Janelle Irwin Taylor
The domestic abuse relief group Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) is giving its logo a bold new update to reflect a recent update in deadly incidents throughout the Tampa Bay area.
The group is shedding its serene Bird of Paradise logo that featured a soft color palette with a purple and gray hand signaling a stop to domestic violence over the tagline “Stand Up To Silence.”
The new logo is meant to bring awareness to the stigma, shame and isolation created around survivors of domestic violence, the group said Monday.
“Our new logo and tagline better communicate CASA’s approach to domestic violence in our community,” said Lariana Forsythe, CASA CEO.
“We want a logo and color palette that conveys strength and empowerment, with a tagline that urges society to no longer turn a blind eye to those experiencing domestic abuse. Through this rebrand, we’re asking the community to stand with us in our work to bring this systemic issue to the forefront so that no survivor feels like they have to live in silence.”
The rebranding is a response to a recent surge in apparent domestic violence incidents and murder-suicides. On Sept. 24, a Bradenton man reportedly shot and killed his wife and her teenage daughter before killing himself. A Land O’Lakes couple died the same day after a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy shot and killed his wife, and then himself, in their Land O’ Lakes home.
Two days later a couple vacationing on Clearwater Beach were found dead in their hotel room from an apparent murder-suicide in which the husband fatally shot his wife and then himself. Again on Sept. 28, another two bodies were found in Sun City Center in another apparent murder-suicide.
Interviews with friends and family members in those incidents uncovered what CASA calls a common theme in domestic violence where people who know the victim and aggressor say they thought the couple seemed happy or that they would never have expected such violence from the perpetrator.
Three or more women are killed in the United States by their husbands or boyfriends on average everyday, according to the American Psychological Association.
CASA hopes to use its new rebrand to reach a wider audience by expanding its voice and exploring additional education and outreach opportunities. The group also plans to up its reach within the community to shed light on the prevalence and danger of domestic violence.
“We’ve found that as a society we lack the education and tools to disrupt the generational cycle of violence,” Forsythe said. “We plan to announce a series of upcoming informative town-halls at our 22nd Annual Peace Breakfast on Oct. 23. This series will not only inform the community about how domestic violence affects various demographics but will provide attendees with engagement opportunities to Stand Up To Silence.”
CASA is launching a Domestic Violence Awareness Training for the Workplace program this month that will offer customized training for employees as well as help companies review their internal policies and offer various resources for companies and their employees.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The advocacy group is asking supporters and survivors to help spread its message by taking a pledge to “stand up to silence” with the hashtag, “StandUpToSilence” or by using a customized frame on Facebook.
A more in-depth PDF form also gives supporters and survivors a chance to share their own stories on social media and can be downloaded on CASA’s website.
