Columbia Student Council decorated the main lobby with purple ribbons and bows for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

East Greenbush schools “painted the hallways purple” on Thursday in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The East Greenbush Teachers Association collaborated with 2 Harts One Soul, a local advocacy group, to bring more attention to this important issue.

“Hannah Decker (Goff Music Teacher) and I noticed 2 Harts One Soul Inc. promoting domestic violence awareness in our community and felt compelled to reach out to see how the EGTA could get involved to help raise awareness,” said Columbia Math Teacher Christine Kawczak.

Teachers and students wore purple to school on Thursday, decorated the hallways and collected donations in support of domestic violence prevention.

“My biggest mission is to break the silence with (domestic violence),” said Ms. Hart, who founded 2 Harts One Soul. “We started last year turning the town purple for the month of October for Domestic Violence Awareness. By shining a light on it and representing the color and having it out there, it’s going to make people feel more comfortable to discuss it and hopefully save lives.”

Domestic Violence Prevention Resources

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  • Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
  • Text “START” to 88788
• NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
  • Call 1-800-942-6906
  • Text 844-997-2121
• NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Domestic Violence Awareness Project
• 2 Harts One Soul
• Unity House Domestic Violence Unit

East Greenbush Schools ‘Paint the Hallways Purple’ for Domestic Violence Awareness #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth pic.twitter.com/31t8zSJLrq

— East Greenbush CSD (@EGreenbushCSD) October 28, 2021