Summit targets domestic violence, sexual assault

WASILLA — Domestic violence critics challenged Rotarians, mushers, teachers, students, politicians and business owners alike to re-identify as caring counselors.

Wasilla Sunrise Rotary, Mat-Su Seahawkers, Alaska Family Services, and Mat-Su Regional Medical Center co-hosted the NO MORE Mat-Su conference in the Wasilla High School gym Saturday in an effort to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault.

According to nomore.org, the goal of the national campaign is to engage the public in raising awareness and breaking down barriers of stigma, silence and shame that keep people from talking about the issues.

Wasilla JROTC kicked off the event by presenting the colors and showing their support of the campaign. Wasilla Councilman Stu Graham then introduced former Gov. Sean Parnell, who presented on the “Choose Respect” campaign, a domestic violence awareness initiative Parnell championed while governor.

In Alaska, the campaign focuses on male networking and the sharing of information and tools to end violence and promote respect. More information is available at alaskamenchooserespect.org.

Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle followed Parnell’s presentation with a proclamation designating April Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Dan Goff is director of business development and physician relations at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, but he coordinated the event as a Sunrise Rotary member. Goff said teacher and former basketball coach Jason Marvel “was the spark” that ignited the fire under the Rotary to bring the NO MORE campaign to the Valley.

When Marvel spoke at a Rotary meeting last year, he told members about the Colony Middle School Knight Writers program started by principal Mary McMahon and teacher Tricia Kenney. The program was birthed by the Freedom Writers Foundation, of which Marvel is a member.

“Knight Writers” are young Colony students who share their personal stories anonymously in a book the school publishes every two years. The idea is to give kids a platform to speak out about things they’ve never had the opportunity to voice.

Many of these young writers’ stories include domestic violence and sexual assault.

At the meeting last year, Marvel challenged the Rotary to help end the violence, Goff said.

“He asked the question,” Goff said, of “what can we do about domestic violence?”

Marvel had a more personal interest in motivating a large, influential group of people to end DV and assault against women, too. According to statistics generated from the latest Alaska Victimization Survey by the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the UAA Justice Center, one in two women in the Valley have reported experiencing one or both of the aforementioned types of violence. That worried Marvel.

“If the stats run true, one of my two daughters are going to experience this in their lifetimes,” he said.

While women also commit violence against young men, the cases are too underreported to draw conclusions, according to Jeaninne Milne from Alaska Family Services. The Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault lacks current, specific data regarding women-on-men DV or assault.

Marvel said the primary responsibility lies with men.

“The bottom line is this: men need to step up,” he said.

They might need some assistance before they can do so. Marvel referenced former Parnell’s morning presentation on the “Choose Respect” campaign as a way to “change the culture” of violence against women to one of respect.

Marvel also mentioned the Coaching Boys Into Men curriculum (available at futureswithoutviolence.org), and encouraged coaches to incorporate into their practices lessons on respect that can carry onto the field and into relationships.

Milne presented COMPASS: A Guide for Men as a helpful resource for adult male mentors working with young Alaska males aged 12 to 18. The guide promotes meaningful conversations through “teachable moments,” activities, storytelling and discussion.

Iditarod musher, runner and cancer survivor DeeDee Jonrowe, the second-to-last speaker at the summit, spoke a little more broadly, relating mentoring to child and puppy rearing. See related story, Page 8.

Anyone in a crisis situation is encouraged to call Alaska Family Services at 746-4080. For a list of shelters and anti-violence advocacy groups, visit the Alaska Department of Administration website or 1.usa.gov/1K0y0Cf.

Contact Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.