MAAV Vigil and Walk Celebrates 30 Years of Violence Prevention Mission
Written and Photographed by Ellen Putnam
On Sunday afternoon, Melrosians of all ages attended a candlelight vigil for victims of domestic violence at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School before proceeding on a 2-mile walk around the city to raise money for the Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV) and raise awareness of the problem of domestic violence in our own community and across Massachusetts.
MAAV was founded 30 years ago when the League of Women Voters launched a study of domestic violence in Massachusetts and members of the Melrose League discovered that a surprising number of restraining orders had been filed within Melrose. MAAV began as a volunteer organization and slowly expanded to the programs it offers today: support groups for survivors, educational programs in the Melrose Public Schools, and community awareness programs and events.
Meredith Shaw, who joined MAAV as its new executive director this summer, spoke at the vigil. Community leaders, including State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Police Chief Kevin Faller, Fire Chief John White, and Interim Superintendent of Schools Cari Berman read the names of the eleven people who were killed in Massachusetts over the last year in domestic violence incidents. Audience members were struck by the backgrounds of the victims - ranging geographically from Boston to Chicopee, and in age from 18 to 80, a reminder that domestic violence can affect anyone.
Former MAAV Executive Director Rebecca Mooney offered a tribute to Joan Bell, the longtime MAAV board member and Superintendent of Parks for the City of Melrose who passed away suddenly earlier this year. “If she were here today,” Mooney reflected, “she wouldn’t be in here at the vigil. She never cared about being in the limelight. She’d be out in the hallway selling t-shirts, carrying something heavy, or getting people organized - doing whatever had to be done.”
After the vigil concluded, teams of walkers and community members went out onto the streets to complete a 2-mile loop around downtown Melrose before concluding with a celebration back at the Middle School with slush from INspire Cafe, baked goods from Buckalew’s, the La Qchara food truck, and an ice cream truck.
