School children from Freeborn County will present their ideas on how they can help prevent violence as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Wednesday, October 13, 1999

School children from Freeborn County will present their ideas on how they can help prevent violence as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Turn off the Violence kicks off on Thursday morning with representatives from each of the 16 area schools present to recognize what their school is doing to turn off the violence.

&uot;Each group has worked on something, whether it’s a skit or a song or a poem,&uot; said Rose Omsted of Crime Victim’s Crisis Center, the group that sponsors the event. While Omsted has coordinating the event in the past, the past couple of years Yolanda Martinez, also of CVCC, has headed up efforts. This year, Lakeview Elementary School’s social worker, Ranae Berg has helped Martinez plan the event, as it is hosted by the school.

&uot;The kids work really hard on their projects and they’re really proud of what they do,&uot; Omsted said.

While the children are working on their projects they learn about violence, its effects and what they can do to stop violence.

Thursday’s program also highlights that violence is a learned behavior and can be unlearned.

Representatives from the community’s schools, law enforcement and other agencies will be present to hear the children’s ideas. However, other members of the public are welcome to attend. This year’s &uot;Turn off the Violence&uot; program is hosted by Lakeview Elementary School, but will take place in Cap Emmons Auditorium Thursday at 9 a.m.

The statewide &uot;Turn off the Violence&uot; day was designed to ask people to turn off violent television shows, movies and music and to plan nonviolent alternatives.

Thursday also marks the beginning of CVCC’s &uot;Hands are not for Hitting&uot; event.

&uot;It gives community members an opportunity to come together and make a pledge that they will not use their hands for hitting or violence,&uot; Omsted said.

Residents can make that pledge by tracing their hand for a mural. Thursday, volunteers will be at Wal-Mart and the Albert Lea City Offices Building on East Clark Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday mural volunteers will be at Northbridge Mall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Seniors who are part of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program with Senior Resources will be on hand to help out. CVCC volunteers will join the RSVP group as well.

Information on abuse prevention and how to get help will be available, Omsted said.

CVCC will also host their open house on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. at the Department of Human Services.