'My Girlfriend Did It' Event Highlights Impact of Intimate Partner Violence

'My Girlfriend Did It' Event Highlights Impact of Intimate Partner Violence

With Support from Verizon Wireless, Casa de Esperanza Hosts Training Event June 26

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- It is estimated that one in four women will experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in their lifetimes, according to the National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the statistics are less clear for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals, experts believe that they experience IPV at similar rates. To bring awareness to this issue, Casa de Esperanza will host a film screening and training session on June 26 of its documentary film My Girlfriend Did It. This powerful film discusses the issue of IPV in lesbian relationships by highlighting the struggle and resilience of women who have experienced violence at the hands of their partners.

Casa de Esperanza is inviting advocates, service providers and community members to participate in the day-long event at Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th Street, St. Paul. The training event will be held, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Registration for the full day, including lunch, is $40. Tickets are available for $10 to attend only the film screening and panel discussion at 9:00 a.m.

The panel discussion after the film screening will be led by Beth Zemsky, MAEd, LICSW, the founding Director of the University of Minnesota GLBT Programs Office and adjunct faculty member in GLBT Studies, and Patti Tototzintle, Chief Executive Officer at Casa de Esperanza. M. Liliana Espondaburu, Senior Consultant at Casa de Esperanza, and Rebecca Waggoner-Kloek, Anti-Violence Manager at OutFront Minnesota, will present afternoon training sessions on Lesbian Women of Color and Gender and Violence.

My Girlfriend Did It is an important awareness tool for organizations who are interested in enhancing their services to the LGBTQ community and addressing barriers to service access. Originally produced in 1995, the film has been updated and is being re-released on DVD with Spanish subtitles and a Facilitator's Guide.

The event is made possible by a $10,000 grant from Verizon Wireless. Additional financial support for the film re-launch has been provided by The Minneapolis Foundation, the Ms. Foundation, and Philanthrofund. OutFront Minnesota, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women (MCBW) and Ramsey County have provided generous in-kind support for the training event.

To register for the training or to order a copy of My Girlfriend Did It, call 651.646.5553 or email camundson@casadeesperanza.org.

Casa de Esperanza is a nationally recognized Latina organization which exists to mobilize Latinas and Latino communities to end domestic violence. Rooted in Latino values, the organization proactively addresses the causes and impact of violence in the home. Casa de Esperanza creates family support systems; changes community attitudes about domestic violence; establishes support networks; and enhances Latinos' access to public and nonprofit systems. Casa de Esperanza served more than 10,000 individuals, families, and organizations throughout the United States in 2007.

   MEDIA ADVISORY    WHAT:     Casa de Esperanza's My Girlfriend Did It Film Screening &             Training Event              The day-long event will celebrate the re-launch of My Girlfriend             Did It, a documentary film that highlights Intimate Partner             Violence (IPV) in lesbian relationships.  Tickets include film             screening and panel discussion; training sessions presented by             M. Liliana Espondaburu, Senior Consultant at Casa de Esperanza,             and Rebecca Waggoner-Kloek, Anti-Violence Manager at OutFront             Minnesota; and lunch.    WHEN:     9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Full-Day Event) on Thursday, June 26, 2008             9:00 am to 10:30 am (Film Screening & Panel Discussion)    WHERE:    Landmark Center             75 W. 5th St, St Paul, MN 55102             http://www.landmarkcenter.org/    COST:     $40 per person for full-day event             $35 per person if an organization sends three or more             individuals to the full-day event             $10 per person for film screening and panel discussion only at             9:00 am to 10:30 am    REGISTER: Email camundson@casadeesperanza.org or call 651.646.5553  

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FCMN Contact:

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Amy Sanchez, Chief Executive for External Relations of Casa de
Esperanza, Office, +1-651-646-5553, ext 314, Mobile, +1-651-247-2628,
asanchez@casadeesperanza.org

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment