Survivors to speak out at End the Silence in Big Sky

Join us as we and a cohort of domestic violence survivors bring End the Silence – Haven’s domestic violence storytelling program – to Big Sky for the first time on June 2.

Survivors will be telling stories at Big Sky’s Warren Miller Performing Arts Center on Thursday,  June 2, from 6pm to 7:30pm. The event is free and open to the public. 

So why are we taking End the Silence, a survivor-driven program we started in 2017, to Big Sky? What does a ski-resort town have to do with domestic violence? 

Plenty, if we and survivors are trying to show the community that domestic abuse happens regardless of financial status, gender, or race. Bringing End the Silence to Big Sky is also allowing us to: 

• Put the healing power of personal narrative to work, and to serve any survivors of abuse in the greater Gallatin area (ie, not simply in Bozeman). 

• Reduce stigma for survivors in Big Sky. Area survivors have shared that Big Sky residents face especially high stigma around experiencing abuse. Bringing End the Silence will raise awareness about the fact that all communities-- including Big Sky-- have folks who are not safe at home.  

• Foster connection after two years of pandemic-related isolation. Before Covid-19, End the Silence involved Tedx talks, a community workshop at the Bozeman Public Library, and presentations at Montana State University. We hope that this event at Warren Miller can mean a return to similar events to not only reduce stigma and shame, but also to mobilize our community to end domestic violence and abuse.

Also new with this cohort of speakers is their work with a professional writing coach, who is co-facilitating End the Silence with our prevention coordinator. 

We hope to see you on June 2. Thank you to the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation for supporting this event!