THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 20, 1996 TAG: 9601200272
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DIANE TENNANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
A task force that hopes to reduce violence in Hampton Roads picked a name for itself and wrote a mission statement during an organizational meeting Thursday in Norfolk.
Together Against Violence, as the group will now be called, includes representatives of agencies that already offer educational or counseling services, such as Family Services of Tidewater, Pride in Parenting and Response. But it also includes citizen representatives, and members of health departments and Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.
By joining forces, the task force hopes to reach a greater audience than can individual agencies with peaceful alternatives to violence. Together Against Violence plans to enlist the support of media, businesses and the religious community as well.
Members say the problem facing the community is that violence permeates television, music and families already, and is seen as a legitimate option in many situations. With that in mind, the task force chose its mission to be the elimination of violence, rather than the more nebulous suggestion of committing itself to peace in Hampton Roads communities.
Although the group has not set its goals or decided on specific activities, ideas that came up Thursday included asking grocery stores to bag, along with food, printed material offering suggestions on how to shop with a child in tow without resorting to threats or violence.
Other suggestions included asking businesses to post signs establishing ``no hitting'' zones, as a way of telling customers to treat their children kindly while in the store. Sarah Bishop of Pride in Parenting, which offers free parenting education programs throughout the region, said it had been pointed out to her that businesses hire security guards to watch over merchandise, and post ``no smoking'' signs as a courtesy to customers. Why not, she asked, approach businesses to protect children from abuse as well?
Specific activities and services already offered by member agencies will be discussed when the task force meets again in February. MEMO: For more information on Together Against Violence, contact Mary Riley
at Family Services of Tidewater, 622-7017.
by CNB