Senator Lewis to Host Forum on Teen Dating Violence and Sexual Assault

Continuing his “Community Conversations” discussion series, Senator Jason Lewis is pleased to host an upcoming conversation on education, prevention and survivor support strategies in the challenging areas of teen dating violence and sexual assault. “Community Conversations” are issue discussions delving into a different timely topic at each forum, with ample opportunity for residents to share feedback and have their questions answered by experts on the given topic.

This upcoming event — Community Conversations: Teen Dating Violence and Sexual Assault — will take place on Wednesday, November 14, at 6:00pm. The event will occur at Memorial Hall, 590 Main St, Melrose, and is free and open to the public. Attendees will hear from Melrose Alliance Against Violence Executive Director Rebecca Mooney, anti-violence advocate Dr. Malcolm Astley, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Director of Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention and Education Mark Bergeron-Naper, with introductory remarks from Senator Lewis, State Representative Paul Brodeur, and Melrose Mayor Gail Infurna. Senator Lewis is the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health.

This forum will offer the chance to hear directly from advocates and experts about the salient and challenging topics of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and sexual violence. Director Mooney will discuss the teen dating violence public awareness initiatives undertaken by the Melrose Alliance Against Violence, and Dr. Astley will share his real-world experience with teen dating violence and the important advocacy efforts he has undertaken to educate youth, especially young men, about consent and violence prevention. Director Bergeron-Naper will give insight into his work coordinating the prevention and education initiatives in the Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention and Services Division of the Massachusetts DPH Bureau of Community Health & Prevention. There will be ample opportunity for Q&A from attendees.

The forum is co-sponsored by Mayor Gail Infurna, State Representative Paul Brodeur, the Melrose Alliance Against Violence, the Stoneham Alliance Against Violence, the Wakefield Alliance Against Violence, and the Winchester Coalition for a Safer Community.

Previous “Community Conversations” forums have addressed topics including: public education; public transportation; small business and entrepreneurship; challenges facing senior citizens and caregivers; veterans’ issues; mental health; housing; energy policy and environmental priorities; and, efforts to combat substance abuse and opioid addiction in our region.