Guilford Community Hosts Sexual Assault Awareness Event on the Green

The Guilford community gathered for a Sexual Assault Awareness event hosted by Women & Family Life Center (the Center) on Tuesday, April 23rd, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the Guilford Green. The event aimed to raise awareness, offer support, and provide resources related to sexual assault. Local community organizations present included Community Dining Room, Madison Youth and Family Services, New Horizons DV Services, Guilford Social Services, Neighborhood Victim Advocacy Program, Clifford Beers, The Connection, Inc., Women and Families SACS, Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services, Guilford Youth and Family Services, Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, New Haven Legal Assistance Association and the Guilford Police Department. 

"We are not defined by what happened to us," said Melissa Balletto, Assistant Director of Madison Youth & Family Services. “We are defined by how we rise. Together, we stand strong, speak out, and demand change.” Organized by the Shoreline Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Taskforce at the Center, the event offered a safe space for individuals to connect and learn more about available resources in the area. 

Lynn Pinder, Chair of the Board of Directors at the Center said "Events like these on the Guilford Green allow us to come together as a community to support issues that are important to women and all families on the shoreline. The Center has been organizing local initiatives like these for over 30 years in Guilford.”  Local agencies came together to support survivors, provide opportunities for connection and resources from local support. Community members from all over the Shoreline of Connecticut attended to show solidarity for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. 

Located at 96 Fair Street in Guilford, the Center provides programs and services supporting and empowering women and all families during challenging life transitions.  Residents may speak with a referral navigator at the Center and set up an intake appointment by calling (203) 458-6699 or emailing info@womenandfamilylife.org.