As part of the global V-Day 2009 Campaign, 18 students and
staff members from the Johns Hopkins University schools of
Medicine, Nursing and Public Health are hosting a
fundraiser social, presenting an interactive domestic
violence workshop and staging two benefit performances of
Eve Ensler's award-winning play The Vagina
Monologues.
"Being a part of The Vagina Monologues provides the
cast and volunteers with a creative and therapeutic
outlet," said Maren Kepler, a student in the School of
Nursing class of 2009 and director of The Vagina
Monologues, which is set for this weekend. "As members
of the medical community and the health care field, I think
each cast member has been privy to the pervasiveness of
violence against women. The performance gives us a way to
raise awareness about the debilitating nature of
violence."
The effort has been planned and implemented entirely by
volunteers from the three schools; proceeds will benefit
Baltimore's victims of domestic violence at the House of
Ruth Maryland and Circle of Health International. Over the
past two years, the Hopkins V-Day Campaign raised nearly
$18,000 for Baltimore charities.
"The Johns Hopkins University V-Day 2009 Campaign has been
an excellent opportunity to promote interaction between our
three schools," Kepler said. "I am really amazed by the
level of dedication these busy and ambitious women have
shown to oppose violence against women. It has really been
an honor and a wonderful experience to continue the V-Day
tradition both globally and in its third year at
Hopkins."
Performances of The Vagina Monologues will be at 8
p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28, in Turner
Auditorium. Tickets are $10, available at the door or
advance reservation by e-mail to
VDAY2009JHMI@gmail.com; for more information, contact
Lisa Aslan at
laslan@jhsph.edu.
In Her Shoes, an interactive workshop simulating the
roles of a victim of domestic violence and her abuser, with
facilitator Ellyn Loy from the House of Ruth Maryland, is
scheduled for 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, in room 4030
of the School of Public Health. Lunch will be served.
The social hour to raise awareness and funds for the
beneficiaries of Johns Hopkins V-Day events was held Feb.
12 at Red Maple Lounge.
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