NCJW BCS MEMBERS ATTEND THE YWCA NORTHERN NEW JERSEY healingSPACE CLOTHESLINE PROJECT

On September 26, members of NCJW BCS attended the 26th Annual Clothesline Project that took place on the green in front of the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack. It was a day to raise community awareness of violence against men, women and children.  There was a display of approximately 2,000 t-shirts drawn by survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. Creating shirts helps survivors break their silence of the devastating impact of violence on their lives.Helen Archontou, CEO of the YWCA Northern New Jersey, (formerly the YWCA Bergen County) welcomed everyone to the noontime program which included remarks from advocates and allies, elected officials and a survivor. Cole Callahan, Safe Schools Coordinator of Garden State Equality, described the pervasiveness and impact of violence on the LGBTQ community. His refrain, “Sexual violence does not discriminate,” was powerful and moving.

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, NCJW BCS life member and recipient of the Hannah G. Solomon Award, noted that the Clothesline created by survivors of violence reminds us that it “happened, happens and is happening.” Jonathan Bator, survivor of sexual violence and a passionate advocate thanked the “angels” at the YWCA Northern NJ healingSPACE for helping him to heal and all advocates and allies for their support to survivors.

NCJW BCS has been a community sponsor of the Clothesline Project since the beginning – 26 years ago.

L-R:: NCJW BCS Members Joan Cooper, Elaine Meyerson, Bari-Lynne Schwartz, Amy Weiner, Helen Archontou, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and longtime NCJW BCS Supporter Carol Loscalzo