White Ribbon Breakfast

(Haverhill)— YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts will hold its 4th Annual White Ribbon Day event on Thursday, March 29, as part of the month-long Massachusetts White Ribbon campaign. The White Ribbon campaign brings together men and boys who commit to ending violence as they stand and take the White Ribbon pledge to be part of the solution to ending violence against women and all gender-based violence.

 “By wearing a white ribbon and taking the pledge, men and boys show they do not tolerate or condone men’s violence toward women, men or children,” said YWCA Executive Director Susan Staples. YWCA Haverhill Site Director Renée McGuire, organizer of the event, added, “We believe that this year’s event should have an especially great impact, given the increased public awareness about violence and harassment against women, thanks to the #metoo and #timesup movements.”

YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts provides sexual violence services throughout Essex County, from its sites in Lawrence, Haverhill and Lynn. It provides domestic violence services throughout the Merrimack Valley, including full-time Court Advocates in Lawrence and Haverhill District Courts. YWCA professional staff bring violence prevention workshops to area high schools and college campuses, including Haverhill High School and Northern Essex Community College, two of the event sponsors. MORE

The YWCA event will be held at Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott Street, at the Hartleb Technology Center.  It begins at 7:30 a.m. with a light breakfast, followed by Keynote Speaker Andy Vargas, MA State Representative (3^rd Essex District). MA White Ribbon Ambassador Andy Polanco will also speak. He is on Haverhill High School’s Student Support Services staff, and is a member of the city’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Team (VIP), which works with Haverhill youth to prevent all types of violence.

The YWCA 4^th Annual White Ribbon Day event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required. RSVP to Ashley Taylor, ataylor@ywcanema.org or Renée McGuire rmcguire@ywcanema.org, or call 978 374.6121 by March 26.]]>