Posted on Apr 25, 2008

Salamishah Tillet, co-founder of A Long Walk Home, Inc., speaks at the Lambda Pi Chi Third Annual Domestic Violence & Rape Awareness Banquet Saturday, April 26, 2008.

The third annual Domestic Violence & Rape Awareness Banquet, “Out of the Silence, Finding Our Voices,” is Saturday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the ballroom at College Park Hall.

Keynote speaker Salamishah Tillet, a rape survivor and co-founder of A Long Walk Home, Inc., will discuss how the media shapes the public’s response to sexual violence and discourages victims from coming forward to press charges. The banquet, sponsored by Las Hermanas of Tau Chapter of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., will also feature musical performances, poetry readings and anecdotes from survivors.

Felisa Williams ’08; Olga Lucia Torres, Alpha Chapter alumna of Cornell University; Eliza Lopez, Alpha Chapter alumna; Janie Cisneros, regional director for the upstate region of Lambda Pi Chi and Carla Reeves ’08 at the Second Annual Domestic Violence &

Doors open at 5 p.m. for this event, which is free for the campus community. Tickets for the general public are $18 per person; $30 per couple.

"These events are crucial to the well being of our social and academic community,” said Lambda Pi Chi Vice President Carla Reeves ’08. “All three of our chapter founders survived domestic violence and rape. This banquet enables us to raise awareness and commemorate the road to recovery that many survivors have taken.”

The banquet closes Pi Chi Week which included discussions of race, identity, sex and health; a movie and game night and volunteer activities at Kenney Community Center.

Proceeds will benefit The National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) and a local organization that promotes domestic violence awareness.