What's your tool?

Close to Home believes that the everyday objects that people use can be powerful tools to build connections and relationships between people. That is why the 2006 “What’s Your Tool?” Campaign is focused on transforming everyday objects into powerful domestic violence prevention tools. We are shifting the way people see an everyday cup of coffee or a phone call into opportunities for reaching out to people, building connections, lending support, and starting a conversation about domestic violence in our community.

Poster Series from the campaign (see Vietnamese Versions)

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Simple, everyday activities such as sharing a cup of coffee, playing a game of soccer, or spending time at a local knitting circle can help you to start conversations and build relationships with others. Building these strong relationships will in turn lay the foundation to help people develop trust and understanding on a complicated, sensitive issue like domestic violence. If you are concerned about someone who may be in an abusive relationship, but are unsure how to reach out, take the time build a relationship. Or if you are convinced that domestic violence is an issue that people need to be more aware of, but don’t know how to start the conversation with your friends about the issue, a tool may be able to help you start that conversation. The following are some tools that community members have brainstormed as effective ways to reach out to others:

• Share a conversation over a meal or a cup of coffee

• Build a bond with a person through playing a game—whether that’s chess, basketball, or a video game

• Reach out to those right next door by bringing over a neighborly plate of cookies

• Pick up the phone more often to call others, see how they are doing, and let them know you care

• Take the time to engage in fun and intimate activities with those you care about such as cooking a meal together, giving a knitting lesson, or playing dress up with your girlfriends

OUR BEST TOOL TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE...YOU
The best tool for preventing domestic violence is the work of individuals, like you, who are committed to preventing violence.   If you’d like to get involved in the effort and join a team that is committed to preventing violence and making this community a safer one for all, we welcome you!  Read on to find out ways you can get involved in our work by talking about domestic violence, learning about domestic violence, and doing something about domestic violence. If you’d like to be involved in other ways, or discuss your own ideas on how to be involved, please feel free to call us.