Cookout at Brightwood Community Center to raise awareness of domestic violence

Indianapolis, Indiana – On Friday, a community center in the area will provide a free barbeque to promote awareness of domestic abuse.

From 2 to 6 p.m., a picnic will be hosted at the Brightwood Community Center at 2140 N. Arsenal Ave.

The event will be moved inside to Scott United Methodist Church (2153 Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave.), which has a shared parking lot with the community center, in the event of rain.

According to the event’s planners, there will be free food and beverages, activities, a bouncy house, face painting, health exams, and other amenities.

One in four women and one in nine men are victims of domestic violence, according to research from the National Coalition against Domestic Violence.

According to the event organizers, one of the top 10 Indianapolis neighborhoods where calls concerning domestic violence originate is the 46218 zip code, which is where Brightwood Community Center is situated. In 2021, Indianapolis police conducted about 2,900 domestic violence-related runs in this area.

The Domestic Violence Network, the community center, and the city of Indianapolis are attempting to alter the statistics.

The City of Indianapolis and The Indianapolis Foundation awarded the DVN and the Brightwood Community Center a $232,854 Elevation Grant in 2022 to develop an initiative that focuses on communities that experience violence at a disproportionately high rate.

For the cookout, the Domestic Violence Network collaborated with the Brightwood Community Center.

Recognizing the symptoms of domestic abuse is crucial.

Danville’s Sheltering Wings offers assistance and support to people affected by domestic violence.