Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM)

purple ribbon, domestic violence awareness month

October is Dating/Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM)!

You can spread awareness by engaging with our 2026 event opportunities:

"These Hands Don't Harm"

Help us create a banner of handprints to demonstrate our commitment to preventing dating & domestic violence.

Wednesday, October 7
2-4 pm
Appleby Hall 339, during Appleby Open House
Take advantage of the opportunity to visit other resources in Appleby Hall!

Aurora Center 40th Anniversary Celebration

Join us in celebrating the Aurora Center’s 40 years of impact at the University of Minnesota among supporters, volunteers, community members, alumni, and distinguished guests.

Wednesday, October 14
3-5 pm
Mississippi Room at Coffman Memorial Union
Enjoy dinner and refreshments while exploring thoughtful reflections on the Aurora Center’s past, present, and future
RSVP requested

Wear Purple Day

Wear purple to raise awareness and offer support to survivors of dating/domestic violence. Want to take your awareness to the next level? Tag @osa_umn on your Instagram stories to spread the purple across social media!

Thursday, October 22
All day!
Everywhere!

Empowerment Self-Defense Workshop

Learn self defense in a new and innovative way with a focus on self-care, self-empowerment, self-advocacy. Sponsored by the Department of Public Safety. Facilitated by Aurora Center staff.

Tuesday, October 27
4-6:30pm
RecWell Beacon Room
RSVP required
Employees can earn 650 Wellbeing points!

For more information on DVAM, feel free to email us at [email protected] or check out @osa_umn on Instagram.

We also encourage you to check out the following list of amazing resources and their efforts for DVAM:

History

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the "Day of Unity" in October 1981 conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national levels.

The activities conducted were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes: mourning those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence. The Silent Witness Project is often observed during DVAM made up of painted red, life sized figures with shields that tell the story of individual women and others who died as a result of domestic violence in the previous year. The display is said to be viewed in at least 46 states on an annual basis.

In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989 the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. Each year, the Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.