LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Vera House upon the
occasion of its 20th Annual White Ribbon Campaign

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those important institutions that serve an integral role in
helping to protect members of the community and to educate the public on
issues of importance; and
WHEREAS, Primary among such institutions are those individuals who,
year after year, diligently seek to empower those in need, promote a
culture of equality and respect, and assist individuals and families in
crisis; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to recognize
and commend Vera House upon the occasion of an important milestone - the
organization's 20th Annual White Ribbon Campaign; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, Vera House was founded in Syracuse by a group of
concerned individuals led by Sister Mary Vera, who recognized the need
for emergency sheltering services for women in crisis; and
WHEREAS, The original mission of Vera House blossomed into a wide
range of domestic violence services including outreach and advocacy,
domestic violence education programming, children's counseling, the
Syracuse Area Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalition, and a domestic
violence education program for male perpetrators of violence; and
WHEREAS, Today, the mission of Vera House is to end and prevent all
domestic and sexual violence, to assist individuals and families in
crisis, and to promote a culture of equality and respect through various
outreach programs and services, such as the White Ribbon Campaign; and
WHEREAS, The White Ribbon Campaign is led by men and encourages all
members of the community to take an active role in preventing domestic
and sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, From March 28 - April 6, 2014, more than 25,000 Central New
Yorkers are expected to wear a white ribbon or white wristband to raise
awareness about domestic and sexual violence, making an important state-
ment that they will not commit, condone or remain silent about domestic
or sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, Vera House also will hold several community events during its
20th Annual White Ribbon Campaign including the White Ribbon Campaign
Breakfast, Walk a Mile In Her Shoes, and the White Ribbon Campaign
Education Challenge to promote education and awareness in local schools;
and
WHEREAS, The White Ribbon Campaign traces its roots back to Canada
where, on December 6, 1989, a male gunman roamed the corridors of
Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique for 45 minutes and killed 14 women;
almost immediately thereafter, what became known as the Montreal Massa-
cre became a galvanizing moment, in which many men realized that ending
violence was not just a "women's issue" but an issue that men needed to
speak out against; and
WHEREAS, For the past 20 years, since Vera House decided to hold its
first White Ribbon Campaign in Syracuse, men from the Central New York
community have been joining forces to educate others about the signs of
domestic violence and ways of preventing such abuse; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize and commend Vera House as it marks its 20th Annual White
Ribbon Campaign, and to support the organization's ongoing efforts to
eliminate domestic and sexual violence in Central New York and beyond;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution; suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Randi Bregman, Executive Director, Vera House.