Evanston will join with communities nationwide next week whenthe city participates in an annual campaign to identify and presentalternatives to violence.

The ninth annual Week Without Violence, sponsored by EvanstonNorth Shore YWCA, 1215 Church St., will begin this comingSunday.

Evanston community service groups, Ebenezer African MethodistEpiscopal Church, and Northwestern will participate in this year’sevents.

Each day has its own theme, culminating in “Replacing Violencewith Fun” on Oct. 23, when local middle-school students can useNU’s Sports Pavilion and Aquatics Center.

But SPAC director Betty Scott said Thursday that the YWCA hadnot contacted her since the summer to cement the details of NU’sinvolvement in the week’s program.

Jerry Zabin, a social worker who has been involved in past YWCAevents, is listed as a lead sponsor of “Facing Violence AgainstMen” about perpetrators of abuse. He said he was excited aboutworking in this year’s campaign but added that YWCA organizers hadnot called recently to update him about his involvement.

“This is news to me,” Zabin said after a reporter notified himof Thursday’s event.

Ebenezer AME plans to co-sponsor the first event Sunday atJeanne Vail Chapel to inaugurate this year’s campaign. The theme ofthe non-denominational service is “A Day of Remembrance.”

“This day serves as a reminder that messages of peace andharmony can encourage us to work together to eliminate violence inour society,” stated the YWCA Week Without Violence Web site.

The artwork of domestic abuse survivors will be featuredWednesday evening at Open Studio Project, 903 Sherman Ave. Morethan 50 collages, accompanied by essays, will comprise the exhibit,”Our Side of the American Dream: Art on Domestic Violence andHomelessness.” Visitors will have the opportunity to create theirown “response pieces” to the collages, said Sarah Laing, associatedirector of Open Studio Project.

Gay and lesbian activist Vernita Gray, who founded an unofficialshelter for gay men and lesbians in her neighborhood on Chicago’sSouth Side, will talk to Evanston Township High School studentsFriday to promote “Eliminating Racism and Hate Crime.” Gray, a hatecrime specialist, now works with the Cook County State’s Attorney’sOffice.

On Oct. 23 at “Replacing Violence with Fun,” D65middle-schoolers will have the chance to use SPAC facilities from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. after signing a non-violence pledge. Pledges willbe available at SPAC’s entrance.

The YWCA Week Without Violence was initiated in 1995, andquickly evolved from a grass-roots campaign into a global movementthat takes place the third week of October each year.

Call the YWCA at 847-864-8445 for a complete schedule ofevents.

Reach Beth Murtagh at [email protected].

YWCA Week Without Violence

Oct. 17-23

Sunday – A Day of Remembrance

Jeanne Vail Chapel

YMCA Week Without Violence

When: Oct. 17-23

Sunday: A Day of Remembrance

Jeanne Vail Chapel, 4-5:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Confronting Violence Against Women, Open StudioProject,

903 Sherman Ave., 7-8:30 p.m.

Thursday: Facing Violence Against Men

Lake Street Church, 607 Lake Street, 7:30-8:30 p.m.