Brooklin and Deer Isle libraries bring back Finding Our Voices

Originally published by Penobscot Bay Press.

BLUE HILL AND DEER ISLE—Finding Our Voices, the grassroots, statewide nonprofit dedicated to supporting women survivors of domestic abuse, is bringing its “Let’s Talk About It Tour” to the Peninsula during October’s national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, according to a press release.

The nonprofit was behind the “Into the Light” fundraising festival in July that involved more than 50 local businesses.

Survivor-led panel discussions will take place Wednesday, October 15, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Chase Emerson Memorial Library on Deer Isle, and Thursday, October 16, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Friend Memorial Public Library in Brooklin.

Topics at both events will include emotional and financial abuse, and advice on how to best help a loved one who is in an unhealthy relationship. Panelists include 85-year-old Mary Lou Smith, a retired second-grade teacher who is celebrating her 20-year anniversary of freedom, and Courtney Billings who grew up in Stonington with an abusive father and then found herself trapped in emotional abuse by an intimate partner.

The events are free and open to the public. Patrisha McLean, CEO and Founder of Finding Our Voices said in the press release, “We are so grateful to the Blue Hill Peninsula for pulling together in such a big way for our July “Into the Light!” festival, and are excited about bringing even more light to the issue and to local survivors with these talks.”

For a list of Finding Our Voices’ October events visit findingourvoices.net/events-1.