Danville, IN, March 2022 — The best way to address domestic violence is to keep it from happening in the first place, and raising children to have trust, honor and respect for one another helps them grow into healthy, caring, and responsible adults.
Men are vital to preventing abuse from happening by demonstrating healthy relationships, peer influences and demonstrating the value of our local children by taking time to read to them.
That’s why plans are underway for 450 local men to go into every classroom in all 30 of Hendricks County’s elementary schools on Thursday, March 17, and read a book to the students. “The book is about character traits such as support, positive identity, cultural competence, and a commitment to learning,” explains Melissa Echerd, Prevention and Education Coordinator for Sheltering Wings. “The volunteers will use the book to prompt conversations with the children about those traits.”
The 3rd annual Men IN Action Read event has been organized by Men IN Action, a group of local men who support the work of Sheltering Wings by building each other up, holding each other accountable, challenging the status quo, and serving as positive role models in the community.
Sheltering Wings has enhanced its efforts to prevent domestic violence, building upon the 40 Developmental Assets identified by the Search Institute (www.search-institute.org). “The more of these developmental assets children have, the more likely they’ll grow up to be healthy, responsible adults who take care of themselves and those around them,” says Echerd. “By raising kids to understand and nurture healthy relationships, we can reduce the chance they’ll become abusers or victims of abuse.”
Echerd notes that quite a few men have signed up to participate, but Men IN Action needs many more to make sure they reach every classroom on March 17. “Giving three hours of your time can have a profound effect on the lives of our county’s young people.”
Men who would like to participate can learn more and sign up at shelteringwings.org/event/men-in-action-read.
Registration information:
Free to participate
https://shelteringwings.org/men-in-action-read/
Contact: Melissa Echerd
Cell: 317-752-8881 (preferred)
Email: mecherd@shelteringwings.org
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