'Speak Out Loud' session planned for the weekend

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

25 October 2007

Posted By Terri Saunders

The silence which normally surrounds child abuse will be shattered this weekend when community leaders and everyday citizens will be encouraged to raise their voices.

Organizers of "Speak Out Loud For Prevention" are hoping to draw hundreds of people to the green space just west of the parking garage at the Cornwall Square and ask them to speak their minds - loudly - about how the community can work together to prevent the abuse of children.

"Prevention really is better than a cure," said Mehroon Kassam, project leader of the city's social planning council. "We were thinking to ourselves, 'What can we do to get people to speak about preventing child abuse? To raise awareness? To support our community's families?'"

Kassam is also a member of PrevAction, an organization of community members which recently committed to a five-year plan aimed at promoting healing and reconciliation in Cornwall and the surrounding area in relation to decades of child abuse.

"The community at large is to create opportunities for people to say what we can do differently," said Kassam. "The challenge is for people to speak out and use their voices. It will be a fun, open gathering."

The event will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Refreshments will be available and a DJ will be providing music. Participants and observers will be encouraged to join in the action by using megaphones and loudspeakers to get their message across to anyone willing to listen.

"People can say whatever they want to say," said Jamie Marsolais, another member of PrevAction and also a survivor of child sexual abuse. "We want to create a buzz. We want to create awareness. Child abuse prevention must start at the grass roots level and we're hoping this type of catchy event will attract young people who will want to talk about the issue. After all, the only way to prevent abuse is to talk about it."

The general public is invited to attend the event.