G.O.E.! Day to Empower Victims of Domestic Assault, Violence

FITCHBURG -- A “Growth. Overcome. Empower! Day” will be held Sunday, Oct. 7, starting at 11 a.m., at Walgreens, 571 John Fitch Highway.

National G.O.E! Day aims to connect with different organizations, businesses, survivors and others in addressing the connections between child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence and its far-reaching impact.

“These are hard topics that many choose to ignore due to their difficulty,” said Kenisha Coy, executive director of My CARE Initiative and the event’s organizer. “We acknowledge this but can’t stay silent because the silence is what aids in continual pain and abuse.”

Offering approaches for healthy healing and overcoming abuse by including the arts and education as tools with other resources local to that community is how this will be accomplished. The purpose of this day is to provide community support, education and provide space for victims and supporters, sharing experiences that have helped others who have survived similar trauma and are working on their own healing journey.

This will be a free event, with refreshments, and there will be an opportunity to help with a service project that enables participants to contribute and increase awareness. The project focus on filling backpacks with toiletries and other helpful items for later distribution to local police departments and shelters.

There will be an arts presentation as well as a proclamation from Gov. Charlie Baker. Other presentations include one by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and state Sen. Dean Tran.

Artwork will be unveiled at the John Fitch Highway Walgreens and will remain on display through the spring.

For more information, call Kenisha Coy at 978-592-2734 or email at kc@mycareinitiative.org .