V-day

Valentine's Day...it has come so completely commercial that it is difficult to separate it from the boxes of chocolate and the color pink and the pressure to do something romantic...most people I know hate Valentine's day, whether or not they are involved in a romantic relationship. For me it has become something different...

When I was in college I was lucky enough to be a part of the V-day Campaign for 2 years. The V-day Campaign was started by Eve Ensler, author of "The Vagina Monologues" and various other plays about women and their experiences. It has been 10 years since this campaign has begun and millions of dollars have been raised to help fund programs that move towards bringing and end to violence against women and girls. For more information click here:




Each Valentines day I try to take a moment to reflect on that campaign and how much it changed my life, I also like to do something, either for my community or for myself that continues my commitment to this campaign for stopping the violence that pervades our world. Today part of that is sharing this information with you. It gives me hope to know that there are people in the world working to make it a better place for women and children (and as a result, everyone).

I want to share with you the V-day mission statement. I find it empowering and motivating:

V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.

V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.

V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.

V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.

V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.

V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.

V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.

V-Day is a fierce, wild, unstoppable movement and community. Join us!