Tag Archive for: #domesticviolenceawareness

The Local Skinny! Domestic Violence Awareness Event Scheduled For Oct. 23

/by

Sheriff Curtis Brame R. Brame and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with Clearview Church in Henderson to provide a program designed to remember victims of domestic violence as well as to raise awareness within the community about a problem that is all-too-prevalent.

The public is invited to the third annual “Think Community” event, set for Saturday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m., according to Debbie Scott, domestic violence coordinator and gang resource specialist with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

This event is all about collaboration, she told Bill Harris on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment.

Raleigh’s new police chief, Estella Patterson, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker, Scott said, and the event will pay special tribute to a young woman – a survivor of domestic violence – who also happens to be a poet. Special musical guests will be Roy Burroughs & Work in Progress.

Domestic violence affects the whole community, she said, adding that this event can help community members learn how to spot signs of domestic violence and better deal with the associated challenges.

It’s so important to break the silence of domestic violence, she said, to alleviate the stigma and the shame that victims may feel.

“It’s about everybody,” Scott noted. “This challenge is not just a survivor’s issue – it’s a community issue.

It’s community sponsors like Betty B’s, the Optimist Club, Salvation Army and Vance-Granville Community College and others who help make this annual event a success. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Scott thanked the sponsors and Dr. Abidan Shah, pastor of Clearview Church, for their ongoing support.

Clearview Church is located at 3485 Hwy 158 Business, Henderson, NC 27537.

For more information contact  Scott at 252.738.2235 or by email at dscott@vancecounty.org.

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office Presenting Domestic Violence Awareness Event

/by

Think Community, the Third Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Event, hosted by Sheriff Curtis R. Brame, the Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office and Dr. Abidan Shah, pastor of Clearview Church, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23rd at 3pm at Clearview Church, 3485 US Highway 158 in Henderson. Keynote speaker will be Chief Estella Patterson of the Raleigh Police Department. Special guest community choir will be Roy Burroughs & Work in Progress. Refreshments will be provided by Clearview Church. For more information contact Debbie K. Scott, Gang Resource Officer/Domestic Violence, with the Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office at 252-738-2235 or by email at dscott@vancecounty.org.

Local News Audio

Noon News 10-22-20 Vance County Schools; Domestic Violence Awareness

/by

– Vance County Schools Attendance Matters Campaign
– Domestic Violence Awareness “Think Community” Saturday at Clearview Church, 3pm

Click Play for WIZS Noon News Audio and Full Details…

 

Families Living Violence Free

Town Talk 10/19/20: FLVF to Hold Virtual Domestic Violence Vigil

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Megan Holmes, youth services advocate for Families Living Violence Free (FLVF), appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

FLVF offers supportive counseling, assistance filing for a protective/restraining order, educational programs, referral services, crisis assistance and transportation services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

In continuation of WIZS’ Domestic Violence Awareness Month coverage, Holmes announced FLVF will hold a virtual vigil for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault who lost their lives in 2020. The vigil will be prerecorded and available to view beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 22 at www.flvf.org.

“In the month of October, we do notice there are more individuals who reach out,” Holmes said. “Recently, we’ve seen an increase in individuals seeking services from us. Although the circumstances are unfortunate, we are more than grateful they are reaching out because that means they are becoming more aware that support is available.”

FLVF’s office is located at 125 Oxford Outer Loop Road in Oxford, NC. A 24/7 Crisis Line is also available by calling (919) 693-5700 (English) or (919) 690-0888 (Spanish).

For additional coverage on domestic violence awareness, please join WIZS live at 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 22. Debbie Scott, domestic violence coordinator/gang resource specialist with the Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office, will join the show to discuss the upcoming 2nd Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Event at Clearview Church in Henderson.

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

End the Silence

Town Talk 10/12/20: Infinite Possibilities, Vance Co. DSS Assist Domestic Violence Victims

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Erin Carter, domestic violence and sexual assault victim’s advocate with Infinite Possibilities, Inc., and Cassandra Hart, program integrity/child care supervisor with the Vance County Department of Social Services, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

Infinite Possibilities, Inc.

In a continuation of WIZS’ coverage of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Carter spoke on Infinite Possibilities’ mission of “providing comprehensive, confidential support regardless of age, race, disability, gender, identity, sexual and/or religious orientation, immigration status or national origin” to those in abusive situations.

The community-based non-profit organization provides support with intimate partner violence, crisis intervention, danger assessments, safety planning, and assistance in finding shelter. Trained advocates are available 24/7.

Carter said services are still being provided during the COVID-19 pandemic in as safe a manner as possible. “Although it is a pandemic and we are at home, or we are staying safe, this information is vital. It’s not just vital in the month of October, it’s vital all the time because this is a continuous problem that we have to address.”

To help spread the message and keep people connected during the pandemic, Infinite Possibilities will host a Domestic Violence 101 & Healthy Relationships online Zoom session on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, from 2 until 3 p.m. To gain access to the session, please email Carter at ehill@infinitepossibilitiesinc.com.

For additional information on the session and to stay up-to-date on Infinite Possibilities, please visit the organization’s Facebook page (click here).

In Henderson, the Infinite Possibilities office is located at 314 S. Garnett St. Assistance is also available by phone at (252) 431-1926 during regular office hours: Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

A 24/7 hotline, with services available in English and Spanish, is available by calling (252) 425-2492.

Vance County Department of Social Services (VCDSS)

Addressing the financial assistance side of domestic violence situations, Hart explained the services that the VCDSS, in partnership with Infinite Possibilities and Safe Space, Inc., can provide to victims.

Hart said the following are available to a client and their children if agreed that the assistance will promote safety and economic stability and falls under Work First/TANF guidelines.

Transportation: reasonable, actual transportation costs can include, but are not limited to, bus passes, cabs, auto repairs, auto payments and car insurance as approved by the local department of social services and the domestic violence agency as allowed. The client should express an inability to pay but does not have to be facing repossession of a vehicle. If the client has another operative vehicle, assistance may not be approved.

Housing: housing assistance includes rent, utilities (including past bills), deposits, moving truck rental, storage fees, and other relocation costs. Reasonable, actual cost for these services approved by VCDSS and the domestic violence agency as allowed.

Attorney Fees: the fees can be used for any civil action that will enable a victim to be safe and/or economically independent.

Childcare, summer camp, etc.

Temporary/emergency lodging (such as a hotel)

For additional coverage on domestic violence awareness, please join WIZS live at 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com at 11 a.m. to hear discussions with the following scheduled guests:

Monday, October 19 – Families Living Violence Free

Thursday, October 22 – Debbie Scott with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Think Community

‘Think Community’ at VCSO’s 2nd Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Event

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information and flyer courtesy Debbie Scott, Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with Dr. Abidan Shah, pastor of Clearview Church, will host the 2nd Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Event on Saturday, October 24, 2020. The event will begin at 3 p.m. at Clearview Church located at 3485 US Hwy 158, Henderson.

Activities will be held in the church parking lot for social distancing purposes. Face masks are required.

This year’s theme is “Think Community.” The keynote speaker will be Winston-Salem Chief of Police Catrina Thompson and the honorary guest will be Valerie L. Williams, founder and CEO of Lovesmart, Inc.

Music will be performed by the Clearview Praise Team with a special guest performance by Minister Roy Burroughs & Work In Progress.

Refreshments will be served courtesy of Clearview Church.

Sponsors for the event are Clearview Church, the Optimist Club of Henderson and Betty B’s Florist.

For more information, contact Debbie K. Scott, domestic violence coordinator/gang resource specialist with the Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office at (252) 738-2235 or by email at dscott@vancecounty.org.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Town Talk 10/05/20: VGCC Schedules Domestic Violence Awareness Events for Students, Community

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Cathy Davis, counselor/accessibility coordinator/Student Assistance Program coordinator/Title IX investigator, at Vance-Granville Community College, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

Davis was the first of several guests scheduled to join Town Talk in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “Domestic violence is on the rise, and this is another topic that we will not remain silent about,” she stated.

With a mixture of events for students and the general public, Davis said VGCC is committed to raising awareness and assist those experiencing abuse. “We are trying to keep the community in community college, and we are all about breaking down barriers to support.”

Upcoming VGCC Domestic Violence Awareness Events:

October 8 ~ 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Healthy Relationships Video Presentation Hosted by Safe Space (video via Zoom platform with a Q&A wrap session after the viewing)

October 15 ~ 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Drive-Thru Giveaway at Each of the Four VGCC Campuses

October 22 ~ Wear Purple and Post Encouraging Words of Support Via Hashtags

October 29 ~ 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – VGCC Website/Facebook Scavenger Hunt

Students will use the VGCC website or Facebook page to answer the following questions. The first four students to send answers to the scavenger hunt will receive a restaurant gift card. Please send the answers to Ruthie Davis at davisr@vgcc.edu.

  1. Who is VGCC’s counselor?
  2. What organization can be contacted in your county?
  3. Does that organization have a 24-hour hotline/crisis line, and if so, what is the number?
  4. List the VGCC activities for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
  5. Enter the date and time you completed the VGCC scavenger hunt.

In addition to events scheduled for October, VGCC offers a Student Assistance Program (SAP) to all students and their household members year-round for FREE!

The SAP offers help for personal, professional or school concerns by providing free, confidential, short-term counseling and personal consultation. Additionally, the SAP provides student-life resources for issues such as legal and financial consultation, online learning and resources.

For more information on SAP, please visit www.vgcc.edu/sap or call 1-800-633-3353.

For additional coverage on domestic violence awareness, please join WIZS live at 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com at 11 a.m. to hear discussions with the following scheduled guests:

Monday, October 12 – Infinite Possibilities, Inc.

Monday, October 19 – Families Living Violence Free

Thursday, October 22 – Debbie Scott with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Join WIZS Town Talk for Domestic Violence Awareness Month Coverage

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, WIZS’ Town Talk will feature local organizations involved with various aspects of this prevalent type of abuse.

Please join us live at 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com at 11 a.m. to hear discussions with the following scheduled guests:

Monday, October 5 – Vance-Granville Community College

Monday, October 12 – Infinite Possibilities, Inc.

Monday, October 19 – Families Living Violence Free

Thursday, October 22 – Vance County Sheriff’s Office

According to Families Living Violence Free, on average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. Silence and lack of knowledge about these problems play a large part in why domestic and sexual violence continue to persist.

Understanding the warning signs or red flags for domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse is a critical first step in addressing and preventing these crimes.

Please tune in to these informative segments for more information.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Town Talk 10/29/19: Infinite Possibilities Offers Local Help to Domestic Violence Victims

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, WIZS has featured advocacy groups and individuals on Town Talk each Tuesday in October.

To complete the series, Erin Carter, Victim’s Advocate with Infinite Possibilities, Inc., was on Tuesday’s edition of the public affairs presentation to discuss her work with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

“We support those who seek help with domestic violence situations from start to finish,” Carter said. “We accept walk-ins and offer appointments, work on safety planning, complete a danger assessment, discuss their current and any prior abusive situations, assess their needs and refer them to a lawyer if necessary.”

Carter explained the organization works with other domestic violence groups to provide shelter services for individuals and their children who need to be removed from a dangerous home situation.

Children are especially vulnerable in domestic violence situations and will often show signs of emotional or mental trauma in the way they interact with others or how they perform at school, said Carter.

While it is fairly well-known that domestic violence has a detrimental impact on children, Carter said what is not as commonly discussed is the frequency of abuse occurring among church-going families.

“The biggest myth, one that many people believe, is that domestic violence doesn’t happen in the churches, but it does; that’s one of the biggest places you find domestic violence,” said Carter.

Carter explained that her involvement as an advocate has shown that domestic violence victims involved in a religious organization are often ashamed to come forward with abuse allegations. “It’s something that just isn’t talked about in the church, isn’t addressed,” said Carter.

To help combat this stigma, Infinite Possibilities sends letters and information to parishioners every October offering advice on how to speak to their congregation on domestic violence, along with available resources for victims.

If you or someone you know is involved in a domestic violence situation, trained, compassionate, local people are available to help you 24/7. “The biggest tip I can give is to be vocal and speak up. Many times victims suffer in silence because they feel ashamed or uncomfortable,” Carter said.

With office hours available Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and a 24/7 crisis hotline, Infinite Possibilities offers victims a way to “quietly step away instead of making the dangerous move of confronting the abuser themselves,” said Carter.

Infinite Possibilities is located at 314 S. Garnett St. in Henderson and is also available by phone during office hours at (252) 431-1926. The 24/7 hotline is available by calling (252) 425-2492. Assistance is available in English and Spanish.

To hear the interview with Carter in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Town Talk 10/24/19: Williams, Domestic Violence Survivor, Shares Personal Story

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

As part of WIZS’ commitment to bringing awareness to the prevalence and far-reaching effects of domestic violence, local organizations and individuals have appeared on-air weekly in October.

On Thursday’s Town Talk segment, domestic violence survivor Valerie Williams shared her very personal story and discussed her upcoming participation as the honorary guest at a local domestic violence awareness event.

On a February afternoon in 1996, Williams said her life changed forever in a violent, 20-minute attack. Arriving home on her lunch break from work, Williams said she found herself at the end of a .38 Smith and Wesson with her husband threatening to kill her.

Williams’ husband then shot her three times – once in the head and twice in the right arm – before turning the gun on himself. Williams survived the incident, eventually regained use of her arm and is alive today to tell her story and empower other victims.

Through it all, Williams said she had a difficult time reconciling herself as a victim of domestic violence because her husband was not previously abusive; however, one time of domestic violence was one too many.

The CEO & Founder of LOVESMART, Williams is now a passionate speaker, advocate and author of five self-published books.

Williams looks forward to sharing both her story and the insight she has gained at a “Think Community” domestic violence awareness event to be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 26 at Clearview Church in Henderson.

Along with Williams, who will serve as honorary guest, the event will feature keynote speaker Patrice Andrews, chief of police, with the Town of Morrisville, NC.

The event is hosted by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with Pastor Abidan Shah of Clearview Church and is sponsored by Cardinal Innovations Healthcare of Henderson.

The church is located at 3485 Hwy 158 Bus. (Oxford Road) in Henderson. The public is welcome to attend.

To hear the interview with Williams in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.