Younity Hosts Two Events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Younity invites the community to stand together during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Guided by the national theme, With Survivors, Always/Con los Sobrevivientes, Siempre, Younity will host two events intended to uplift victim-survivors and honor lives lost: the Stepping Out of the Darkness DVAM Walk and the 24th Annual Communities of Light.
On Saturday, October 25, Younity hosts the Stepping Out of the Darkness DVAM Walk in Cadwalader Park in Trenton. Survivors, families, and supporters will walk side by side to break the silence around abuse and affirm that no one is alone. Ambassadors include Eva Phillips, a survivor whose courage and advocacy challenge the stigma of victim-blaming, and Maureen Spataro of the Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation, which honors the legacy of a young woman whose life was tragically cut short by domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is so often whispered about. Victim-survivors are asked to carry the burden in silence. This walk is about saying out loud: You are not alone, you have nothing to be ashamed of, and your community is here to stand with you, always,” said Varonda Kendrick, Younity’s Response Teams Coordinator.
The walk is to begin at 9 a.m., with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. Families are invited to walk in remembrance by carrying a photo, a banner, or simply a loved one’s name.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month concludes with the 24th Annual Communities of Light on Monday, October 27. At sundown, thousands of luminaries will glow across Mercer County in a shared act intended to engender remembrance and solidarity. What began as a grassroots effort 24 years ago has become a major Younity fundraiser. The organization says it provides critical support for shelter, counseling, legal advocacy and prevention education.
“Lighting one candle may seem like a small act,” said Nathalie S. Nelson, president & CEO of Younity. “But when thousands shine together across all of Mercer County, they illuminate the path forward and send a promise to every survivor: we see you, we believe you, and we will not turn away.”
Call for Art: Not Afraid
Nonprofits West Windsor Arts and Art Against Racism invite artists to submit artwork for Not Afraid, a juried exhibition of work that empowers artists to explore the intersection of identity and culture.
In a time of restlessness, fear, power imbalances, injustices, and acts of hate across the globe, there’s nothing more important than the power of community and the fearlessness to be true to who you are.
Not Afraid takes inspiration from black leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the artistic leadership of Passage Theater Company in Trenton to encourage artists to consider the strength and resilience of humanity and what it truly means to be bold, be brave, and be authentically yourself.
The deadline to submit work is Tuesday December 9. Notice of accepted and declined works will be sent out on December 16 and 17. The exhibit runs January 6 through February 28, 2026, with an opening reception on Friday, January 9.
The juror for the exhibit is Claudio Mir, a performance artist, photographer, musician, and writer. Mir has participated in collective exhibitions in Aaron Davis Hall, New York, Mason Gross Galleries, New Jersey, the University of Puerto Rico, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is also the founder of Son de Aqui, Son de Alla, a group of Son Jarocho, music from the southern part of Veracruz, Mexico.
The exhibit is open to all artists 16 years of age and older. All art must be original and new to West Windsor Arts.
There is no size limitation for art, however, size will be taken into consideration by the juror. Works to be considered include works on paper/canvas, 3D works, digital media, videos, music compositions, text-based works, documentation of community actions, zines and performative actions/ their scripts, are all welcome. All artwork must include meaningful human input. AI-generated pieces should be significantly shaped by the artist’s creativity and not solely produced by AI.
A maximum of three pieces can be entered per artist, with an entry fee of $5 per piece. Artwork must be in original form for the medium being submitted. All artworks entered must include finished edges or be framed in a way that permits hanging or displaying the art.
For more information or to submit your entry, visit www.westwindsorarts.org/call-for-art/not-afraid-art-show.
