By: Drew Chamberlain
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV)—To celebrate International Women’s Day, Peace at Home Domestic Violence Shelter will receive proceeds from an upcoming International Women’s Day Celebration at JJ’s Live.
The event aims not only to support survivors of domestic violence but also to raise awareness about the prevalence of such issues within the community.
Established in 1977, Peace at Home has been supporting survivors of domestic violence in Arkansas. Their services include emergency shelter, legal assistance, counseling, and housing support, all aimed at empowering domestic abuse survivors to rebuild their lives.
Peace at Home Marketing Coordinator AJ Underwood emphasized the significance of events like the JJ’s celebration in supporting survivors and educating the community. “It’s about supporting and empowering survivors of domestic violence to survive and thrive,” Underwood said. “It’s not just about raising funds for the shelter but also about building awareness and creating a compassionate community prepared to serve and support survivors.”
The International Women’s Day celebration will take place at JJ’s Live on March 10 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature decorating custom champagne bottles, designing hats, and photo opportunities.
“Having a day where women can come out, celebrate, and make their own decisions is essential, especially for survivors who have had their power and control stripped away. It’s about celebrating empowerment and recognizing the resilience of women,” Underwood said.
The proceeds from the event will go towards the operational costs of Peace at Home, ensuring services such as emergency relief and financial support for survivors.
International Women’s Day is particularly important for Peace at Home as it aligns with its mission of empowerment.
“We’re all about empowerment and a lot of what’s taken away. When you’re a survivor of domestic violence, somebody else has power and control of your life over your decisions, over your identity,” Underwood said.
According to statistics from the Arkansas House of Representatives, 40.8% of women experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes.
“Supporting other women in being empowered and getting out of abusive situations is crucial,” Underwood said. Along with its mission to empower women, Peace at Home Shelter also aims to affirm LGBTQ+ advocacy, ensuring that all domestic abuse victims have services available to them regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 43.8% of lesbian women and 61.1% of bisexual women have experienced domestic abuse by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.
Resources and information regarding domestic violence can be found at peaceathomeshelter.org. The national domestic violence hotline is 800-799-7233.