ASSIST Indiana and its supporters want to send violence, in all of its forms, down the drain.
The Franklin-based nonprofit has worked for years to provide advocacy, specialized services, interventions and support to trauma victims. They’ve tried to raise awareness in schools and in the community, bringing a stigmatized and hidden scourge into the public eye. Everything they’ve done has been for free.
Still, much work remains.
“Awareness and prevention education are key, because this is 100% preventable,” said Tracy McQueen, victim advocate for ASSIST Indiana.
To help raise money for their programs, as well as to thank all who have supported them over the years, ASSIST Indiana is hosting a special concert event Friday for the whole family. The Flushing Out Violence concert features a power-packed lineup of talented local musicians — Rose O’Neal as well as Trace Thompson & Another Round.
People can grab dinner from local food trucks, bid on silent auction items and see the stories of three survivors depicted by local artist Patrick Tisdale.
“It’s a way to continue to raise awareness, while also having a fun event to give back to the community for everything they’ve done, in a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere,” McQueen said. “It’s about getting awareness out there, but also bringing awareness to a topic that isn’t palatable to talk about for some people.”
ASSIST Indiana has been at the forefront of tackling sexual, domestic and other violence since it was founded in 2016. The organization provides trauma therapy, support groups, community resource referral, as well as, crisis intervention, victim advocacy, case management and prevention education.
ASSIST Indiana also is the local rape crisis center for Johnson and the surrounding counties.
To raise money in support its work, ASSIST organizers came up with a clever fundraiser and awareness campaign: Flushing Out Violence. The fundraiser is held each April — for Sexual Assault Awareness Month — and in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
People pay money to send purple-and-blue toilets to different community members. Those prankees then have the option to pay different amounts to either get rid of it or pass it to someone else.
The campaign has been incredibly successful, raising thousands of dollars for ASSIST Indiana. Moreso, people acknowledge the benefit of raising awareness about violence in the community, McQueen said.
The concert builds off that success, McQueen said.
“We wanted to do a big fundraiser to bring about even more awareness. And we went with the theme of Flushing Out Violence because it has become so well-known,” she said.
Plans for a concert event started coming together last year, after Mallow Run Winery owners Bill and Laura Richardson were on the receiving end of the Flushing Out Violence campaign. After learning more about ASSIST Indiana’s mission, they offered to do whatever needed to help in the future.
“They said they’d love to be involved in a fundraiser,” McQueen said.
The Richardsons have offered the use of the Sycamore at Mallow Run facility, so the event will go on rain or shine.
The core of it will be performances by O’Neal and Thompson.
Thompson is a central Indiana-based musician who has built momentum in the country music scene around the country. His songs have hit multiple independent country charts and playlists worldwide which resulted in him being awarded the 2017 IMN Country Impact Artist, and being awarded the 2018 & 2019 Modern Male Country Artist in the Josie Music Awards, 2020 Independent Country Album of the Year, and two songwriting awards in 2021.
For him, being part of Flushing Out Violence wasn’t even a question.
“Opportunities to help people in our community is really something I make a priority. It’s really amazing what Tracy McQueen and others have done to give people lacking hope an opportunity to heal,” Thompson said. “That’s so much more amazing and powerful than Jason and I sharing our music with some attendees of the event.
“We are honored to be a part of this, and encourage everyone who can to help support the amazing work that ASSIST Indiana performs for our community.”
O’Neal is a Martinsville native who has been performing since she was 6 years old. The singer-songwriter appeared on “American Idol” in 2022, winning a golden ticket.
The event starts with a Conversation with Consent — a mix and mingle time where people can bid on silent auction items, while getting something to eat from food trucks Johnson’s BBQ Shack, Lonely Monkey and Millie’s Pancake Poppers. A cash bar will be available for those 21 and over. Kids activities will be set up in a separate area.
A display table will feature information about ASSIST Indiana’s work. Organizers plan to set up 67 empty chairs around the space, as a symbol of the average number of people they help each month.
One of the more powerful aspects of the evening will be artwork by Tisdale, a Franklin-based artist active in the community. He has created art based on the stories of three violence survivors, interpreting the impact on their lives through paintings.
“We thought it would be a very powerful piece for the community to see as well. He’s either met with them in person, heard their story over the phone or read their story,” McQueen said.
IF YOU GO
Flushing Out Violence
What: A fundraising concert to benefit ASSIST Indiana, featuring music by Trace Thompson & Another Round, as well as Rose O’Neal. The event will also feature a silent auction, door prizes, cash bar, and food trucks.
When: 4:30 p.m. Friday; concert starts at 6.
Where: The Sycamore at Mallow Run, 7070 Whiteland Road, Bargersville
Tickets: $45
How to buy: Go to assistindiana.org/events
