S.H.E. Gallery Online Fundraiser for Life Span
05/20/20
By S.H.E. Gallery
From May 11 to June 11, 2020, S.H.E. Gallery and The Broken Glass Collective host an online fundraiser for Life Span, a sexual assault and domestic violence relief organization in Chicago.
Last March, Sharing His Energy Gallery (S.H.E. Gallery) was all set to wrap up its 7th season of “The S.H.E. Gallery Show," broadcasting live with CAN TV. In April, we were scheduled to host a fundraiser with Green Card Veterans, honoring the return of deported veteran Miguel Perez. These funds were meant to aid the organization that helped bring back Perez to continue to help bring back more deported veterans and to raise awareness of this important issue and its connection with the Mexican cartels. But then COVID-19 happened. Like everyone else, we were forced to stop our plans and adjust to this uncomfortable way of living.
It is now May and, while we are all still adjusting, we are also past the shock.
For several years now, S.H.E. Gallery has worked with women with diverse backgrounds, raising awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence. In 2018, Comfort Station opened its doors to host S.H.E.’s domestic violence awareness vigils, which since became an annual event and the starting point of a tight-knit community of women. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, some of the women who had been involved with the vigils wanted to connect and figure out how to continue to help those in need during these times.
Cathy Byrne has worked with S.H.E. Gallery for several years, and also sits on the Board of Directors for Life Span, an organization that aids sexual assault and domestic abuse victims. Cathy informed us that what these victims really need during the quarantine is financial support: relief funding for those who are experiencing this pandemic much worse than most of us, as they are stuck in a house with an abuser. Calls to Life Span’s hotline have increased by 20% since the lockdown, and the organization is running out of staff and resources to help these victims. Seeing this, S.H.E. Gallery decided to gather its talents and host an online fundraiser drive for Life Span. As part of the fundraiser, we will offer resources, share visual art, poetry, dance, and other inspiring creative practices to help uplift the spirits of those in need, and to receive donations to help victims of domestic abuse. The group of women in S.H.E. who started this support line quickly organized as The Broken Glass Collective.
Together, S.H.E. Gallery and The Broken Glass Collective form a group of creatives dedicated to sharing sisterhood by activating our communities, aiding humanity, and helping others shatter glass ceilings.
The online fundraiser drive runs from May 11, 2020 through June 11, 2020, with all funds going directly to Life Span. We invite you to visit our website to see the art we share, and to consider donating to the fund. On the website, you can also find the press release and more details about the campaign.
Thank you for hearing our story and helping us help women in need.