The Healthy Fathering Collaborative of Greater Cleveland and the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center invited all adult and young men in Greater Cleveland to join in the White Ribbon Campaign in the fall of 2011 to promote healthy non-violent relationships. It was the first campaign of it's type in Greater Cleveland. See below for more information about the global campaign and its history. Sign-up to participate in 2012!
Men and women of all ages were encouraged to wear a white tie or white ribbon on Wednesday November 30th to take a strong, positive and public stance against violence against women, intimate partners and children. Wearing a ribbon is a commitment to the pledge that an individual will never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women, intimate partners or children. Participants around the world take the same pledge. Here is a powerful PSA from the Vermont White Ribbon Campaign that inspires us:
White Ribbon Campaign 2011
Organizers Tim Boehnein and Steve Killpack were humbled and inspired by the support of the following individuals who recruited their family, friends, workplaces, churches, schools and fraternities to wear white ties or white ribbons today and take the pledge!
Barbara Brown - friends and family
Ship Colliins - Orange High School and Middle School and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Zeta Kappa Kappa Chapter
Maurice Evans - Mental Health Services, the Downtown YMCA and the Providence Baptist Church
Michael Falatach - Cuyahoga Support Enforcement Agency
Michael J Fordham - West Side Ecumenical Ministries and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Zeta Omega Chapter
Charity Hall - NEON Health Services
Sandi Hoch - Cuyahoga County Board of Health
Bruce Holmes - Community United Head Start
Xavier Jones - Murtis Taylor Human Services
Janet Kronenberg - Witness/Victim Services Center
Dr James Leslie - Green Road Pediatrics
Lorenzo Lewis - FAME Fathers
Gordon Maas - Ruffing Montessori School
Tom Mendelsohn - The Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland
Reverend Dr Brian A Moore - Passages, Richland Correctional Institution and Trinity Outreach Ministries
Darella E Motley - friends and family
Michael Raunick - Waynedale High School
Nicky Roberts - Oriana House, North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center and Judge Nancy R McDonnell Community Based Correctional Facility
Tamara Robinson - CWRU School of Law Women's Law Association
Danielle Rohr - The Center for Community Solutions
Amanda Rolf - John Carroll University
Judith Stenta - SAY Coalition
Commander Patrick Stephens - Cleveland Police Department, District 3
Maurice Stephens - Rising Above Initiative
Karen Tatter - MetroHealth Medical Center
Stephen Wertheim - 211/First Call for Help
James B Wingo - Positive Changes at the May Dugan Center
Eira Yates - Berea Children's Home and Family Services
Kayann Zentarski - Help Me Grow of Cuyahoga County
Office Max at Severence Center
We also salute the following individuals who signed our online pledge and the countless other individuals throughout Greater Cleveland who are wearing a white ribbon or tie today and taking the pledge as well: Mayia Allen, David Albert, Deborah Benn, DaVante Breckenridge, Eric Brown, Antonio Carson, John Corn, Colleen Cross, Yvonne Drake, Teresa Egan, Bob Farmerie, Jonita Fields, Bill Fullmer, Tim Furey, Artis Gaines, Jimmy Gates, Justin Gorski, Al Grimes, Charity A Hall, Atunyese V. Herron, Bob Hershey, Michelle Higgins, Peter Lawson Jones, Jeremy Langham, Taylor Love, Debbie Marks, Tom Masterson, Jeffery Mazo, Sondra Miller, Gary Mitrisin, Debrah B Muhammad, Felix Muniz, Joseph A. Murray, Joe Narkin, Margaret Nielsen, Nick Norris,
Susan Organiscak, Nelson Orta, Victoria Patrello, Tim Peyton, Charmaine Pope, Gwen Riase, Nakiaa Robinson, Ron Robinson, Max Rodas, Catherine Thomas, John Threat, Elmore White, Johnnie Wilkerson, Christine Spikes, Pearl Thompson
What is the White Ribbon Campaign?
The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women. It is observed in nearly 60 countries around the globe between November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and December 6. Campaigns are led by both men and women, even though the focus is on educating men and boys. Our local campaign will also focus on violence against children and all intimate partners.
The Campaign started in Canada in 1991 when a handful of men in Canada decided they had a responsibility to urge men to speak out about violence against women. The Campaign was launched on the second anniversary of one man's massacre of fourteen women in Montreal. They began the White Ribbon Campaign to urge men to speak out against violence against women. Wearing a white ribbon would be a symbol of men's opposition to violence against women. With only six weeks of preparation, 100,000 men across Canada wore a white ribbon, while many others were drawn into discussion and debate. In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) and the White Ribbon has become the symbol for the day.
What does it mean to wear a white ribbon?
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women, girls or children.
The main goal of WRC in Greater Cleveland is ending violence against women, children and intimate partners. We accomplish this in five ways:
- Challenging everyone to speak out, and think about their own beliefs, language and actions.
- Educating young people, especially young men and boys, on the issue through the educational resources we produce.
- Raising public awareness of the issue.
- Working in partnership with women’s organizations, the corporate sector, the media and other partners to create a future with no violence against women, children or intimate partners.
- Supporting White Ribbon Campaigns around the globe with our experience, resources and networks.
Contact Us
Healthy Fathering Collaborative
c/o Community Endeavors Foundation
P.O. Box 606194
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.245.7842
*Email is the preferred form of contact.
Join Us
The Healthy Fathering Collaborative generally meets on the first Friday of every other month. Our meetings are open to anyone who is interested in our mission of providing quality services to fathers and families.
Click on the link below to find out about our next meeting or email us to be added to our contact list, info@neofathering.net.
Ohio Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families
A statewide network of fatherhood practitioners, advocates and stakeholders.
To check it out, Click Here.
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