State Senator Jason Lewis: WAAV a ‘national model’

Published in the September 22, 2016 edition.

By GAIL LOWE

WAKEFIELD — Two local politicians attended yesterday morning’s WAAV (Wakefield Alliance Against Violence) directors’ meeting at the WCAT studios on Hemlock Road to show their support for the work the organization is doing to end domestic and sexual violence from the town’s streets, schools and homes.

State Representative Donald H. Wong (R-Saugus and Wakefield) and State Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) both offered positive comments about WAAV. Lewis said that the group’s efforts could be “a national model at this point.”

“Every city and town should have a WAAV,” said Lewis. “The way you are using data (from student surveys) is impressive at all grade levels.”

As an example taken from the survey, Lewis said he was shocked to learn how early sexual assaults can occur in a student’s life. According to survey results, 11 percent of high school students in Wakefield reported they had been sexually assaulted while 6 percent of students at the middle school level reported the same.

“It’s jaw dropping,” Lewis said about the survey results.

He also commented that since former Governor Deval Patrick signed a major domestic violence and sexual assault bill in 2014, legislators have added offenses such as strangulation and suffocation to the list of charges that can be brought against offenders.

“These additions help police officers and it helps victims,” he said.

Sen. Lewis also mentioned that Gov. Charlie Baker prioritized support for victims of violence when the the FY’17 budget was being formulated.

“Funding of $31 million is a big increase over last year,” he said.

Towns such as Wakefield are welcome to apply for a portion of the $31 million that would go to non-profit and other organizations committed to stamping out violence.

“We have more work to do at the state and local level,” Lewis commented, adding that raising awareness, education and prevention, particularly with young people, is where the focus needs to be.

“The work you’re doing at the grass roots level is most important,” he said. “We’re supporting that work.”

Lewis thanked WAAV’s directors for their hard work, including Wakefield Police Department Patrol Officers Amy Toothaker and Jason Skillings.

State Rep. Donald H. Wong (R-Saugus/Wakefield) commented on the deficit in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget and said that he has been at the State House daily fighting for every dollar for the NARCAN program ($25,000), Public Safety Building ($25,000) and Albion Cultural Center ($100,000).

When WAAV founder Cindy Addeo asked what was happening with the opioid crisis, Wong responded that he visited Washington, D.C. to request more money and services.

“We should have classes for people who want to get off drugs,” he said. “We need federal help for (drug) education and we need to look at (opioid addiction) as a sickness, not a crime. Eighty percent of people who become addicted started from prescription drug use.”

Other WAAV news:

• Officer Toothaker reported that $2,750 has been raised to support a 5K Race to End Domestic Violence planned for Saturday, Oct. 15 around Lake Quannapowitt. The goal is to help raise awareness and provide resources to victims of domestic violence and end its presence in Wakefield. All proceeds will go to WAAV. Businesses wishing to sponsor the race must do so by Saturday, Oct. 1.

Pre-registration cost for running in the race is $30. Those registering on the day of the event will pay an additional $10.

Toothaker also said she hopes to present a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) class to high school girls in the near future. In addition to defense instruction, a RAD class instructor could encourage victims to use cell phones to dial 911 in the event of an emergency. As a branch of RAD, a small fund for Charlie MBTA cards that would help a victim get home late at night also could be established. Toothaker said that more support is needed for survivors of violence.

She also mentioned that copies of Dining for Dollars coupons (redeemable at the Dockside Restaurant on Main Street) are in the lobby of the Public Safety Building. Dining for Dollars is a WAAV fundraising event planned for Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Dockside. When diners present coupons at the end of their meals on the night of the fundraiser, 25 percent of their checks will go to WAAV.

• In her report, Wakefield Unified Prevention Coalition (WAKE-UP) Director Catherine Dhingra said that the Youth Risk Behavior Assessment surveys distributed to high school students indicate that violence in Wakefield as well as suicidal ideation are trending higher than the state average, particularly in the areas of bullying, harassing and Tweets posted online.

A screening of Screenagers, a recent film revealing the negative impacts of screen time on teenagers, is coming Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. to the Galvin Middle School auditorium.

• Brendan Kent, Wakefield’s public schools director of Athletics, Health and Wellness, gave an update on Phase 2 of the three-day Mentors Violence Prevention program presented by Northeastern University coming to Wakefield Tuesday through Thursday, April 11-13, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A maximum of 30 students will participate in training and a one-hour training session will be reserved for 50 school staff members. The program is free.

• Gerrilyn Trafficante said that as in previous years The Yellow Dress, a half-hour, one-actor performance designed to end to dating violence, will be presented to high school students before the 2017 prom. Though the date was not announced at the meeting, the Daily Item later learned that the performance is scheduled for Tuesday, April 4, 2017 in The Savings Bank Theatre at the high school.

The Yellow Dress is shown every year to the junior class at the high school. The performance is made possible by WAAV in partnership with the Police Department, Wakefield Rotary Club, WAKE-UP, Beebe Library and the high school’s athletics program.

Since 1995, more than half a million young people and adults have witnessed the power of the performance through Dean’s Educational Theater. The idea to present The Yellow Dress was first proposed by Directors Bob and Merry Eldridge.

In addition to Directors Addeo, Kent, Toothaker, Dhingra and Trafficante those attending Tuesday’s meeting included Nancy Cicia, Jeff Cicia, Merry Eldridge, Bob Eldridge, Catherine McDonald, Kathy Byrne and Alexander Castillo-Nunez from Sen. Lewis’ office.