Near West Side Partners, Inc., in collaboration with Neighborhood House, the Marquette University Creating a Safe Campus Environment program and Aurora Health Care’s Better Together Fund, will conduct a range of awareness efforts regarding domestic violence, beginning with a sexual violence prevention training on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 7 p.m. in Marquette University’s Alumni Memorial Union, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Throughout the Near West Side, an ongoing Teal Out campaign aims to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault throughout October, which is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness month. The Teal Out – displaying posters of teal ribbons in the windows of residences, businesses, public buildings, schools/universities, hospitals, churches, etc. – is meant to be a public display of the community’s commitment to ending domestic violence and sexual assault.

This campaign also contributes to a critical goal shared by Aurora’s Better Together Fund and the Near West Side Partners by making the Near West Side an even better place to live, work and play. Other events include:

• Teens from Neighborhood House will canvas the Concordia neighborhood, distributing ribbons and posters with prevention resources to residents. October 28, 2016 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., 2819 W. Richardson Place.

• Marquette University students and the Near West Side Partners will distribute prevention resource information, ribbons and posters for residents and businesses to display in their windows. Distribution will take place from October 24 – 28, 2016, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union.

• Large, 6-foot teal ribbons will be displayed at Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union, Aurora Sinai, Neighborhood House Community Garden, and 27^th and Wisconsin, October 24 – 31, 2016.

•  Aurora Sinai Medical Center’s Outpatient Health Center (the northern most Aurora building) will be illuminated in teal to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault. October 24 – 31, 2016.

Domestic violence awareness efforts in the Near West Side are made possible through coordination with Near West Side Partners’ Promoting Assets and Reducing Crime (PARC) initiative, Neighborhood House and the Marquette University Creating a Safe Campus Environment program through the support of Aurora Health Care’s Better Together Fund.