I Wear Purple Because....
By Julie Schoen, JD, NCEA Deputy Director
June 8, 2022
This year, as I was reviewing all the amazing tools and tips the NCEA team has developed to build awareness concerning World Elder Abuse Awareness Day WEAAD, http://eldermistreatment.usc.edu/weaad-home/tools-and-tips/ I thought of our new #Purple Wednesday Campaign. The premise of the campaign is to wear purple on Wednesdays and submit a picture of yourself holding a placard that says "I wear purple because..." you than fill in the blank, take a photo of yourself holding the placard and submit to NCEA. I thought to myself, "Does this really matter, does this really do anything?" https://eldermistreatment.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/WEAAD2022_PurpleWednesday_D01filllable-1.pdf
So, I contemplated this for a while and considered what does it mean to me to wear purple?
- The first thing that came to mind was Unity. When we all wear purple it unifies us, it demonstrates that we are aligned, together. That comforted me. At a time when there is so much divisiveness, how wonderful to feel united, included in an effort to provide social justice to all as we age..
- Next, I thought of vibrancy. The color purple evokes a feeling of richness and uniqueness, much like the lives of the people we serve who have experienced abuse..
- Lastly, I thought of in Hinduism, purple represents the crown chakra; “Sahasrara,” which is where the soul meets the physical body. It represents enlightenment and awareness and brings peace, joy, and serenity. This has influenced purple's universal symbolism as the color of wisdom and spirituality, a very fitting representation of the spirit of WEAAD.
Will I be wearing purple often between now and June 15th? Yes, I will, as the thought of being a part of something so significant, uniting us and reflecting on the vibrant lives of the older adults we serve sparks a passion to do more, learn more and be more. Join me and the rest of the NCEA team as we build awareness and devise solutions to prevent and eradicate elder abuse.
