With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the City of Mesa will host Domestic Violence Awareness Night Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. to honor survivors and those lost to domestic violence. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event is online and will be available to view live on Mesa 11's YouTube channel at www.mesa11.com or www.mesaaz.gov.
"Domestic violence can have a devastating impact on individuals and families in Mesa, and this event is intended to raise awareness of that impact and to help stop violence before it occurs," Mayor John Giles said.
The event will include remarks from Mayor Giles, Mesa City Magistrate Alicia Lawler, Assistant City Prosecutor Stacey Good and Victim Services Administrator Shelly Ward from the Mesa Family Advocacy Center. The program will also feature two domestic violence survivors including Laura Pahules, Founder and President of Control Alt Delete, a local nonprofit organization that helps survivors reset their lives after fleeing abusive relationships.
The program is hosted by the Mesa City Prosecutor's Office, Mesa Police Department and Mesa Family Advocacy Center. The Mesa Family Advocacy Center is where police and social workers, Department of Child Safety, Office of Child Welfare Investigations, prosecuting attorneys and on-site physicians work together to reduce the trauma of physical and sexual abuse.
According to the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, someone dies in a domestic violence related incident every three days and one or more children witness a domestic violence incident every 44 minutes in Arizona.
For information and resources about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, visit:
www.mesaaz.gov/government/city-attorney/city-prosecutor-s-office/domestic-violence-awareness