On this week’s 51%, some calls reporting domestic violence have been different since COVID; and there’s a program offering online help to women living with a problem drinker.
Service providers and others were fearing that the COVID-19 pandemic would intensify domestic and sexual violence. In Berkshire County, Massachusetts, one center is an example seen in other parts of the country. The Elizabeth Freeman Center is Berkshire County’s 24/7 resource for people experiencing domestic abuse and sexual assault. Executive Director Janis Broderick tells 51%’s Josh Landes the center faces a sharp increase in the number and intensity of assault and abuse cases.
If you’re a woman living with a partner who drinks too much, a researcher at the University at Buffalo may want to speak with you. Dr. Robert Rychtarik is senior research scientist in clinical psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and he’s behind a project called Stop Spinning My Wheels. He spoke with 51%’s Ian Pickus.
Poet Lisa Marie Brimmer addresses personal and social issues. She is a co-editor of Queer Voices: Poetry, Prose, and Pride Anthology from the Minnesota Historical Society Press. Brimmer teaches at Century College. KFAI’s Dixie Treichel produced this audio portrait.
That’s our show for this week. Thanks to Tina Renick for production assistance. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock. Our theme music is Glow in the Dark by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio. If you’d like to hear this show again, sign up for our podcast, or visit the 51% archives on our web site at wamc.org. And follow us on Twitter @51PercentRadio This week’s show is #1625.