Group fighting domestic violence takes message to parade

Community Actions Countering Domestic Violence Program Director Deborah White, left, of Normal, looks on as Jonathan Young, right, of Normal, carefully makes a handprint on a big hand sign at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington, Illinois Saturday afternoon (September 1, 2007) in preparation for the Labor Day Parade on Monday. (Pantagraph/B Mosher)

Saturday, September 1, 2007 9:10 PM CDT

By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON -- Every week, Jim Strauss talks to more than two dozen men who have abused women or children.

As part of his job as a licensed clinical professional counselor, he sees men who are so angry they can’t sit in the group. “They storm out,” he said.

Later, some men may tell a newcomer, “I didn’t think I needed to be here, but I learned a lot. You guys hang in.”

Strauss is a member of the newly formed Central Illinois Men Against Domestic Abuse. On Saturday, about 50 members and supporters joined a pep rally at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, where they sang, told stories and made signs for the Labor Day parade.

During the parade, the group will invite men along the parade route to walk part of the way to Miller Park, Strauss said.

“Men speaking up make it safer for other men,” he said. In his work, he hears the stories of many men who were abusers and are trying to stop.

“At first, this was the hardest thing I ever did in my life after being in mental health for 15 years,” he said of working with offenders.

He sees change. “In the right treatment environment, it’s remarkably surprising how many guys get the wake-up call — see the light,” Strauss said.

In order to help, he said, “You’ve got to accept people exactly where they’re at and build from there,” he said.

Men who have been abused have a greater responsibility to be a “mascot and advocate — a hero,” said the Rev. Frank McSwain of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church.

“My mother told me if you ever mistreat a woman — you do that to me,” McSwain said. He was never exposed to such abuse but said many children are brought into domestic disputes today.

“Domestic violence is just not acceptable,” he said.

“We certainly try to promote the same message with children,” said Evelyn Young, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal.

The club uses Second Step, a conflict resolution program, to help teach children other ways than violence to solve problems, she said.

“Kids are never too young to learn to be nonviolent,” she said.

Rasheid Reid of Normal, an Illinois State University student, is involved in the effort against domestic violence as part of his social work class. The project includes rallies, signing a petition against domestic abuse and participating in the parade.