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May 22, 2009
Helping women to survive
Adam Abrams is a volunteer with Vancouver Rape Relief.
CASSANDRA FREEMAN
It takes a strong man to face the incidents of male violence against women but it takes a real mensch to do something about it. Meet Adam Abrams, a self-taught web designer by day, performer by night and long time volunteer in support of the Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter.
Ten years ago, Abrams was reading the newspapers on a daily basis and he noticed a shocking series of male attacks against women.
"I felt angry, helpless and frustrated," Abrams told the Independent. "It was the worst kind of behavior any man could do.... I was very upset about it."
About the same time, Abrams discovered a flyer for Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter, an organization trying to stop violence against women. He's been part of their fundraising committee ever since.
Rain or shine, one Saturday each month, Abrams and a woman volunteer stand on a different street corner in Vancouver with a tin can collecting donations. If you are lucky, you might even see Abrams singing and dancing as well.
"It's a peppy little number based on the Spiderman theme. A sample lyric is, 'You can do your part, if you just take a stand, and the way to start, is to fill up our can!' It always gets a smile, and usually a donation too," he said.
Abrams is one of about 10 men and three women who are on the Vancouver Rape Relief fundraising committee. He said part of being in the group involves discussions around stereotypes of men and women and sexism in society in general.
"I've learned a lot," he said. "I joined up just to help with a cause, but have gotten more out of it than expected."
The committee's mandate is to organize the nonprofit's charitable events, like the upcoming Walk for Rape Relief at the end of May, Tin Can Days, as well as ongoing pledge drives.
All proceeds go directly towards Vancouver Rape Relief's 24-hour crisis line and transition house for women. Other services include public education, public events, discussion groups, in-person counselling and accompaniment for women who need to go to a hospital.
According to volunteer Jaqueline Gullion, Vancouver Rape Relief responds to more than 1,400 new callers and shelters 120 women and their children each year.
Gullion has been chairing the fundraising meetings for the last 10 years. She welcomes men to become part of the committee in support of Vancouver Rape Relief. Especially men as enthusiastic as Abrams.
"Adam brings a total sense of delight to everything he does," she said, adding, "He has been really successful in organizing his vast network of contacts to come out and support our events.... He's a regular guy with a warm heart."
While helping out, Abrams also manages to make a living in web and traditional design, plus singing, dancing and acting in shows. He said he is proud to have taken improvisation classes and worked with David C. Jones, who was voted the best comedian in Vancouver by Georgia Straight readers in 2005. Abrams also designed Jones' website and acted as a technician for a comical theatre production that Jones directed, called Poor Super Man, in 2008.
A show person for several years, Abrams regularly appears in the Broadway Chorus' musicals. He's quick to add that Broadway Chorus' The Supermusical is coming up at the end of June. He has also acted in Kol Halev's musical productions, famous for their historical focus on the B.C. Jewish community. And his acting career received a big boost last spring, when he played Harry Rankin in Theatre in the Raw's production of Bruce – The Musical, highlighting the late Bruce Erikson's work in the Downtown Eastside.
Abrams is looking forward to helping set up this year's checkpoints for the Walk for Rape Relief, which takes place around the seawall, and then participating in it with his partner, Christine Moody, and a huge crowd of other men and women.
The walk takes place on Sunday, May 31, with registration at 10 a.m., at the Ceperley picnic site near Second Beach. It is wheelchair accessible. People who finish the approximately three-hour route will be welcomed with a gourmet buffet and live music from local bands. For more information about pledges or anything else, call Vancouver Rape Relief at 604-872-8212 any time day or night. Abrams' website is AdamAbrams.com.
Cassandra Freeman is a freelance writer and improv instructor living in Vancouver.
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