10/19/2026
Every October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, YWCA USA leads the Week Without Violence campaign to:
📣 Raise awareness�
🎯 Inspire action�
➡ Advance solutions to end gender-based violence
This year, YWCA USA is shining a spotlight on a critical reality: young people are disproportionately impacted by intimate partner violence – grooming, exploitation, coercion, harassment, and sexual assault – yet their voices are often missing from conversations about prevention, healing, and systemic change.
The national effort is working to create space for young people, survivors, advocates, and communities to come together to envision a future free from violence.
Locally, we have two Take Back the Night events this week. We invite young voices and ALL voices to join us to collectively call for an end to violence and to speak out about your experiences in a safe space.
Tuesday, October 20th - Utica City Hall, 6-8pm�
Thursday, October 22nd - Rome City Hal, 6-8pm
Each event will feature:
• March/rally
• Silent Witness Display
• Clothesline T-shirt Display
• Survivor Speak Out
• Candlelight Vigil
We thank our Week Without Violence local supporters Total Solutions, Bank of Utica, and BeaconBank for helping us power this event and create a platform for survivors and allies.
