NYC Actress Lisa Regina Hosts September 25 Workshop to Present Monologues, Relate Personal Experiences of Surviving Domestic Violence

ERIE COUNTY, NY—Lisa Regina, an actress, educator, filmmaker and founder of A Write To Heal, Inc., will address domestic violence in dramatic monologues during a workshop on September 25 and also during the opening ceremony of the WNY Tribute Garden in Isle View Park on September 26. Regina has firsthand experience with domestic violence as her personal and professional life were shattered after being assaulted by her then-fiancé, a celebrity actor, in 2005. The assault resulted in a media frenzy focusing solely on the celebrity aspect rather than the issue of domestic violence, a focus that Regina is determined to change.

Regina found personal strength in writing following her experience, strength that led to healing her physical and emotional injuries. Now she shares the process of writing for healing in her domestic abuse program and encourages women to share their experiences through writing and performance. The actress and educator views performance and public speaking as empowering tools, and has committed herself to educating the public and raising awareness about domestic violence.

Write to Heal became a staged performance of monologues, songs and poetry emerging from and inspired by heartfelt writings of domestic violence survivors.  It has also become a credited course through the New Jersey Coalition of Battered Women. Lisa has been a featured speaker at domestic violence awareness events throughout the Northeast and she presented at the World YWCA Council meeting in Zurich in 2011.

The workshop, held in conjunction with the official opening of the Tribute Garden created to honor the lives of families affected by domestic violence, is free and open to women who are in abusive relationships or have experienced abuse and are struggling to heal. It will be held at the YWCA Niagara Frontier’s Tonawanda location (49 Tremont St., North Tonawanda) at 2:00 PM, Friday September 25. Those interested in attending should call the YWCA at 692-5580.

The official opening of the Domestic Violence Tribute Garden at Isle View Park will take place with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, September 26. The 6th Annual Erie County-sponsored Break-the-Cycle Bike-a-thon and Walk to raise awareness about domestic violence will take place at Isle View Park at 10:00 AM, prior to the ribbon cutting. Register online at www.tributegardenwny.org.