Fall River joined the global effort to stop violence against women and girls with a V-Day event held at Rachel's Lakeside Restaurant in Dartmouth, MA, on April 27, 2012. The event featured a presentation of "The Vagina Monologues" by Eve Ensler. ,Every monologue somehow relates to the vagina, be it through sex, love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the variety of names for the vagina, or simply as a physical aspect of the body. A recurring theme throughout the piece is the vagina as a tool of female empowerment, and the ultimate embodiment of individuality. Ensler wrote, "I'm obsessed with women being violated and raped, and with incest. All of these things are deeply connected to our vaginas." Ten percent of the proceeds goes to the National V-Day Committee (in lieu of copyright fees), and the rest goes to benefit the Katie Brown Educational Program whose curriculum teaches students to identify the many types of violence, and empowers them to develop the skills necessary to prevent violence from becoming a factor in their relationships. Click here for pictures of last year's presentation. For more information, contact Wendy Garf-Lipp of United Neighbors of Fall River at 508-324-7900.

(Top row, left) Jenny Pereira stands behind the Katie Brown Educational Program information table while educator Christy Caisse looks over the material. (Top row, right) Audience members including Monologue director Annemarie Sharkey's father and brother wait for the performance to begin. (Row two) Juli Parker, Wendy Garf-Lipp and Debb Orlando interpret "Hair", "The Flood" and "The Vagina Workshop". (Row three) Brittany Hart, Jahnna Khoury, Brittany Nardi, and Marisol Soto perform more readings. (Row four) Ruth Kositsky and Annemarie Sharkey get a huge audience reaction. (Row five) Ruth Kositsky and Jahnna Khoury perform a serious reading before the whole cast ends with a humorous piece.