Written and Submitted by Stephanie Baker, Associate Director, Outer Banks Hotline
In honor of the Father’s Day weekend, Outer Banks Hotline, Dare County’s only interpersonal violence crisis prevention and intervention agency, would like to publicly recognize the OBX men who agreed to be leaders in its inaugural “OBX Men for Safe Relationships” campaign which began with a kick-off breakfast on May 11 at its offices in Nags Head with the ending of June 18. Commissioner Rob Ross attended the breakfast kick-off, where the men listened to the statistics, and stories of un-named survivors, watched a :60 video and learned about what Outer Banks Hotline does to support victims and survivors. “I truly had no idea how widespread this was. It breaks my heart,” said Ross. “I am grateful for all Hotline does to address this terrible problem.”
OBX Men for Safe Relationships is a campaign developed with the purpose of creating a better awareness surrounding the issue of interpersonal violence, and the importance of speaking up to encourage safe relationships among the male population in our community. With messaging running regularly on several local radio stations, Stephanie Baker, Associate Director, led the messaging, while several of the participants, including Sheriff Doug Doughtie and Mike Miller, strongly made the close.
Having men publicly acknowledge that interpersonal violence is a problem; and a good, positive and healthy relationship is based on trust, kindness and love, and then sharing that message with peers, family members and friends will have an impact on relationships to come and help prevent an increase in interpersonal violence issues. Standing up, stepping forward and recognizing the issues of domestic abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking are real and occur in every community, Hotline believes change can happen.
Outer Banks Hotline proudly thanks the men who participated in this inaugural campaign. The following OBX Men for Safe Relationships participants ranged from local small business owners of construction and painting companies to local law enforcement and government officials; from large corporation businessmen to retirees; doctors and nonprofit leaders: Scott Brown, Edward Jones Financial; Rob Crawford, Outer Banks Hotline Board Member; Doug Doughtie, Sheriff of Dare County; Dr. Dan Dwyer, Outer Banks Health; Reverend Nathan Finnin, St. Andrews By the Sea; John Gilreath, Duck Police Department; Vance Haskett, Manteo Police Department; Eric Manning, Manning Construction; Mike Miller, MM Painting; Lee Nettles, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau; Cliff Ogburn, Southern Shores Town Manager; Reverend Marc O’Neal, Mt. Olivet Methodist Church; Top Palmer, Pigman’s Restaurant; Rob Ross, Dare County Commissioner; Jon Sanborn, Fraternal Order of Eagles State President; Dennis Spencer, former Hotline Board Member; Wes Stepp, President of OB Restaurant Association, Chef/Owner of NC Coast and Red Sky Cafe; and Chad Weeks, Wells Fargo Wealth Management.
Following the kick-off breakfast and a “thank-you” from Stephanie Baker, Sheriff Doughtie said, “If you do not do anything then you certainly can’t expect something to happen, so by at least trying to do something you never know but at least it has a chance. It’s an important message.”
For more information regarding the OBX Men for Safe Relationships campaign contact Stephanie Baker at Outer Banks Hotline: 252-473-5121 or via email at stephanie@obhotline.org
