017.

Touchstone Workshop – Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2017.

The participant who made this touchstone created a touchstone which says "No Seccion 8". The participant stated that she created this touchstone because she felt the limited amount of Section 8 was a big barrier to her healing. The participant stated that she felt she does not qualify for many housing programs because she is an immigrant. This was one of the focuses of our mural: in which ways can the community help us heal?

The participant created this piece at home and brought it to the group the following week. The participant stated that she spent countless hours getting the details of the sea horse right and found it very relaxing and healing to focus on creating this piece. The ocean theme of the mural represents the ways in which the ocean can be both calming and powerful. The bricks on the mural represent barriers to healing. Participants chose these themes because they said that even though bricks are often hard and difficult to break, the ocean can slowly erode bricks over time. The ocean represents the participant's strengths as well as the strengths of the community.

This collage represent Rainbow's commitment to respecting and celebrating diversity. As an agency, we do not discriminate against race, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The participant who made this piece wanted to celebrate all the different backgrounds and perspectives that participants bring into the groups.

These phrases were pasted together in order to add to our "healthy connections build healthy communities" theme. Participants felt that being part of the movement to end domestic violence was part of their duty. Participants also felt that their neighborhoods need to begin working towards including survivors of domestic violence in their decision making processes.

This was a powerful statement that one of the participants pasted onto the bricks of the mural. The statement illustrates the ways in which domestic violence can often start off as a seemingly healthy relationship. Participants discussed that attending Rainbow Services has helped them identify early Red Flags of their abusive relationships. Participants feel they are prepared to identify Red Flags in future relationships.

This image was posted on the mural to demonstrate the connections that participants experience with their peers. Many participant often state that coming to the support group is the only time they can truly share their experiences and emotions without judgement. Many participants become long time friends after they graduate the program.

The bricks in the mural represent barriers to healing. Participants chose words and statements that illustrate the different barriers they experience in the community on their journey to healing. Participants stated that they often felt like the community turned their back on them when they needed it the often. A particularly interesting word is the word "crime". Some participants stated that they were criminalized for defending themselves against their abusers. Participants felt this was unfair and re-victimizing.