The HOPE Center held their annual Victory over Violence Luminary Celebration on Bridge Square (PDF flyer) on Thursday night.
People were invited to “… walk through the luminaries, experience the Clothesline Project, pay tribute to survivors, and learn more about HOPE Center and the issues of domestic/sexual violence.”
It’s quite a powerful thing to experience. And like last year, I noticed at least one person quietly sitting by themselves, weeping.
Unlike last year’s blog post of the event, I did take photos of the ‘Clothesline’ — T-shirts created by rape victims, hanging on a line on Bridge Square.
The April 9 Northfield News featured an article about the departure of long-time Executive Director Leah Lutz. Her replacement will be named this week.
See the album of 28 photos or this slideshow:
Thanks for the great photos, Griff! The slide show really captures the contrasts that make up the Luminary Event: beauty of luminaries at night, pain in the t-shirt messages, sober memories embodies by the Silent Witnesses, fellowship of people coming together for a common cause. As an FYI, it wasn’t official until last night’s board meeting, but we do have a new Executive Director at HOPE Center. Erica Staab will start on June 16 — she’s the one on the far right in your picture above.
You’re welcome, Tracy. Congrats to Erica.
Who’s to the left of CC Lindstroth in the photo?
That is Renee Thompson, our newest board member. She lives in Lonsdale and works for GMAC in Minneapolis.
And it is official, I am in the office and excited to be on the team of HOPE Center :).
We are going to be having an open house here at HOPE Center from 2-4 on Thursday June 26th. For more information visit: http://www.hopecentermn.org.
Those are excellent photos Griff, thank you for those. The event was a good opportunity to meet people, to remember why the work that HOPE Center provides every day is so important and needed in our community and to honor the courage and resiliency of the clients we serve.
Congrats, Erica, on the new job. You’re welcome for the photos. Was that your voice I heard on MPR’s pledge drive this week?
Yes it was :). Although I haven’t heard it yet. I did an interview when I went to an advocates meeting, it was a lot of fun.