NU arts event focusing on domestic violence | Local News

An exhibition of artwork created by survivors of domestic violence will be the centerpiece of an event Thursday at Niagara University’s Castellani Art Museum titled “Surviving… Thriving: A Journey of Healing through Art”.

The event is organized on the occasion of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Doors open at 4 p.m. and a brief welcome reception begins at 5 p.m. The art exhibition continues until 7 p.m. Organizers also link it to the Red Flag Campaign, a national public education initiative designed to encourage students to intervene when they see a warning sign (“red flag”) of domestic violence.

“Intimate partner and dating violence is a pervasive problem among college students,” said Dr. Jennifer Beebe, associate professor of counseling at Niagara University. “As a result, we are taking a proactive approach to provide a outreach effort to reduce this epidemic on our campus and in the local community.”

“The Catholic and Vincentian Mission at Niagara University calls us to be the light to those who need our help, and that’s another way to do it,” said Rev. James J. Maher, CM, president of Niagara. University. “We are committed to fostering an educational environment that emphasizes the dignity of all people in our community. I am very grateful to the students, faculty, staff and administrators who have stepped up to this cause to bring about change.

“We are thrilled to bring this event back to campus this year, as this year marks its fifth anniversary,” said Dr. Dana Radatz, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Niagara University.[MOU1] “This is truly a wonderful milestone to take, as the event allows us not only to raise awareness about relationship violence within our community, but also to highlight the services and resources available in our area.”

Several community organizations are collaborating to host the event, including the University of Niagara, the Castellani Art Museum, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office – Victim Support Unit and Family Violence Intervention Program, the Niagara Falls Police – Family Violence Unit, Pinnacle Community Services and the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier.

Admission is $ 1 for Niagara University students and $ 5 for the general public. All proceeds will go to domestic violence service providers in Niagara County.

To learn more about the event, please email [email protected] or [email protected]