With some of the recent media headlines on island, A Safe Place decided to make a public statement with reminders that domestic violence and sexual assault are very real issues within our Nantucket community and that we are always here for support, services and education.

Read Letter

A Safe Place in collaboration with the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club kicked off a ten-week Date Smart program on October 5. The program meets on Thursdays from 4pm to 5pm and allows students in grades six through eight to examine their feelings about dating and relationships while being encouraged to become peer and community advocates for healthy relationships based on equality and respect. 

The Date Smart program is intended to increase young people’s understanding and build the skills they need to achieve healthy relationships free of violence and abuse. Participating youth also increase their ability to help their friends and family members who may be experiencing dating, sexual or domestic violence.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Recaps

On Thursday, October 19, A Safe Place staff participated in Purple Thursday, joining advocates across the country in wearing purple to raise awareness for domestic violence in an effort to put an end to the cycles of violence and coercive control. 

Each October remains a month focused on remembering victims whose lives were tragically lost to abuse, advocating for survivors, educating the public, and creating much needed change. 

A Safe Place’s Silent Witness Project is a visual representation of the Massachusetts women, men and children who have been murdered by acts of domestic violence within the last year (October 2022-September 2023). Individual stories are showcased on silhouettes placed around local island businesses as a reminder of how domestic violence affects our state.

While this topic is difficult to talk about, it is necessary that we do. 

Thank you to the following local businesses and nonprofits for your support during Domestic Violence Awareness Month:  

Dan’s Pharmacy, Espresso to Go, Nantucket Athenuem, Nantucket Bank, Nantucket Community School, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Nantucket Family Resource Center, Nantucket High School, Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals, Nantucket Police Department, Offshore Animal Hospital, Old South Diner, Pip & Anchor, Wicked Island Bakery Hyline Cruises, and Pacific National Bank (Bank of America).

Remember Victims Here
(View Massachusetts List)

Did you know that animal cruelty is one of the earliest indicators that an individual is developing a pattern of seeking power and control and is a large red flag? 

Thank you to Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals for your support in showcasing one of our canine silhouettes for awareness in how animals are also impacted by domestic violence. 

No one deserves to be abused for any reason — including our animal community members.

If you see something, say something.

On October 11, A Safe Place’s Annabel Dannheim testified on An Act Relative to Healthy Youth.
This bill will allow youth to receive medically accurate, age appropriate and LGBTQ inclusive sex ed. Although most schools have been teaching up to date sex ed, there are still some schools that aren’t. By allowing this bill to be passed we are teaching our youth how to have safe and healthy relationships.

Annabel is a domestic violence and sexual assault advocate at A Safe Place as well as a second year social work student at Simmons University.

Learn More

Thank you to the Nantucket Skating Club for hosting a fun community event on Sunday, October 29! A Safe Place was on hand to distribute information regarding its services as well as Halloween treats. 
Pictured above are A Safe Place staff members, Jennifer Frazee and Tania Pereira, and SourceHub staff member, Fernanda Silveira. 

Are you looking for additional ways to support our A Safe Place mission? During the month of November at Stop & Shop’s 9 Salem Street, Nantucket location, Stop & Shop will give a portion of the proceeds from their reusable bag sales to A Safe Place as part of their Community Bag Program. 

Please keep us in mind when grocery shopping this month. Thank you, Nantucket!

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