HopeFest is one of Alexandra House’s signature events that raises awareness about domestic and sexual violence – while raising funds for Alexandra House. The core principles of the event are to raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence, remember those we have lost, and honor the many survivors. In the months leading up to HopeFest, teams and individuals raise funds to help Alexandra House achieve its mission to empower victims of domestic and sexual violence, and inspire social change, through education, support, and advocacy.
Domestic and sexual violence remains devastatingly pervasive and starts at an alarmingly young age. Across their lifetime, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner. Statistics that have remained essentially unchanged over the past decade. AND this violence starts early: 1 in 5 females and 1 in 7 males who experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner first experienced some form of partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age.
Domestic and sexual violence is endemic in every country and culture, causing harm to millions and their families, and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Last year, law enforcement in Anoka County responded to over 14,540 domestic-related calls and 860 criminal sexual conduct calls. Alexandra House has experienced a 26% increase in calls to the helpline since the pandemic’s beginning. At the same time, domestic and sexual violence's most tragic outcomes —murder and severe injury — are on the rise. There were 28 homicides in 2020, 26 intimate partner homicide victims in 2021, and there have already been 17 confirmed victims of intimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2022.
For 45 years, Alexandra House has offered survivors and their families the support they need to feel safe and protected physically and emotionally. Our mission is to empower victims of domestic and sexual violence and inspire social change through education, support, and advocacy. Alexandra House provides services that benefit all who have been impacted by or have the potential to be affected by domestic and sexual violence. Nearly half of the people we serve are children between the ages of 0-17 who require safety, support, and guidance.
Alexandra House's critical work helps victims not only find pathways out of domestic violence situations but also out of poverty and, in many cases, homelessness. Alexandra House has locations in Blaine and Anoka and is one of Minnesota's largest domestic and sexual violence programs, but the ONLY one in Anoka County.
Alexandra House offers many services (free of charge), including an emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis line, legal advocacy, hospital advocacy, support groups, housing and supportive services, youth services, basic needs assistance, elder abuse services, and community and professional education. Because…
➱ 1 in 3 Minnesotan women will experience sexual or domestic violence in their lifetime
➱ 1 in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence each year; 90% of them are eyewitnesses
➱ 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner in their lifetime
➱ 1 in 10 high school students has experienced physical violence from a dating partner in the past year
➱ An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year