Last Week to See A Line in the Sand

This is the last week to see the House of Ruth Maryland's A Line in the Sand. This special exhibit features portraits of groups or individuals who have made a large impact in preventing domestic violence. It has been touring for two years, and Sinai Hospital is honored to be the exhibit's last stop. The House of Ruth Maryland helps thousands of battered women every year. Don't miss your chance to see these photographs, on display in the Sinai Hospital Atrium.

If you need more information about the Family Violence Program at Sinai, dedicated to providing counseling and information for victims of domestic violence, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

Sinai Hospital Hosts A Line in the Sand

If you've been in the Sinai Hospital atrium in the past week, your eye may have been caught by a series of evocative and stunning photographs.

They are part of the A Line in the Sand exhibit, which has toured for two years and is making its final stop this month at Sinai. Against the backdrop of this exhibit, House of Ruth Maryland, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence, held a press conference at Sinai Thursday to announce two important initiatives.

The first is a teen-focused website, youlovemeyoulovemenot.com, which encourages teens to take an interactive "Rate Your Relationship" quiz. This website, funded in part from a grant from Verizon Foundation and CoverGirl, encourages teens to define, in their own words, what "you love me" or "you love me not" means by uploading video clips, texts and photos. The site also provides the warning signs of an abusive relationship and gives tips on staying safe.

The second is a new partnership with Alpha Chi Omega, which is working with the House of Ruth Maryland on a teen curriculum that will be used to help young people understand domestic violence.

Speakers at the press conference included Bill and Michele Mitchell, pictured above, whose daughter Kristin was killed at age 21 by her boyfriend. The Mitchells, who founded the Kristin Mitchell Foundation, have worked since 2005 to educate teens about domestic violence and pushed for high schools to adopt lessons on dating violence into the curriculum. These lessons recognizing the warning signs for an abuser, and breaking up in a public place.

"When Kristin attended middle school and high school here in Maryland, none of this information was available," Bill Mitchell says. "Our family has learned many of the warning signs after the fact."

To see A Line in the Sand, visit Sinai's atrium through November 12. You can also click on the video below of Beth Huber to hear more about the exhibit.

Traveling Exhibit Explores Domestic Violence

House Of Ruth Maryland's traveling exhibit, 'A Line In The Sand', is on display in the Northwest Hospital lobby through November.

The exhibit explores domestic violence, which claimed the lives of at least 45 women and children in Maryland last year alone. The photographic exhibit debuted in 2008 and is now traveling through the state.

'A Line In The Sand' displays more than 20 interpretive portraits and short essays that chronicle Maryland's fight against domestic violence. People photographed are those who have taken positive, often brave actions to make life safer for the women and children of Maryland.

"Domestic violence runs rampant in our society and strikes fear in thousands of women and children," says Carole Alexander, executive director of House Of Ruth Maryland. "'A Line In The Sand' is our way of challenging the silence that surrounds domestic violence and profiling those people who have made a real difference in the lives of women and children across Maryland."

Photographers include Connie Imboden, Matthew Kern, Mary Carole Curran, Matthew Girard, and Leo Howard Lubow. Designed by Alex Castro of Castro/Arts, "A Line In The Sand' travels to corporate lobbies, government buildings, schools and museums across Maryland.

House Of Ruth Maryland is the non-profit organization that provides the most comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence in the state of Maryland. For additional resources for domestic violence victims in Baltimore County, click here.