Open House Trick or Treat
The Women’s Center, Inc. hosted an Open House Trick or Treat on Halloween night at our Administrative Office. Community members were able to meet each of our departments, learn about our services, and take a picture in our photo booth, while also getting lots of treats!
Escape Room
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, The Women’s Center, Inc., Beyond Violence, and The Teen Center collaborated to create a Teen Dating Violence Themed Escape room. The Escape Room was a part of the Teen Center’s Annual Halloween Party and was open to all teens in Columbia County. Over 30 kids we able to participate in this event and learned about the real dangers of domestic violence and teen dating violence.
Prevention Potions
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. TWC created the Prevention Potion Project. Each Potion is a side effect of domestic violence which includes nightmares, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, and many more. With the help of local businesses in Columbia and Montour Counties we were able to distribute 25 of them to their businesses to educate the community on the effects of domestic violence.
Numidia Dragway
In June, The Women’s Center, Inc. hosted a basket raffle and 50/50 drawing at the Numidia Dragway. Over 20 businesses and individuals from Columbia and Montour counties donated items that helped make up 15 baskets. With the help of all these donations we were able to raise over $500 and educate our community about our mission
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Mock Rape Trial 2018
Every couple of years, The Women’s Center, Inc. invites the community into the court room. This event is designed to gain a better understand of the legal side of rape trails. This is the third Mock Rape Trial that has been put on since 2008. Although, the defendant was not convicted in this situation (11-1 for guilty), the event was very helpful in understanding what goes into a rape trial. Here’s a little bit about the case:
The Commonwealth vs. Davis
The Defendant is Michael Davis and the victim is Ashley Williams, both are students at New Columbia University. Williams and Davis were previously in a relationship and trying to make things work the night of the alleged sexual assault. They attend a party and both deny drinking excessively. At the end of the evening, Williams and Davis return to Davis’ apartment. Davis tries to have sex with Williams. Williams states she told Davis to “STOP,” but he ignored her and they engaged in sexual activity. Before Williams left Davis’ apartment they got into an argument over a girl that Davis shared a class with. Consensual Sex or Rape?
The Women’s Center, Inc. would like to thank all the criminal justice professionals and volunteers to make this event successful!
Presiding Trial Judge: The Honorable Judge, Gary E. Norton
Prosecution: District Attorney, Thomas Leipold
Defense: Assistant District Attorney, Daniel P. Lynn
Detective Jessie Young played by: Chief Allen Breach, Locust Township Police Department
Randy Miller (SANE nurse): Played by Bridget Brown
Ashley Williams (victim): Played by Sadie Jordan
Pat Daniels (victim’s roommate): Played by Colleen McCollum
Michael Davie (alleged perpetrator): Played by Jon Shultz
Terry Washington (alleged perpetrator’s roommate): Played by Alexander Eisele
Lee Streams (psychologist): Played by Monica Johnson
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
In the United States, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The goal of this is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to teach communities on how to prevent it. One way The Women’s Center, Inc. has educated the surrounding areas is by embarking on our “Paint the Town Teal” campaign. We go around to businesses in the Columbia/Montour counties asked if we can display sexual assault statistics and/or a teal ribbon to educate the community about how serious a topic this is. Each year, we increase the number of businesses that want to be involved! This year, sororities and fraternities also got involved in the event!
We also took time to add statistics and information about consent to downtown Bloomsburg. The community noticed our efforts showing their support in our local newspaper.
