Womanspace: Communities of Light

Strolling through Princeton at night in the coming weeks, people may be wondering about the lovely luminaries lining the sidewalks and paths in Palmer Square, on Princeton University campus, along the Princeton Township building and other areas of Princeton. The lights are part of the Womanspace Communities of Light campaign to express solidarity with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The evening of Monday, December 12th marked the tenth annual Womanspace Communities of Light. At an evening event in Township Hall, Township Committee members Liz Lempert, Bernard Miller and Deputy Mayor Sue Nemeth, along with Ingrid Reed, founding member of Princeton Future and wife of former Borough mayor Marvin Reed, reaffirmed Princeton’s commitment to Womanspace and Communities of Light.

Throughout Mercer County, individuals, churches, and organizations are lighting luminaries in public places and neighborhoods to demonstrate their support of the Womanspace theme of “peace begins at home,” according to Joan Bartl, Board Member of Womanspace.

Deputy Mayor Nemeth commented on how on beautiful and impressive the luminaries looked when she was driving into town, and then read an official proclamation from the office of the Mayor, written because it is “the policy of Princeton Township to recognize organizations that have contributed to the overall benefit of the community.”

The proclamation went on to state that “Womanspace, founded in 1977, has demonstrated a unique ability to provide comfort, support services, crisis intervention and safety to women who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.”  The proclamation went on to describe how Womanspace has provided emergency shelter, secure locations and comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence since 1977, sexual assault since 2002, for more than 39,169 women, 5,389 children and 1,016 men, and assisted more than 204,015 callers over the last thirty years.  “Princeton Township applauds the efforts of Womanspace to bring an end to the circle of abuse imposed on them,” Nemeth said.  

Representing Princeton Borough was Ingrid Reed. “The first candle,” said Reed, “was for all people benefitting from Womanspace work, the second candle was for all the young people working with Communities of Light this year and a third candle was for all the adult volunteers who work with Womanspace.  I’m sure you know that volunteers are trained by Womanspace and go into police stations to help victims, so there are a lot of people who make Womanspace the institution that it is. The final light was simply the light of peace that starts at home but is in every one of us, in this country and around the world.”

Reed went on to say she was happy that for the first time on Tuesday night, December 13th, the Princeton University men’s basketball game was to be dedicated to Womanspace, with lights lit along the walkway to Jadwin gym. She is very pleased that university students have embraced this effort as well.

The lights will be on for quite awhile, Reed said, and they are beautiful in any direction.

To participate in Communities of Light, you may purchase luminary kits for $10 atlocal retailers. Each kit contains six luminaries (votive candles and luminary bags) to cover 150 feet,with assembly and safety instructions. All proceeds and other donations support Womanspace programs such as emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy, victim assistance, and transitional housing.

About the Author

Bonnie Schultz

Bonnie Schultz has worked as a technology and marketing writer in the Boston area.  She moved here in 1997 and is the mother of two boys.  Since 2007, Bonnie has been blogging about food and community happenings in the Princeton area.