Berks Women in Crisis to screen ‘Telling Amy’s Story’

Berks Women in Crisis will host a community awareness event focused on domestic violence on Sunday, Oct. 7 at the Goggleworks.

As part of the event, BWIC will offer two screnings of the film “Telling Amy’s Story.”

Hosted by actress and domestic violence advocate Mariska Hargitay and told by Detective Deirdri Fishel of the State College, Pa. police department, “Telling Amy’s Story” recounts the timeline of a domestic violence homicide that occurred in State Collegeon Nov. 8, 2001. Within the 57-minute film, the victim’s parents and co-workers, law enforcement officers and court personnel share their perspectives on what happened to Amy in the weeks, months and years leading up to her death.

“Telling Amy’s Story” was made possible with funding from the Verizon Foundation and Hopeline (Verizon Wireless) and is a public service media project of Penn State Public Broadcasting. The documentary serves as a catalyst to bring communities together to discuss the difficult issues around domestic violence. It has been shown across the country and around the world and is the basis for a curriculum to address domestic violence in the workplace as well as the systemic response to domestic violence.

Detective Fishel will lead a discussion after each showing of the film: 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Fishel is a 15-year veteran of law enforcement. She has been the primary investigator and case manager of the State College Police Department’s Victim Centered Intensive Care Management Unit since 2006. The VCICM Unit is tasked with investigating, coordinating, prosecuting and responding to domestic violence and stalking crimes throughout the county.

Included in the $25 ticket price is a champagne brunch at Cucina Café. To reserve your admission to a screening of “Telling Amy’s Story” and thebrunch, call Karen at Berks Women in Crisis at 610-370-7810. Brunchwill be served between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased just for the documentary film at a price of $10.

The mission of Berks Women in Crisis is to provide supportive services for victims and to eliminate domestic and sexual violence in Berks County.