{"id":45988,"date":"2019-04-06T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-06T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/surviving-abuse-rally-raises-awareness-of-child-abuse-neglect\/"},"modified":"2019-04-06T10:20:57","modified_gmt":"2019-04-06T18:20:57","slug":"surviving-abuse-rally-raises-awareness-of-child-abuse-neglect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/surviving-abuse-rally-raises-awareness-of-child-abuse-neglect\/","title":{"rendered":"Surviving abuse: Rally raises awareness of child abuse, neglect"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t

A cold wind whipped in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Friday afternoon, sending pinwheels spinning and a police barricade tumbling.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

The pinwheels and the traffic barricade were there for a rally in honor of National Go Blue Day, which aims to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect. The annual event also tries to bring attention to the importance of families and communities working together to build a more positive environment for vulnerable children.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

More than 60 people showed up, despite the windy weather, and many of them were wearing blue for the event. Blue streamers, pinwheels and cupcakes were handed out. There were at least 15 legislators in attendance, including Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, who helped put the event together along with the Alaska Children’s Trust and the Association for the Education of Young Children.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

“I look forward to this day,” Tarr said. “It’s not an easy topic, but because it’s an opportunity where we can come together in solidarity and we work toward change. I know with all the amazing people here, when we work together we’ll create the change that we really want.”<\/p>\n

\"Amalia<\/a>

Amalia Monreal, Child and Family Clinician for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, left, and Barbara Dude, Family Services Administrator, speak during a Go Blue Day Rally for National Child Abuse Prevention Month at the Capitol on Friday, April 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t

The keynote speakers were both from Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA). Family Services Administrator Barbara Dude spoke about her own experience as a child and the support she received from family members and those in the community. Child and Family Clinician Amalia Monreal provided some tips to those looking to make a child’s day a little brighter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Dude said she has a fairly high Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score, meaning she went through a great deal of trauma as a child. Things began to turn around, she said, when women in her community began supporting her. She became involved in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program and formed a deep friendship with her “big sister,” she said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t