Imagine relaxing at your favorite place. Do you feel calm, at
ease, and peaceful? Can you feel your breath slowing down and
muscles relaxing?
We invite you to envision a world where relationships feel this
way. A world where thinking of someone brings that same sense of
joy, contentment, and serenity and people are valued, respected,
and love one another.
This October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we want you
to create this world with us. This year’s theme emphasizes the
importance of taking steps to prevent domestic violence before it
happens.
Domestic violence organizations across California work every day
to end cycles of violence and stop the cycles from starting in
the first place. Prevention is essential.
Our campaign has one goal: Share what we can all do to
prevent domestic violence.
What is Domestic Violence?
- Domestic violence is when someone uses coercion and violence
to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
It is a pattern of behavior with a range of escalating abusive
tactics: psychological, emotional, sexual, financial, legal,
spiritual, and physical, as well as stalking and
threatening.
- Domestic violence is a reflection of oppression in our
society. Inequities such as rigid gender roles, colonization and
racism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, ableism, and economic
inequities create learned behaviors that allow a partner to
exercise power and control over a survivor through coercion and
violence.
- In LGBTQIA+ relationships, this can look like threatening
to out one’s partner if they seek help.
- People who harm can steal money from their partner, or
coerce them into debt without their consent—preventing them
from meeting their basic needs.
-
Domestic violence organizations
across California support people who feel unsafe in their
relationships to develop a safety plan and access the services
and legal protections they need, including housing, counseling,
and support navigating through the civil and/or criminal
systems.
What can we do to prevent domestic violence?
We can prevent domestic violence with healthy relationship
education and organizing toward inclusive communities. For
healthy relationships to occur, people must be able to meet their
basic needs for safety. We lower the risk of domestic violence
when we build stronger community supports for our safety net:
policies that promote economic stability, stable housing, and
equity.
-
Sexual and domestic violence prevention needs to be
included in the California Budget to create safer, healthier
communities.
The California Legislature has previously funded this
work, and
reports show that prevention works. We need your support
before this funding runs out completely. Join our Prevention
Budget Interest List to get the latest updates, information,
and action items on how you can join the campaign to
fund prevention programs.
-
Economic stability, housing security, and supportive
youth programs are needed to prevent abusive
relationships. We’ve created a few social media
templates so you can raise consciousness with your friends
and followers.
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The way we talk about domestic violence influences the
way we think about it. Domestic Violence Awareness
Month is an ideal time to change the conversation. Read this
messaging guide to learn about ways to talk about domestic
violence, and then send it to your legislator’s office (ideally
someone on their communications team).
-
Local leaders need to publicly share that domestic
violence is unacceptable. Provide local leaders a way
to speak out against domestic violence by working with them
to pass a DVAM resolution in your community. It’s a chance
for them to teach the larger community about the prevalence of
domestic violence and give them an opportunity to publicly
stand against it. We’ve written out a sample proclamation that
contains instructions.
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Donate to domestic violence programs. Give for
DV Day is on October 26th, and you can create a page to
encourage your friends and family to donate to your favorite
domestic violence organization.
Artwork:
The Partnership is grateful to Tina Rios and Angela Kim for
inspiring the vision behind our DVAM artwork, created by Tiffany Dator. We asked
Tina and Angela why they are so committed to domestic violence
prevention. Read their stories:
Tina:
“I am moved to tears by this piece of art that envisions the
beautiful pathway we are embarking on. Our prayers are being
answered.
I made a promise to my son to never stop fighting. That promise
transformed me into a leader and today I keep this promise not
only to him but to creator, as I continue seeking the safety for
all children. Including those of our ancestors and those children
yet born. We are truly meant to live in peace and harmony on
earth.
My commitment to this work began with a promise I made to
my son. He was 6 when he said ‘Mommy, fight for me like a wild
animal!’ He is 12 now. I continue my fight, not only for him, but
for all children. This is my promise to creator. Every day, I
pray to my ancestors to guide me and to God to use me so that I
can lead others on a path of healing toward safety for all of us,
especially children who have only wishes, dreams, and prayers. We
must be their voice. Aho.”
Angela:
“The artwork beautifully captures the sense of community and
intergenerational healing that is so vital to the work of
violence prevention.
Every day, I am inspired by the knowledge that violence and harm
are preventable and I never want another youth to experience
violence. To invest in our youth is to believe in futures.”
Read Tina’s and Angela’s Bios
Tina Rios is an Indigenous woman of Apache Ancestry. She is a
longtime resident of Pasadena and Altadena. She is a respected
leader in her community and volunteers her time with many
Pasadena non-profits and community organizations. She was
recently appointed to the LA County Mandated Reporting to
Mandated Supporting and California’s Mandated Reporting to
Community Supporting Task Force as a person with lived experience
representing tribal communities. She is a champion for child
safety and a dedicated member of the Reimagine Child Safety
Coalition and co-founder of the Reimagining Child Safety Group.
It is because of her relentless advocacy work that she was
awarded the 2021 Betty Fisher award. A top honor given to her by
LA County Department of Public Health and the Domestic Violence
Council. She is spiritual and loves to share her passion as a
Native American living in Los Angeles.
Angela Kim is a proud disabled Korean American woman, daughter of
immigrants, and a survivor of teenage dating violence. Angela has
devoted her life to gender-based violence prevention and
currently works as a Program Manager for the Los Angeles County
Department of Youth Development, where she supports the
development of programs and policies that utilize a care-first
approach to equitably reduce youth justice system involvement in
Los Angeles. Angela has engaged in violence prevention work
across California through Title IX offices, CARE offices,
Domestic Violence Shelters, and community resource centers.
Additionally, she works as a Consultant for the Gun Violence
Restraining Order Fatality Project through the California
Partnership to End Domestic Violence and serves as an Empathy
Mirror Storyteller for the Futures Without Violence Courage
Museum. Angela is finishing up her Masters in Public Health at
UCLA in Community Health Sciences, with a specific academic focus
on violence as a public health issue.
Additional Resources:
