Clothesline Project: Voices On Display

Each shirt tells a story. Some of grief. Some of hope. All of them demand to be seen.

The Clothesline Project began in 1990 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as a way to bear witness to the personal impact of domestic violence. Survivors, or those close to them, decorate t-shirts that are then hung on a clothesline for public display. Each shirt represents a person’s experience and becomes a part of a collective voice that is impossible to ignore. The project transforms private pain into public testimony, creating space for healing, solidarity, and advocacy.

This October, New Horizons is honored to present a public Clothesline Project display in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This moving exhibit features shirts created by survivors right here in our community whose lives have been impacted violence – each one telling a powerful story of resilience, healing, and hope.

The event will open with a proclamation reading by Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, officially declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in La Crosse. Following the reading, guests are invited to walk through the display at their own pace, where they will learn about both the immediate and long-term effects of abuse and gain a deeper understanding of what it can feel like to walk in a survivor’s shoes.

Information on available resources will also be available.

When: Friday, October 3, 2025
Time: 2:15 – 4:30pm
Where: La Crosse County Health Department – Basement Auditorium / 300 4th St North, La Crosse

This event is free and open to the public. We welcome you to stand with us in honoring survivors and raising awareness in our community.

Content Disclaimer: The Clothesline Project display contains representations of real experiences of abuse and violence. Some content may be upsetting or triggering for viewers.

Throughout the month of October, Pearl Street Books and the La Crosse Public Library will also host mini Clothesline Project displays to help raise awareness in our community.

If you would like to support this effort, we are accepting donations of plain t-shirts (any color), which will be decorated by survivors in our community. Donations can be dropped off Monday-Friday between 9am-3pm at our La Crosse Outreach Office, 1223 Main St.