The Feminism Club at IUPUC received a 2021 Mission Partner Award from Turning Point Domestic Violence Services on the steps of City Hall in Columbus, as part of the “Men Take a Stand” event held Wednesday October 20, 2021.

Feminism Club has partnered with Turning point for several years through events such as “Take Back the Night” and “The Clothesline Project,” as well as consent events, and donation drives. However, the club’s continued work throughout the pandemic was cited as a significant fact for Turning Point selecting them for the award.

“They found creative ways to continue to meet, host events and help us work toward our mission, even though they were not physically on campus,” said Stephanie Cunningham of Turning Point. “Each member of the IUPUC Feminism Club exemplifies Turning Point’s 2021 theme, ‘It Starts with Me.’”

Turning Point Domestic Violence Services has been providing victim services since 1975, and its mission is to work toward the prevention and the elimination of domestic and dating violence. They provide emergency shelter for victims, as well as intervention services, prevention education, and professional training. Their 25-bed emergency shelter now serves a seven-county area including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, and Shelby counties.

“Without Turning Point, Feminism Club would not be able to help the community in the ways that we have. It is such an honor to receive this award from our amazing community partner, Stephanie Cunningham, and to be recognized in such a wonderful way,” said IUPUC Feminism Club Vice President, Margaret Carson.

Feminism Club Secretary, Sarah Kendall, echoed the sentiment: “I’m so thankful for our opportunities to work with Turning Point. It’s a wonderful experience to work together with an amazing community of activists in order to make a difference.”

IUPUC professor and club advisor, Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick, was happy to see that the students’ enduring work was recognized. “For almost a decade, Feminism Club has engaged in advocacy, prevention, and related educational work to serve its communities. We're most fortunate to count Turning Point as a community partner, and we are proud to be recognized in this way.”