Springfield City Hall’s main hallway now holds a powerful reminder of the fight against domestic violence. The exhibit, organized by Hope & Safety Alliance (formerly Womenspace), commemorates the nonprofit’s 50‑year legacy in Lane County.
Red silhouettes tell a story
Four life‑size wooden silhouettes, each painted bright red, stand beside gold plaques that name women who died from domestic violence in Oregon during the 1990s. Volunteers crafted the cutouts as part of the Silent Witness initiative, a project that began when Womenspace representatives carried the figures to Washington, D.C., for the 1997 “March to End the Silence.”
From a home‑based crisis line to a county‑wide resource
Seven women founded the original effort in the 1970s, answering calls on a crisis line from the living room of one of the founders. That same number remains the organization’s hotline today. In 1977 the group incorporated as Women’s Resource & Shelter Space and opened its first shelter near Coburg Road. The nonprofit officially became Womenspace in 2000 and rebranded as Hope & Safety Alliance in 2021 to reflect its inclusive services for women, male survivors, and non‑binary individuals.
“It was just this small group of women with the idea that things could be different, and they made it happen,” development director Cassondra Nielsen said. “My hope for it being here in City Hall is that you don’t know who’s walking by. Maybe there’s a stay‑at‑home mom bringing her kids to the library, and she never considered that maybe she’s in an abusive relationship.”
Volunteer memories and evolving language
Long‑time volunteer and board member Sue Thompson helped build the Silent Witness figures and contributed photos from the 1997 march. The exhibit also displays historic newspaper clippings, showing how language has shifted from “battered women” to “survivors.” Nielsen noted, “You’ll see a lot of ‘battered women’ as opposed to ‘survivors.’ It was a lot more victim language.” Handwritten thank‑you notes from survivors line the wall, reminding staff of both the rewarding and taxing nature of advocacy work.
Current impact and future plans
Hope & Safety Alliance now employs 25 staff members and relies on volunteers to run an emergency shelter, financial and housing assistance, support groups, and respite care for children. The organization’s advocacy center on Pearl Street in Eugene operates Monday through Friday. Last year the hotline fielded over 7,000 calls from survivors, family members, and community partners seeking help.
Executive director Kim Lax emphasized the organization’s ongoing mission: “We just wanted to be more inclusive because while 93% are women who come to us, we also have male survivors and nonbinary individuals. It doesn’t matter who you are, how you refer to yourself. If you need help, we’re going to help you.”
Looking ahead
Hope & Safety Alliance will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a gala on May 1, 2027. Until then, the City Hall exhibit remains on display through October, aligning with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and serves as a call to action for anyone who might be silently suffering.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
