Genesis House Empty Chair displays honor victims of domestic violence

Patrons at businesses throughout Lorain County may notice a lonely chair with a purple ribbon in the space. That chair, from Avon Lake United Church of Christ to Grafton Barbell and Lorain Municipal Court, represents a person killed by domestic violence. Since 1989, more than 50 people, including men, women and children, have been killed in Lorain County alone, Genesis House Community Educator Liyana Asmar said. The nonprofit's Empty Seat Campaign, alongside its Silent Witness exhibit, is one way it honors the lives of those victims, she said. "The empty seat display is one chair for one person. They're all over … you'll go into at LCCC into the student center and there's a chair there with a purple ribbon," she said. "The point of the empty seat exhibit is it signifies that this is someone missing in this community because their lives were lost to domestic violence."The QR code on each chair takes those who scan it to a page with information about the person killed. With so many businesses participating, some of those stories are duplicated, she said — helping Genesis House have a greater reach throughout Lorain County. Over the years locations have shifted to focus on hair salons and gyms, where people the Genesis House may not normally reach would populate, she said. The campaign started with cold calls to businesses, or letters sent to every gym staff could find in Lorain County, and many of them got back to coordinators to host the exhibit, she said — and have continued to do so year after year. "It's a good thing that there's a want in the community," she said. "There's so much of a conversation in October about pink and breast cancer awareness … but there's a big need in our community to address domestic violence." The chair display will be up through the end of the month. The larger Silent Witness exhibit will also be up through the end of October, with life-sized silhouettes of the individuals killed in the past 33 years. Many of the families of the victims visit the Silent Witness exhibit each year, Asmar said, especially those who have lost loved ones relatively recently — though some come from out of the county to see the name of a family member lost decades prior as well. "They use it as another way to honor their life," she said. "It's almost the same as them going to their gravesite. It has their story, this is their loved one or family member. That's when we truly feel like this is why we do this." Outside of October, Genesis House's awareness campaigns don't stop, Asmar said. For example, during June campaigns focused on domestic violence and the LGBTQ+ community. Other social media campaigns include people with disabilities and domestic violence, and gun violence and domestic violence. Genesis House's Facebook and Instagram pages are also where it shares needed items for its shelter, alongside services and programs available. The Genesis House operates the only domestic violence shelter in Lorain County, but its services aren't just for those seeking immediate housing, Asmar said. Sometimes, they can offer a listening ear, or the confidential chat button on its website for those looking to talk through a situation. Genesis House serves men, women, children and gender-nonconforming individuals, including the transgender community, she said. Support groups are also available. If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, or wish to connect to Genesis House's other services, call the 24-hour hotline at (440) 323-3400 or (440) 244-1853. The Silent Witness exhibit will be at Lorain County Community College from Oct. 17-23. From there, it will move to Marion L. Steel High School in Amherst from Oct. 24-31. The empty seat at the table displays are at 35 different businesses, including: • Avon Lake United Church of Christ• Lorain Metro Housing Authority (13 sites)• Cornerstone Pregnancy Services• Elyria Library (W. River Rd branch)• Broadway Mary's• LCCC College (Main Campus)• LCCC (Lorain Campus)• LCCC (Wellington Campus)• MHARS Board• We Care, We Share• Café Melissa• 15:13 Fitness & Strength• Hair Love Beauty• Flowers By Sharon• Ginko Gallery• Lorain Library (W. 6th branch)•The American Legion Post 30• North Ridgeville Police Department• Hairways• Bistro Bella Luna• Cornerstone• World Gym• The Mermaid's Tale• Lorain Police Department• Main Street Vermilion• Mercy Health (3 locations)• Oberlin Community Services• Grafton Barbell• Nord Center• LCADA (2 locations)• Ben Franklin• Northwest Bank (3 branches)• Community United MC• Lorain Municipal Court• Sheffield Lake Police Department