Annual vigil honors victims of sexual violence

TORRINGTON — Community members who support survivors of sexual violence gathered at Coe Memorial Park on Thursday, taking part in a vigil in recognition of Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony Project, the vigil is now in its tenth year.

“Assault is widespread and impacts every person in a community,” said Gail Manna, community outreach coordinator for the project. Below her, a display of dozens of stuffed animals represented the 78 children who received sexual assault support from the project in 2017.

“Sexual abuse can happen anywhere,” said Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone. She said the support at the vigil was heartwarming. “Only through awareness can we affect change,” she said.

In the coming year, Carbone said city leaders would concentrate on making a difference. “Human trafficking is in our community and in our backyard. This will be our focus,” she said.

Nine awards were presented by SBAP executive director Jeanne Fusco, for awareness and support for survivors of sexual assault. The recipients were:

Michelle Colleoni, the Northwest Coordinator for the Child Abuse Investigation Team; Nicole Tavano, who provides services to clients at Trinity Glen, a rehabilitation program in Sharon; Wendy Gadwah, who coordinates the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment group for the project; Michele Bonvicini and Dina Pereira from Union Savings Bank, which sponsored this year the first community education program for the project; Kyle Johnson, a Torrington police detective who provided compassionate support for a project client after forensic evidence was collected; Goshen Public Library, which hosted the “Clothesline Project” to help create community awareness of sexual violence; Bobby Jo Klug, who is the featured singer at many of the project’s vigils, and Judge Rosmarie Aquilina, who received an award in absentia for allowing 156 women to make impact statements during the trial of Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics Coach.

The Susan B. Anthony Project was founded in 1983 to promote safety, healing and growth for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence. The next public event project is the international men’s march called “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.” Men walk in red high-heeled shoes for a mile to support the effort to “stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence.”

For information about the project, or the upcoming walk, call 860489-3798, or visit www.sbaproject.org

Leslie Hutchison / Hearst Connecticut Media Thursday night’s awareness vigil at Coe Memorial Park included a collection of stuffed animals, each representing a sexual violence victim. In 2017, 78 children received support from the Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington.

Susan B. Anthony Project Executive Director Jeanne Fusco presents award to Torrington Police Detective Kyle Johnson for his work to help sexual assault victims

Participants in Torrington’s annual vigil for Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Volunteer Priya Crum, far right, is joined by her husband Robert Crum, who works for SBAP.