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| By Natasha Clark Reminder Assistant Editor SPRINGFIELD On October 1, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is due to expire unless Congress reauthorizes it. In support of VAWA and as a part of their annual Men's Walk to End Abuse, the Men's Resource Center for Change (MRC) of Springfield will participate in a three-day walk event from September 29 through October 1. Created in 1994, VAWA, according to www.now.org, "provided rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and law enforcement agencies with the expertise and services they needed to begin the work of prevention and protection for women, men and children affected by violence." It is issues like these that MRC supports. While they do work with men on a variety of issues, they are also working to end violence in the community. "When you look at different types of violence, most are perpetrated by men," explained Russell Bradbury-Carlin of MRC. "While most are by men, most men aren't violent. What you tend to see through different forms of media is more of the aggressive, angry, "going to kick butt" type of men. We believe most men aren't that way. We can be assertive and not aggressive and stand up for those that are victims of abuse, men women and children." This is MRC's third walk and while money raised usually benefits their batterer-intervention program, this year half the proceeds will be divided among the YWCA in Springfield; Safe Passage in Northampton; Womanshelter/Compaeras in Holyoke; Everywoman's Center at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst; and the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT) in Greenfield. In talking about some of these organizations with Reminder Publications, Bradbury-Carlin said that domestic violence awareness has changed since VAWA was put into effect 11 years ago. "I think people understand domestic violence more in general. [It was looked upon as] more of a family problem before," Bradbury-Carlin explained. "People are much more aware. Domestic Violence is not about anger. Look at what is going on. Often it has a lot more to do with power and control some is verbal, economic, systematic control. There's still a lot more that needs to be done." This year's walk schedule is as follows: Sept. 29 From Springfield to Holyoke 9 a.m.: Begin Walk at Springfield City Hall. (Please note: This a change from original schedule) 10:30a.m.: Rally at Baystate Medical Center Noon: Lunch at Chicopee City Hall 2:30 p.m.: End at Holyoke City Hall Sept. 30 From Northampton to Amherst 9 a.m.: Gather at Northampton City Hall; begin walking about 9:30 Noon: Lunch at Whole Foods, Hadley 2:30 p.m.: End at Amherst Town Common Oct. 1 Sunderland to Greenfield 9:30 a.m.: Begin at School Street & Rte 47, Sunderland Noon: Lunch at Savages' Market, Deerfield 2:30p.m.: End at Greenfield Common If you'd like to participate in the Men's Walk to End Abuse and for further information please call Michael Dover at (413) 253-9887, ext. 33, or log on to www.mrcforchange.org for more details. Other recent Springfield stories can be read online at www.reminderpublications.com. |