Violence Against Women Act soon to be law; funding to aid local Shelter WASHINGTON, D.C. ’Äì The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), now approved by both the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, will soon go into effect as law since President Bill Clinton is expected to sign it next week. On October 11, 2000, the Senate conducted the final vote on VAWA. It passed by a vote of 95-0. This follows on the heels of a victory on October 6 in the House, where the vote was 371-1. Thanks to the organized efforts of VAWA grassroots advocates throughout the country, the law will authorize $3.3 billion to address violence against women over the next five years. It includes coverage for dating violence and new programs for transitional housing, supervised visitation centers, civil legal assistance and judicial education as well as provisions to give additional protection to battered immigrant women. "I think it’Äôs really an essential piece of legislation that should continue to fund programs to prevent violence against women," said Emily Newhouse, director of the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home for Abused Women, which serves the needs of Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. "It’Äôs allowed us to run programs that we wouldn’Äôt be able to do without the funding." In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home held a candlelight vigil in early October at Christ Episcopal Church in Calumet. The Shelter’Äôs Outreach Education Coordinator, Elizabeth Ann Julio (center) of Ripley carries the banner with her sisters Lori Wuori (left) of Hancock and Breita Julio of Calumet. (Photo courtesy Emily Newhouse, Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home director.) Newhouse said grants from the VAWA legislation have funded three positions for the Shelter ’Äì two outreach advocates and an outreach education coordinator, Elizabeth Ann Julio, a local artist who teaches healing-through-the-arts workshops as part of the BKG Shelter outreach. In addition to these workshops, Julio’Äôs educational outreach activities include: educating the public about domestic violence; coordinating and providing educational/support groups; crisis intervention and counseling; coordinating other events to promote public awareness of domestic violence and problems related to it. In observance of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Omphale Gallery in Calumet has been hosting "Survival," a solo exhibit of Julio’Äôs sculpture, which continues through Wednesday, Nov. 1. The Omphale Gallery, at 431 Fifth St. in Calumet, is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Artist Elizabeth Ann Julio, Outreach Education Coordinator for the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home, poses with the Omphale Gallery’Äôs exhibit of her clay sculpture titled "Survival." The solo exhibit, which continues through Wednesday, Nov. 1, is in observance of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. (Photo courtesy Emily Newhouse.) Julio ’Äì who has exhibited her work in several Minnesota galleries, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art ’Äì has a bachelor’Äôs degree in art, with 3-D emphasis, from Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn., and an associate’Äôs degree from Suomi College (now Finlandia University) in Liberal Arts Studies. She said the Omphale exhibit of her clay sculpture is just one facet of her work. "I paint, I draw (and) my passion is with clay," Julio noted. "These particular pieces all relate in some way to survival ’Ķ I’Äôm definitely a survivor." Among Julio’Äôs accomplishments is Suomi College’Äôs 1997 Sisu Award for outstanding courage and perseverance in achieving educational goals. Newhouse noted the new VAWA legislation will continue to fund the outreach coordinators, but the Shelter is seeking other funding to continue Julio’Äôs position. A compromise version of the VAWA Reauthorization combined elements from House and Senate bills. The resulting VAWA bill and a handful of other bills were then amended to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act Conference Report. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act contains provisions for protecting victims of international sex trade, slavery and forced labor. Other bills included in the package were: 1) the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act ’Äì legislation that revises the legal definition allowing federal courts to award damages to terrorist victims and their families using the frozen assets of countries suspected of supporting terrorism; 2) Aimee's Law ’Äì which forces states to pay for the conviction and incarceration of a repeat sex offender if he or she is released from custody and then convicted of a similar crime in another state; and 3) the 21st Century Amendment Enforcement Act ’Äì legislation that gives more power to states in enforcing laws regulating interstate shipment of alcoholic beverages in order to crack down on Internet sales of liquor to youth. This final package was filed on October 5, 2000, and became known as the Trafficking Victims' Protection Act Conference Report (H.R. 3244). It was then presented to both the House and Senate for a final vote. Said Congresswoman Connie Morella (R-MD), "This legislation passed because of all the organizations out there making sure that Congress heard their voices loud and clear." Click here for more photos of Elizabeth Ann Julio’Äôs exhibit, "Survival," at the Omphale Gallery in Calumet. Editor’Äôs note: The Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home, a 24-hour response service for victims and children of domestic violence, provides emergency housing, support and counseling. It is one of 17 local agencies funded by the Copper Country United Way, which is now conducting its annual campaign. Of the total United Way goal of $157,000, the Shelter is slated to receive about $9,600. Donations can be made during the campaign, which continues until mid-November, or at any time during the year. Some employers offer a payroll deduction plan for giving. Contributions can also be mailed to Copper Country United Way, P.O. Box 104, Houghton, MI 49931. ’Äì Michele Anderson October 29, 2000