Violence prevention forum held on base

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Family Advocacy Program hosted the first Violence Prevention Forum, a White Ribbon campaign initiative, at the Hanscom Conference Center March 2 for base community and local officials to share in their support of the armed forces' efforts to stand united and prevent domestic violence.

Representatives from 11 different counseling, domestic violence resources and family support agencies attended the forum that focused on men's role in preventing all forms of domestic violence.

Guest speakers included Coleman Nee, Secretary of Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services, Gerard T. Leone Jr., Middlesex County District Attorney, Dr. Angelo McClain, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, White Ribbon Campaign Coordinator Craig Norberg-Bohm of Jane Doe Inc. and Jaquil Brooks, Start Strong Initiative teen speaker.

Forum coordinator Matthew Nicoli, a family advocacy intervention specialist, recognizes the military community is not unlike other communities.

"The military is not immune to the issues of domestic violence," said Nicoli. "Despite the rigorous training and preparation, the fact remains incidents still occur."

He feels it is the responsibility of all to begin the conversation to prevent violence at home.

"It is our responsibility, military and civilian, to not only begin the conversation about domestic violence prevention, but to actively further the conversation in order to mitigate, if not prevent, future incidents from occurring," continued Nicoli.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 92 percent of all domestic violence incidents are committed by men against women.

The White Ribbon campaign was founded in 1991 by a group of Canadian men who were driven to action after a violent attack in 1989 against women at school in Montreal.

The men established the campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence and specifically men's role in preventing it.

Wearing a white ribbon represents a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.