Community
Celebrate Supportive Community at Livingston Depot on April 10th
ASPEN (Abuse, Support and Prevention Education Network) hosts its Annual Community Event on April 10th, including A Name Game: Monikers, Nicknames and Handles that Can Heal by Chrysti the Wordsmith. The event begins at 5:30 pm at the Livingston Depot Center and will include dinner at The 1900, a silent auction, and music by Dave Eaton featuring Scott Boehler.
ASPEN planned to present how and why words matter and was thrilled when Chrysti “the Wordsmith” Smith agreed to speak at this year’s event. Smith has been reading and collecting dictionaries for decades. As host of her radio series, Chrysti the Wordsmith, she shares stories teased from the pages of her myriad dictionaries and word books. The series can now be heard on producer KGLT-FM Bozeman, as well as Yellowstone Public Radio in Billings, Montana Public Radio in Missoula, KCPR in Salt Lake City, and worldwide on Armed Forces Radio and Television Network. Smith won the Montana Governor’s Humanities Award in 2021 after 31 years of radio production.
ASPEN will honor Community Closet with an Impact Award for its groundbreaking business model and contributions to ASPEN and so many other groups and organizations. ASPEN Executive Director Heidi Barrett said, “This event honors ASPEN's work with survivors, its violence prevention programs and the community support that makes it all possible. We want to express our gratitude to the whole community by gathering in person for this fun event.”
A silent auction with many items from local businesses will include weekend and overnight stays, many handmade items, artwork, gift bags, baskets, and gift certificates. Neptune’s Brewery will provide beer, and The Office Lounge & Liquor Store is supplying wine to accompany dinner. The Phoenix will also serve mocktails.
ASPEN chooses April every year for the Annual Community Event partly due to Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. It’s a great way to reinforce that awareness and commitment to action can greatly reduce abuse. A community that talks openly and from an empowering, supportive perspective will see more change and better outcomes than one that chooses silence.
Tickets are $50 and are available by visiting https://www.aspenmt.org/end-the-silence. Sponsors include Opportunity Bank of Livingston, Printing For Less, Livingston’s Ace Hardware, Sibanye Stillwater and NorthWestern Energy, who make the Annual Community Event possible by sponsoring the venue and other expenses.
ASPEN provides services, support and advocacy for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking, including a 24-hour support line (406-222-8154), an emergency safe house and prevention and education programming.