“Rock the Resilience” concert brings youth and adults together to turn the tide of domestic violence

PALMER—As April comes to a close, so does Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month in Alaska. However, the work to break the cycle of violence seems to be in full swing.

“50 percent of Mat-Su women have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both” according to data shared by No More Mat-Su, the Valley’s community-driven campaign to end domestic violence.

Wasilla Sunrise Rotary started No More Mat-Su four years ago. It’s the local adaptation of the national program, “No More,” a campaign aiming to end domestic violence.

“Statistically, 1 in 2 women will experience some form of domestic violence or sexual assault in the Mat-Su Valley. This huge problem we have in the Valley and Alaska” said event coordinator, and Sunrise Rotary member, Janelle Gagnon.

There are numerous efforts in the Mat-Su to combat the massive rates of domestic violence and sexual assault in the area. Teens and adults convened at the Glenn Massay Theater on Wednesday, April 25 for the “Rock the Resilience” concert, hosted by No More Mat-Su.

“I was very happy to see so many young people involved because it is that generation, in my opinion, that will stop this terrible circle of violence, said Dan Kennedy, Past President of Wasilla Sunrise Rotary.

This community collated event brought the Alaska Family Services, The Children’s Place, Raising Our Children With Kindness Mat-Su (R.O.C.K. Mat-Su), NOW Mat-Su, Women and Gender Studies at Mat-Su College, as well as Wasilla Sunrise Rotary Club, No More Mat-Su, community members, and teens all together for a series of talks and acts to raise awareness and fight back against the staggering rates of domestic violence in the area.

“Through visual and performing arts, and access to resource agencies on-site both in the theater lobby and as speakers on the stage, Rock the Resilience continues the No More Mat-Su campaign’s efforts to educate and empower youth to be agents for change in the Valley’s domestic violence and sexual assault epidemic, Gagnon said.

Participating agencies like R.O.C.K. Mat-Su had booths on-site to connect and share resources with the public. Their missions melded fairly well with No More Mat-Su, according to Desiré Shepler, Director of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su.

“We need more ways for teens to connect to adults, where adults can listen to issues they face in their lives, and for adults to reach teens and ask them questions,” Shepler said.

The lobby was filled with student artwork centered domestic violence, ranging from water color to charcoal sketches. Between adult and teen speaker presentations, nearly every high school with a music program in the Valley will performed on the main stage. In previous years, efforts were focused towards sports, according to Kennedy. He said that this new emphasis on fine arts “added a new dimension to reach the public.”

“Domestic violence is so heavy and to be able to sit down and map out how you feel about it and to produce something out of it is very moving and beautiful,” said Lindsay Prunella, Project Coordinator for R.O.C.K. Mat-Su.

At the beginning of April, the State of Alaska Department of Public Safety put out a press release regarding Awareness & Prevention Month in Alaska.

“According to data from the 2015 Alaska Victimization Survey, 40% of Alaska women have experienced intimate partner violence during their lifetime, and 33% have experienced sexual violence during their lives,” as written in the press release.