Clothesline Project
The first Clothesline Project originated in Hyannis, Massachusetts, in 1990 when a member of the Cape Cod's Women's Defense Agenda learned that during the same time 58,000 soldiers were killed in the Vietnam War, 51,000 U.S. women were killed by the men who claimed to love them.
College of Eastern Idaho, with the support of Idaho State University and several community partners, hosted its first Clothesline Project in October 2021. The turnout was inspiring, and we were able to display between 30-40 shirts over a 3-day period, many of those shirts were made by CEI students and employees.
Look for the next Clothesline Project in October. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month
Bringing community awareness for survivors of violence
The Clothesline Project provides participants with the opportunity to contribute to an interactive visual display which depicts the under-represented and overlooked statistical profile of individuals impacted by violent acts. Anyone who has been touched by such acts of violence is invited to share their personal message on a t-shirt which will be added to exhibit.
The Purpose
The purpose of the project is to increase awareness of a dark reality that often stays invisible in the shadows of the communities we live in. By channeling the voices of the survivors, we can bring the truth out into the light so that we may confront and address the forces that have fueled this destructive epidemic while honoring the strength and courage of the individuals who are still here to tell their stories.
Visits
The Clothesline Project is an annual event held each October on the CEI campus. Visit the CEI website between August and September for updated information on when the next event will be scheduled.
Make a shirt
Interested participants can create their own shirt using markers to write their own personal messages reflecting what they feel is important to share. T-shirts can be picked up at Center for New Directions and taken home or participants will be provided private space to create one during the event. Each shirt submitted will become a part of the Clothesline Exhibit to be displayed each year.
Share
Share information about this event on social media along with resources available to anyone who may need help. The more we share, the more energy we generate for addressing the problem and for supporting those impacted by violent acts.
Use your senses to better understand the stories
Different colors of t-shirts represent different kinds of violence
White: Some who died because of violence
Yellow: Survivor of physical assault/domestic violence
Red, Pink, Orange: Survivor of sexual abuse
Blue or Green: Survivor of childhood sexual abuse
Purple: Survived attack due to sexual orientation
Brown or Gray: Survivors of emotional abuse
Different sounds represent the frequency of certain statistics
Gong: Indicates someone is being battered.
Whistle: Indicates a rape is being reported. Keep in mind most rapes are not reported.
Bell: Indicates that some have died in a violent attack.
Get Help
Call 911 if you or someone else is in danger of being harmed
Counseling Center
The CEI Counseling Center only offers mental health counseling. For assistance with course registration please reach out to Admissions.