NBC 10 News Rhode Island 2/14/18: RI students learn dangers of domestic violence through woman’s murder. Valentine’s Day focuses on the positive side of love. But too often, relationships turn violent. Central Falls High School students on Wednesday learned the dangers of domestic violence through the story of 18-year old Lauren Dunne Astley, who was killed by an ex-boyfriend in 2011.
WPRI.com 2/14/18: Man who lost daughter to dating violence shares important message with Central Falls teens.
Arlington Public News Teen Dating Safety – Domestic Violence Awareness. Domestic violence is getting attention in Arlington with a focus on safe relationships for teens. As part of its parent forum series Arlington Public Schools hosted a speaker who lost his teenage daughter, Lauren Astley, to a relationship that turned deadly. As part of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, APN took a closer look at why it’s important to teach teens about the signs of unhealthy relationships.
At any given time there are 20 to 40 restraining orders in effect in Wayland and Sudbury and towns of similar size. There have been 19 murder victims of related violence in Massachusetts this year, girls and women largely by far. 3 to 4 women die similarly every day in our country. To raise awareness, and to witness and protest the pain, violence, and injustice, and also the culture of violence many males suffer, there will be a walk and vigil the evening of Tuesday, October 17. The walk and vigil are sponsored by the Community Methodist Church, First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Wayland, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable, and the LaurenDunneAstleyMemorialFund.org
The walk is planned to start at 5:45 PM at Community Methodist Church, now bathed in purple light (5 Damon Street, Wayland), and end at First Parish UU (50 Cochituate Road), Wayland, at 7 PM when the vigil will start and run until about 7:45. Purple lights will envelope First Parish as they have the Community Methodist Church for two weeks in recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The vigil at First Parish UU, Wayland, planned for 7 to 7:45 PM, will include speakers, candles, and music. Participants will also read the names of the 19 relationship murder victims in Massachusetts to date this year. Community members are welcome to take part in both the walk and vigil.
Allison Koury, President, Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Round Table
Malcolm Astley, LaurenDunneAstleyMemorialFund.org (508-397-7055)
Reverend Ted Crass, Community Methodist Church, Wayland
Reverend Stephanie May, First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Wayland
10/2/17: The first Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Lecture of the year featured Lisa Wade who spoke on material from her book, “American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus”. Wade offers solutions to not abandon the casual hookup, but to multiply the sexual discourses on campus in ways that give students the cognitive freedom and cultural support to make the sexual choices that are best for each individual.
Video of the lecture is online here:
The Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the recipients of its fourth annual mini-grant program to fund dynamic projects promoting the three arenas of its mission: Effective Teen Relationships & Violence Prevention, the Arts, and Community Service.
In Lauren’s spirit and memory, small grants have recently been awarded to individuals and groups with dynamic project ideas in the above areas.
A total of 11 project proposals were awarded mini-grants:
CBS Boston 7/3/16: Lauren Astley’s Parents Remember Daughter’s ‘Unique Spirit’ 5 Years After Her Murder. Lauren Astley’s parents held back tears as they pinned up five coral-colored bows on the fence in front of First Parish Church in Wayland. Coral was Lauren’s favorite color, and her parents tied the bows to the fence as a way to honor her on the five-year anniversary of her death.
Wayland Student Press Network 6/12/16: Seniors watch “Escalation” film. The graduating WHS class of 2016 viewed the film “Escalation,” produced by the One Love Foundation, on May 31 as part of senior week. The movie was shown in conjunction with the Lauren Dunne Astley Foundation Fund and the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) club at WHS.
According to 2016 graduate Nour Sayeh, a member of MVP, the movie portrays a college couple and the escalation of their relationship as time goes on.
The Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the recipients of its third annual mini-grant program to fund dynamic projects promoting the three arenas of its mission: Effective Teen Relationships & Violence Prevention, the Arts, and Community Service.
In Lauren’s spirit and memory, small grants have recently been awarded to individuals and groups with dynamic project ideas in the above areas.
A total of 10 project proposals were awarded mini-grants:
Elon University: New lecture program honors memory of rising Elon student. A nonprofit organization named for an Elon University freshman killed in 2011 just weeks before starting college is funding a new lecture series to teach young people about healthy relationships and the prevention of domestic violence.
A gift from the Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund, which was founded by Malcolm L. Astley and Mary K. Dunne, supports the inaugural events of the Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Lecture Series.
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Broadside: Jim Braude
