#YourVoiceCounts Twitter Chat : Make Your Voice Count for Domestic Violence Awareness

As a previous volunteer with a battered women’s shelter, I witnessed firsthand the impact that domestic violence has on entire families—and the devastation that ensues when domestic violence victims suffer in silence.  Statistics show that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience physical violence, rape or stalking from an intimate partner in their lifetimes. Yet many domestic violence sufferers suffer in silence—even when surrounded by friends, family, and acquaintances.  Today, I would like to introduce you to a new domestic violence prevention campaign:  Your Voice Counts.

What is Your Voice Counts? Your Voice Counts is a new domestic violence campaign, led by the Verizon Foundation, with partners A CALL TO MEN, the Joyful Heart Foundation, and NO MORE, the new symbol for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention.  Your Voice Counts is created to encourage friends, family and domestic abuse bystanders, especially male bystanders, to become more involved in domestic violence awareness and prevention.

Why does domestic violence awareness need your voice?  Unfortunately, many view domestic abuse issues as private, “family” matters—leaving domestic violence victims to suffer alone, in silence.

According to Verizon Foundation President, Rose Stuckey Kirk, "Silence is a large part of the problem surrounding domestic violence.  Your Voice Counts aims to address that problem directly by equipping men and women with readily available online resources they need to talk about domestic violence in their communities, to seek help for victims, and to prevent further acts of violence and abuse."

Abuse is a very personal matter—and it can be very difficult to begin a conversation about the subject—even with someone that you know and trust.  Your Voice Counts offers a number of online resources and tools to help bring sideline bystanders into the forefront—and become involved in preventing domestic violence.  Your Voice Counts encourages us to speak out, to become involved, and make our voices heard in an effort to bring domestic violence issues out of hiding and into the open.

How can you support Your Voice Counts? 
Visit the Your Voice Counts website.  Learn more about this valuable project.

Learn more about the project’s partners.   A CALL TO MEN, the Joyful Heart Foundation, NO MORE, and the Verizon Foundation and their efforts in preventing domestic violence and abuse in our communities. 

Attend the #YourVoiceCounts Twitter Chat on Thursday, November 14, 2012 at 3pm EST. You will be able to chat with the Joyful Heart Foundation (@TheJHF), Joyful Heart's Founder and President--and Law and Order SVU's Mariska Hargitay (@Mariska), A CALL TO MEN (@LiveRespect), CBS Sportscaster James Brown (@JBSportscaster), and the host, the Verizon Foundation (@VerizonGiving) along with other domestic violence advocates.

The #Your VoiceCounts Twitter Chat is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about these organizations, break the silence surrounding domestic violence, and discover resources and information to help you find your own voice against domestic violence.  I hope to see you there!