The Original
Clothesline Project
◘
The original
Clothesline Project began in 1990 when members of
the Cape Cod Women's Agenda hung a clothesline
across the village green in Hyannis, Massachusetts
with 31 shirts designed by survivors of assault,
rape and incest. Women viewing the clothesline
came forward to create shirts of their own and the
line just kept growing.
◘
Since that first
display the Project has grown to 300+ local
Clothesline Projects nationally and
internationally, with an estimated 35,000 shirts.
The Clothesline Project has become a distinctive
resource for healing from violence and creating
social change. Lines have been displayed at
schools, universities, State Houses, shopping
malls, churches and women's events. The first
National Display took place April 8 & 9, 1995 in
Washington D.C. in conjunction with NOW’s Rally
For Women's Lives.
History of the Vera
House Clothesline Project
◘
The former Rape
Crisis Center of Syracuse, Inc. clinical staff
organized a local Clothesline Project after
witnessing the Clothesline Project in Albany, NY
in 1993, which took place on Legislative Education
Day and was sponsored by NYS Coalition Against
Sexual Assault.
◘
After consultation
with the Cape Cod Women's Agenda, the first local
project was launched at the Carousel Center Sky
Deck in Syracuse. It included shirts created by
RCC clients, Vera House clients, Syracuse
University Rape Center clients and shirts from
the RCC/Domestic Violence Programs in Cayuga,
Madison and Oswego Counties. Survivors, family
members and friends were invited to create
T-shirts as well as to view the impressive number
of shirts strung around the perimeter of the Sky
Deck.
◘
In the year 2000,
the Clothesline Project was coordinated by the
Volunteer Program at RCC, and it continued under
their direction until 2004 when a committee
consisting of RCC staff, clients, family and
friends brought renewed energy, creativity and
commitment to the project.
◘
Following the
merger of RCC and Vera House in January of 2005,
the Clothesline Project continues to be a vital
effort of the new agency’s commitment to client
service and community outreach. 2005 Honorary
Chair, author Cathy Brochu, brought her powerful
message of personal transformation from victim to
survivor to activist, to an appreciative audience
at Carousel Center in April, surrounded by a
moving display of over 500 T-shirts.
◘
It continues to
be a heartfelt commitment on the part of our local
Clothesline Project participants, volunteers and
Vera House staff, that the courageous survivors of
sexual assault and violence will always have a
warm and supportive forum in which to explore the
power of their unique voices, and that our
community have the opportunity to bear witness to
this extraordinary, enlightening and empowering
process.
