The Colorado Anti-Violence Program (CAVP) is honored to commemorate its 25th anniversary with a celebration and fundraiser, "Rooting Down, Rising Up: Celebrating 25 Years of CAVP," on December 8, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Tivoli Turnhalle
on the Auraria Campus. Founded 25 years ago as a response to anti-LGBTQ
hate violence, CAVP has since grown into a statewide organization
dedicated to eliminating violence within and against the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities in Colorado.
The evening's Queer Entertainment Showcase, emceed by local performer, LadySpeech and CAVP Board Member, Mimi Madrid will include music by Ian Cooke, an inspirational LGBTQ Movement History theater piece performed by artist, Laurie Lynch, drag performances and the creation of a CAVP Community Time Capsule with the help of guest participation during the event. Tickets are available for $25. Discounts are available for youth, elders and people with a limited income.
Greta Davis Leach, Director of Sustainability shared this about the event, "We are excited to highlight and celebrate the strengths of our community
while growing our relationships and support within the LGBTQ and allied
communities, both in terms of volunteer support and financial
sustainability. Events like Rooting Down, Rising Up help us reach new
people and share our passion for building safe and vibrant LGBTQ
communities."
Each year, CAVP provides support to 300-400 survivors
of intimate partner violence, hate violence, sexual assault and other
forms of violence through the organization's statewide 24 hour hotline
and trains about 1,500 service providers, victim
advocates, shelter staff, healthcare providers, and law enforcement
providing participants with knowledge and skills to effectively serve
LGBTQ survivors of violence and to create institutional change in their
own organizations. In
the last four years, CAVP has successfully advocated for at least 12
domestic violence and homeless shelters to adopt transgender inclusive
policies and provided training and technical assistance to countless
other organizations serving LGBTQ survivors of violence. CAVP
also offers volunteer training and education to individuals interested
in becoming hotline advocates or getting involved in other ways.
Since
launching Branching Seedz of Resistance, an innovative youth-led
organizing project in 2009, CAVP has made tremendous strides in building
a base of young LGBTQ leaders throughout the state and across the
country. Branching Seedz of Resistance uses art, media, community
organizing, outreach and education to build healthy, safer and empowered
youth communities. "By providing education and outreach to
thousands of Coloradans each year, CAVP is helping to create a culture
of safety and acceptance for LGBTQ adults, youth and survivors of
violence," said Eleanor Dewey, Director of Youth Organizing.
As
the only organizations of its kind in Colorado, CAVP is an active
member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), and
collects and contributes data to two national annual national reports on
hate violence and intimate partner violence.
This
event is wheelchair accessible. For more information about this event,
or to purchase a ticket call (303) 839-5204 or e-mail: crystal@coavp.org.
