NextStep invites you to our first annual DownEast Lumberskills competition. This feat of skill and strength is going to be held in honor of the thousands of brave and innovative domestic violence survivors we’ve served over the years.
Did you know that 1 in 3 high school students have been or will be in a relationship with someone who uses power and control against them?
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Our goal is to help students understand how to get help if they need it.
To do this, we’ve come up with a virtual toolkit for schools. Educators can share the information in their Google classroom, print and use graphics on bulletin boards, schedule an appointment with NextStep for a virtual classroom presentation or all of the above.
We are here to help empower young people to make healthy choices as they start dating.
At 4:45 PM on Friday, October 16, turn on every light in your location, whether at work or at home. Shine a light into one of the darkest nights of October. Encourage everyone you know to do the same!
Eastport is breaking the silence of intimate partner abuse in July through 25 Finding Our Voices "Let's Talk About It" downtown window banners all around the town, each featuring the face and voice of a Maine survivor plus the 24/7 NextStep helpline phone number, and a public (safe distancing) celebration on July 25.
Join the Community Caring Collaborative on June 3rd from 11:00 am — 12:30 pm for a Zoom presentation by Next Step Community Educator, Cheyenne Robinson-Bauman. Get the basics of domestic violence plus its impacts on families, including how financial tensions can trigger situations of DV, and explore ways of supporting families to address DV.
Cheyenne will also discuss best practices for safely communicating with families using social media and other technology — especially important during this time when so many of us are connecting virtually.
Registration is required to join this meeting. Once you register, you will receive the full Zoom invitation. Please join early to make sure all your settings are working. The meeting will be live at 10:45 am.
Patrisha McLean, founder and president of Finding Our Voices and a survivor of domestic violence, is bringing her photographic exhibit to businesses in Ellsworth in May.
Passers-by may notice the 4-foot-by-2-foot banners, each featuring a different Maine survivor, in 21 downtown business windows. The banners feature women, including two from Ellsworth, who have chosen to share their experiences to promote understanding and also give hope to women still trapped in abusive relationships, who may be in more danger due to the increased isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This exhibit is incredibly valuable to create awareness about the impact of domestic violence, and to direct people to Next Step for support,” said Dorathy Martel, the organization’s executive director. “With so many places closed, it is more challenging for us to get the word out that we are here, ready and able to serve. Patrisha and her colleagues who have worked together to make this possible, along with all of the businesses, are doing something that is so meaningful at a time when our services are needed to remain visible. We are grateful to these amazing organizers for bringing this to the Ellsworth community.”
For information about Finding Our Voices and the traveling banner project, visit FindingOurVoices.net.
![Installation: Finding Our Voices [Eastport]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebd9fe92754844e998e8c46/1594512295203-LV14OJLVLJR3AR631W8R/Courtney+Choco-latte+BH.jpg)
![Installation: Finding Our Voices [Ellsworth]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebd9fe92754844e998e8c46/1589726073043-L7WXKB4JHBF9L2GQEMAC/FINDING+OUR+VOICES+ELLSWORTH+ME.png)