“My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect
you.” — Audre Lorde. Power and control resulting in abuse most
often happens in silence. It almost has to be that way! Without
the silence, everyone would see the abuse and insist on its end.
But what if what we think we see isn’t accurate? This “fear of
intruding into the silence” keeps us from saying anything at
all. And what if we’re right in what we suspect? Are we really
prepared to deal with the threat of that violence being brought
to our own lives? No wonder we keep silent! That’s why we’re
here. More than just desiring to end violence in our own lives,
we are working to end violence in our communities. One way to
end violence is to be willing to expose ourselves to what might
happen when we are prepared to end the silence; we’re here to
listen. So how do we listen effectively, genuinely, and in a
helpful and healthy way? The See It! Stop It! Pagosa Springs
Parent Leadership Project (SISI) uses the listening process when
we gather. In ou