Posted: 2/5/2008
This February, 16 students and staff members from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Schools of Nursing, Medicine, and Public Health will come together to raise funds and awareness to stop violence against women and girls. As part of the global V-Day 2008 Campaign, the group will host an academic discussion forum, present an interactive domestic violence workshop, and stage two benefit performances of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play, The Vagina Monologues.
“We were fortunate to find a diverse and talented cast of women who truly care about fighting violence against women,” says Lisa Halbsgut, a Hopkins medical student in the class of 2011 and director of the JHU performance of The Vagina Monologues, which will be held February 15 and 16, 2008. “Despite our different backgrounds and experiences, we all share the common goals of spreading the word about violence against women and raising money to benefit charities that help women in need.”
Planned and implemented entirely by volunteers from the three schools, proceeds from Johns Hopkins University V-Day 2008 will benefit Baltimores victims of domestic violence at House of Ruth Maryland and Adelante Familia. Each benefiting organization will also receive 50 free tickets to attend the performance. In 2007, the first year of this tri-school campaign, the Hopkins group raised nearly $10,000 for Baltimore charities.
In addition to performing The Vagina Monologues, the students have organized a workshop and panel discussion to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. In Her Shoes, held on February 7, is an interactive workshop simulating the roles of a victim of domestic violence and her abuser with facilitator Ellyn Loy from House of Ruth, Maryland. The following week, on February 12, experts throughout the Baltimore community will gather at Hopkins for a panel discussion entitled “The Role of Men in Preventing Violence Against Women.”
“The Johns Hopkins University V-Day 2008 Campaign is a great opportunity to promote interaction among our three schools,” notes medical student Emily Heikamp, who is producing the JHU performance of The Vagina Monologues. “As members of the medical community and the health care field, putting an end to violence and abuse is an important issue for all of us. It’s amazing to see what these future Hopkins nurses, physicians, and public health professionals can accomplish when they stand together to oppose violence against women.”
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The Johns Hopkins University V-Day 2008 Campaign consists of the following events:
The Vagina Monologues
Friday, February 15 and Saturday, February 16, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Turner Auditorium, Johns Hopkins Hospital
720 N. Rutland Avenue, Baltimore
Tickets: $10, available at the door or advance reservation by e-mail: [email protected].
More info: Emily Heikamp at [email protected].
In Her Shoes
An interactive workshop simulating the roles of a victim of domestic violence and her abuser with facilitator Ellyn Loy from House of Ruth, Maryland. Dinner will be served.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
6:00 p.m.
Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine
1830 E. Monument Street, Suite 2-300, Baltimore
RSVP: Emily Heikamp at [email protected].
Panel Discussion: The Role of Men in Preventing Violence Against Women
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
6:00 p.m.
Carpenter Room, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore
Panelists:
Johnny Rice II, Special Assistant, Office of the Secretary
Maryland Department of Human Resources
Lisa Nitsch, Program Manager
Gateway Project, House of Ruth Maryland
Dr. Daniel Sheridan, Associate Professor
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Michael D. Lynch, MSW, Bilingual Neighborhood Revitalization Specialist
Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation
Chris Murphy
Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland Baltimore County
Coordinator, New Behaviors Program, Howard County Domestic Violence Center
More info: Susana Vega at [email protected].