In the spirit of International Women’s Day (March 8), local organizers Lynn and Tessa Cole have teamed up with anti-violence center Associazione Artemisia and several community members to host a round table discussion on violence against women and related issues. The educational event and aperitivo will take place on March 16 at 7pm at St. Mark’s English Church.
In the official event bulletin, organizers call on the Florence community to “speak up and inform others of what is really going on {…} It is time to recognize the need for prevention, for information, for empowerment, {as well as} the importance of women and men uniting to stop the violence.” Men in particular are encouraged to attend and to take part in the conversation.
Speakers will include Michele Capecchi, lawyer in the Ashley Olsen murder trial and The Florentine’s legal columnist; Elizabeth Connolly, B.Sc., M.A., psychotherapist and community organizer; Marisa Garreffa, writer, actress and survivor of sexual assault; and Gaia Tomaselli of Associazione Artemisia. Donations for Artemisia will be collected during the event.
Capecchi commented, “This is a meeting {that} every person who cares about women, and about more vulnerable people, can attend to learn the true meaning of the words respect, tolerance and love.”
Beyond examining broad societal issues, the discussion will also highlight plenty of on-the-ground practicalities, including what to expect when reporting an act of violence, the courtroom process, the importance of psychological support and how divorced, separated or abused women can acquire a permit to stay when their immigration status was previously dependent on their partner.
Guests are asked to confirm their attendance on the Facebook event or by emailing lynncole_ca@yahoo.com.
