Events

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to honor survivors, remember those we have lost, and take action to end violence in our communities. Throughout the month, Catalyst and our partners invite you to join us for events that bring people together to learn, reflect, and stand in solidarity. By raising awareness, sharing resources, and creating spaces for healing, we strengthen our collective commitment to building a safer, more compassionate community for all.

All month long, help us stock our pantry at HAVEN!

At Catalyst, we understand that food is more than just nourishment—it’s comfort, connection, and a reminder of home. For many who arrive at HAVEN, our emergency confidential shelter, it’s also one of the first things they receive after leaving everything behind. Most often, we provide food right away—something easy to prepare, something that doesn’t require extra ingredients—because it meets both an immediate need and offers a small but powerful sense of care.
To continue offering this support, we invite our generous community to use the following list as a guide for food drive donations. These items help us meet survivors where they are—with dignity, compassion, and warmth.

Donations can be dropped off at our Chico Drop-In Center on weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM, or brought to our Safe HAVEN Showcase on October 15 from 6–8 PM at The Commons. Please note: our office will be closed on Thursday, October 9 for our annual Staff Development Day.

Check out our list of suggestions here!

Flowers on the Creek: Annual Memorial & Reflection Gathering

Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Location: Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater, Chico State Campus (in the event of rain: Selvester’s Café)

Please join us as we honor and remember the lives of individuals in our Northern California community who were murdered by an intimate partner within the past year.

What to expect:

• Self-guided reception 5:30-6:00 PM: Visit the altar with photos and stories of victims, and connect with local resource tables.

• Reading of victims’ names

• Guided group meditation

• Flower petal ceremony

This evening of solidarity and reflection offers space for community healing, remembrance, and connection. Please share and invite others to join us in raising awareness and supporting survivors. This event is hosted in partnership with WellCat Safe Place.

Love Shouldn’t Hurt Coffee Sleeve Campaign

We’re excited to announce that our annual Love Shouldn’t Hurt Coffee Sleeve Campaign is back! After pausing last year due to budget constraints, we’re thrilled to relaunch the campaign in a new, focused one-week format that will make a big impact in a short amount of time.

Dates: Monday, October 13th through Sunday, October 19th 2025

Throughout the week, 10,800 coffee sleeves with messages of awareness and support will be distributed across Butte County coffee shops. Each sleeve serves as a reminder that love should never hurt and connects our community with resources for safety and healing.

Participating coffee shops so far include:

• Cal Java Coffee Esplanade

• Beatnik’s

• Bidwell Perk

• Chico Chai

• Coffee Ranch

• Creekside Café + Mercantile

• DayCamp Coffee

• Equilateral

• Lots A Java

• Mockingbyrd

• Mondos Coffee

• Mug Shots Coffee House

• Naked Lounge

• Stoble Coffee

• Sweet Bean Coffee House

• Tender Loving

• Tin Roof

• Upper Crust

Don’t see your favorite coffee shop listed? Let them know about our campaign—we’d love to have them join in!

While you’re grabbing your coffee, snap a photo with your coffee sleeve and tag us @catalystdvsv to help spread the word.

Together, we can share a simple but powerful message: Love Shouldn’t Hurt.

Safe HAVEN Showcase Benefit Concert

Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: The Commons, Chico
Free & Family Friendly!

Join us for our annual Safe HAVEN Showcase Benefit Concert in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month—an evening filled with music, community, and purpose.

Featuring:

• Live performances from Will Harper of Emma & Will, Scout the Wise, and Another Mellow June (Katie Barrett & Karen Lindenberg)!

• Raffle prizes from generous local businesses

• Donation bin for pantry food items to support residents at our HAVEN shelter

• A welcoming venue full of community, connection, and good vibes

This showcase is not only a celebration of local talent but also a chance to stand together in support of healthy, safe relationships. Invite your friends, bring your family, and join us for a night of music and meaning.

Free Community Training: Intro to Intimate Partner Violence

Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 PM (pizza provided)
Location: Chico State, BSS Room 101

Register today to reserve your spot: ChicoStateDVAMtraining.eventbrite.com

From Awareness to Action: Supporting Survivors of Abuse
Join us for an engaging and empowering training designed to help you recognize the signs of abuse, understand the complexities survivors face, and learn how to take meaningful action to support safety and healing in our community.

Whether you are a student, staff member, faculty, or local resident, this training offers essential tools for anyone who wants to make a difference.

What you’ll learn:

• What abuse really looks like

• How to spot the red flags

• Breaking the cycle

• Why leaving isn’t so easy

• How to support survivors

• Connecting with resources

• Using the Bright Sky App

This session is hosted in partnership with the Chico State Gender and Sexuality Equity Coalition and is especially relevant as we continue building a safer, more informed, and compassionate community.

GiveForDV: Support Survivors

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025

Join us for the National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) Day of Giving! You can make a gift to help survivors rebuild their lives free from abuse.

Want to do even more? Encourage friends, family, and your community to support survivors throughout the month. Every gift, big or small, makes a real difference in providing safety, resources, and hope.

Together, we can stand with survivors and help them reclaim their lives.

Questions?
Contact Sarah Sullivan-Aery, Prevention & Outreach Program Manager, Catalyst
530-343-7789 | sarah@catalystdvsv.org