February, 2023
Female inmates in the Dallas County Jail find freedom behind bars through expressive dance.
DALLAS, TX – Women inside the Dallas County Jail brought awareness to violence against women. Today, the women in the jail joined people from all over the world this month as they celebrated their victory over violence with One Billion Rising.
The name One Billion represents the projection that one in three women across the world will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. That is ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS.
The dance took place at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the Dallas County Jail Kays Tower 4, 111 West Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas.
Many of the women inside the jail have experienced trauma themselves, which makes the One Billion Rising campaign close to their hearts. They use expressive dance show their determination to create a new kind of consciousness – one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable.
The women are volunteer participants in the Volunteers of America Texas Resolana program, a trauma informed, gender-specific program that aims to increase readiness for change on the inside, to increase use of existing community resources on the outside and to reduce recidivism.
Last year, VOA Texas helped more than 1,500 individuals who were formerly incarcerated successfully transition back into their communities. This includes the services provided inside the Dallas County Jail through the Resolana program.
About Volunteers of America Texas
Volunteers of America Texas is a nonprofit, ministry of service that strengthens communities through an array of services including: Substance abuse treatment and prevention, affordable housing, community re-entry, employment training and disabilities services. With locations in more than 30 urban and rural communities, Volunteers of America Texas has been helping those who need the most help for more than 100 years. For information, visit www.voatx.org.
About One Billion Rising
One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence) in human history. The campaign, which launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. https://www.onebillionrising.org.
Contact:
Ericka English
Director of Marketing and Communications
(817) 529-7363
eenglish@voatx.org