LIHU‘E — Who can? You can! The campaign against domestic violence on Kaua‘i got a boost from the Alexander and Baldwin Foundation to help launch the “Who Can? You Can” campaign with a grant. Lana Olson, a member of Kaua‘i’s
LIHU‘E — Who can? You can!
The campaign against domestic violence on Kaua‘i got a boost from the Alexander and Baldwin Foundation to help launch the “Who Can? You Can” campaign with a grant.
Lana Olson, a member of Kaua‘i’s Domestic Violence Prevention Task Force, was discouraged to find out that only a small percentage of individuals caught up in domestic violence actually get help.
This was the seed for the “Who Can? You Can” campaign, which essentially appeals to the entire Kaua‘i population to step up and speak up.
The campaign’s goal is to empower community members to safely and effectively deal with domestic violence situations within their own families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and school to help change community norms about what is, and what is not acceptable, states a release from the YWCA of Kaua‘i.
“This approach parallels the anti-bullying movement sweeping the United States which focuses neither on the bully, nor the victim, but on the ‘bystander,’” said Linda Pizzitola, coordinator of the Kaua‘i Domestic Violence Prevention Task Force, in the release. “Mahalo to A&B Foundation who just granted the Kaua‘i DV Prevention Task Force funds to help take this message to the community. A multi-media campaign will roll out in the next few months.”
At the heart of the campaign is the “Who Can? You Can. Stop Domestic Violence” bumper stickers, which have started appearing on cars on Kaua‘i’s roadways.
A companion resource sheet was created along with the bumper sticker to educate and empower those who want to intervene or take preventive action to reduce domestic violence on Kaua‘i.
Included in the sheet are suggestions on how to help, what to say, phone number listings for local services, and websites for additional information.
People can check out this resource by visiting www.ywcakauai.org, the YWCA of Kaua‘i website.
“Safety is always the first consideration in any intervention,” Pizzitola said.
Reverend Al Miles, speaker and author, defines domestic violence as “a pattern of abusive behavior in which a person uses coercion, deception, harassment, humiliation, manipulation, or force to establish and maintain power over an intimate partner, or former partner,” the release states.
The resource sheet on the YWCA website is the first step in making a difference in the campaign against domestic violence on Kaua‘i.
People who are interested in becoming a more active solution are invited to participate in the Kaua‘i DV Prevention Task Force, or any of its sub-committees.
Visit www.ywcakauai.org, or call Pizzitola at 245-5959, ext. 244 for more information.
The Kaua‘i DV Prevention Task Force is sponsored in part by the YWCA of Kaua‘i with funding from the Hawai‘i Department of Health.
