Peninsula College – Forks Hosting Traveling Exhibit

October 12, 2023 1:30 am
Photograph in the exhibit “Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives/Enfrentando la Violencia: Mejorando la Vida de las Mujeres.” Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine. Women rally in City Hall Plaza in Boston to speak out against violence against women, August 26, 1976. ©Ellen Shub 2015 all other rights reserved.
Photograph in the exhibit “Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives/Enfrentando la Violencia: Mejorando la Vida de las Mujeres.” Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine. Women rally in City Hall Plaza in Boston to speak out against violence against women, August 26, 1976. ©Ellen Shub 2015 all other rights reserved.

Exhibit, documentary and discussion explore domestic violence, provide resources

This October, in recognition of both Resilience Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the North Olympic Library System (NOLS) has teamed up with community partners to host events focused on building knowledge, connection, and resilience, while highlighting historical activism and current issues facing victims and survivors.

Offered in conjunction with the exhibit “Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives,” the special events are on Oct. 12 at Peninsula College at Forks and on Oct. 17 at the Port Angeles Main Library. Information is available at nols.org/confronting-violence.

On Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m., community members are invited to Peninsula College at Forks, 481 S. Forks Ave., for a documentary screening, panel discussion, and exhibition viewing. The documentary “El Poder de Contarlo (The Power to Tell),” by the Spokane-based organization M.i.A. Mujeres in Action, follows the stories of various Latinx immigrant women who overcame abusive relationships. Filled with hope, they continue to fight for a better future for themselves and their families. The documentary is approximately 28 minutes long and contains graphic language about violence.

Following the documentary, panelists—including local Forks community members—will speak about their own experiences and discuss access to services and the direct impact of domestic violence on the Hispanic community in a localized context. A representative from M.i.A. will also participate on the panel. The panel discussion will be primarily in Spanish, with side-by-side interpretation available for English-speaking attendees. Representatives from Mariposa House will provide information with local resources during the event.

Participants will be able to view the dual-language traveling exhibit from the National Library of Medicine, “Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives/Enfrentando la Violencia: Mejorando la Vida de las Mujeres.” The exhibit tells the story of activists and reformers in the United States who have long recognized the harm of domestic violence and sought to improve the lives of women who were battered. Beginning in the late 1970s, nurses pushed the larger medical community to identify victims, adequately respond to their needs, and work towards the prevention of domestic violence.

Aside from this special event, the “Confronting Violence” exhibit is on display now through Oct. 13 at Peninsula College at Forks, before traveling to the Port Angeles Main Library, where it will be on view Oct. 16 through Nov. 4. Parking and building access at both locations are free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m., the Port Angeles Main Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., welcomes community members to the documentary screening followed by a reception and an after-hours viewing of the exhibition. Representatives from Lower Elwha Family Advocacy Program and Healthy Families of Clallam County will provide information tables with local resources during the reception.

For more information visit www.nols.org or email Discover@nols.org.