Re: Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation Reading

Friday, October 7^th, 2011 at El Refugio, Inc.

9:00-10:30 am

El Refugio, Inc. extends an invitation to the community to the Proclamation Reading for Domestic Violence Awareness Month that will be held at El Refugio, Inc. on Friday, October 7th, 2011 from 9:00 am-10:30 a.m. This event provides an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence in our community. It's also a time when we can stand together to reflect on those women, men and children who have died and to extend support to those who are still in the cycle of domestic violence.

Please find attached a copy of our DV Awareness flyer that provides the details of this event. This year we will focus on a display we are calling "Silent Witness Gallery" that will depict the mass killings of 68 people across America in 52 bloody days of domestic violence in 2009. There were 12 mass killings in these 52 days in the United States; in 11 of the 12, the killer had a history of abuse against women or they were directly related to or defined as domestic violence; 68 people were killed in these mass killings, including 20 children and 7 police officers. Domestic Violence is a very serious public health issue. A pandemic is defined as a global outbreak of disease that cause serious illness or death and then spreads easily form person to person worldwide. The pandemic of violence by men against women, men and children killed more people in those 52 days in American than swine flu. The pandemic of violence is destroying lives and families and we must do everything we can to address domestic violence in our lives, families and community. Our Silent Witness Gallery of "52 Days of Domestic Violence Flu in America"- will be a very powerful display of these stories. It is a display to encourage us not to be silent about domestic violence; we cannot afford to ignore the tragedy of domestic violence.

Our event will be recognizing several individuals or organizations from the community for their support and contributions in support of domestic violence prevention, intervention and healing of our community through their acts of compassion, kindness and concern for those individuals and families dealing domestic violence. We plan to offer prayers for peace, songs and ask those in attendance to make their pledges for peace so that their deeds, words and actions can change, heal and embrace our humanity for individual and collective well-being

Please find attached a copy of the proclamation for DV Awareness Month that was proclaimed by the Grant County Commissioners. Commissioner Christy Miller will be reading the proclamation on October 7^th, 2011. The proclamation provides you with data on Domestic Violence.

For more information, please call Maria Morales-Loebl, Executive Director or Rachel Sierra, Director of Shelter and Advocacy Services at El Refugio at 538-2125.