Rockland resident to be part of domestic abuse panel discussion in Freeport

Event has passed

    FREEPORT — “Birdsong will be joined by another stirring sound in Freeport this Spring, with May just proclaimed by the Town Council as Freeport Breaks the Silence of Domestic Abuse Month,” said Finding Our Voices, in a news release.

    The unanimous vote makes for a town-wide embrace of the Finding Our Voices conversation-starter, including powerful short films and a survivor-led discussion at the Freeport Community Library on Wednesday, May 10, at 5:30 p.m. 

    “That was an easy one,” Board President Daniel Piltch said about the vote for the proclamation.

    Town Council Member John Egan later thanked Finding Our Voices for “the vital work you are doing,” adding "the entire community has a responsibility here to end the cycle and call out incidents instead of looking the other way.”  

    The month-long spotlight on domestic abuse includes the papering of downtown business windows and bathrooms and also the library with Finding Our Voices posters featuring the photo portraits of 45 Maine survivors aged 18 to 83. 

    The proclamation was requested by the library’s director Courtney Sparks and Adult Services Librarian Meghan Fogg.

    “Research shows that intimate partner violence increased during the pandemic,” said Fogg. “ As a gathering space and informational hub, the library is a great nexus for conversations about community health and wellness. We are so grateful for the unanimous support of the Freeport Town Council in adopting this proclamation as we shine a light on these important issues.”

    Eastport and Belfast issued proclamations in previous months to support bold, survivor-powered awareness campaigns in their towns by Finding Our Voices. 

    Businesses sponsoring the May program in Freeport include FOILED, Bow Street Market, Harraseeket Inn, British Goods, Buck’s Naked BBQ, Brewster House B&B, Brickyard Hollow, and Baker Newman Noyes. The money raised from these Finding Our Voices sponsorships will empower Maine women survivors to get and stay safe and keep their children safe as well, with direct funding for shelter, legal consultations, and car repairs. 

    The May 10 Library events are free and open to the public.

    Finding Our Voices is the grassroots survivor-powered nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time across Maine. For more information visit FindingOurVoices.net 

    Event Date: 

    Wed, 05/10/2023 - 5:30pm

    Event Location: 

    Freeport Community Library

    Address: 

    Freeport Community Library
    10 Library Drive
    Freeport, ME 04032
    United States