Debra A. Greenwood is president and CEO of The Center for Family Justice, which serves the communities of Monroe, Easton, Trumbull, Fairfield, Bridgeport and Stratford.
When people hear the words domestic violence, many assume it’s a private matter – a tragedy that unfolds behind closed doors, something that happens to other people. But the truth is far closer to home: every one of us knows someone who has experienced abuse, whether we realize it or not.
At The Center for Family Justice, we witness this reality every day. We meet a mother with her young child entering our safe house after years of living in fear. We meet a child undergoing a forensic interview after disclosing sexual abuse. We meet a young woman on a college campus dealing with harassment from an ex-partner.
Each year, we provide free and confidential services to thousands of survivors. They aren’t just numbers – they are neighbors, coworkers, classmates and loved ones.
We know that in order for real change to occur, it cannot fall solely on the shoulders of survivors or service providers. It requires community-based solutions. Every one of us has a role to play: learning, speaking openly and acting with care.
Domestic violence affects nearly half of all women and men in the United States at some point in their lives. Yet so often, its impact is invisible. Survivors struggle in silence, and friends, family and neighbors may not recognize the signs or know how to help.
This October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, The Center for Family Justice is partnering with the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence for the #Every1KnowsSome1 campaign. This collaborative effort shines a light on the reality that domestic violence affects us all, and it does not discriminate.
On October 15, we invite our community to gather at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater for our annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Vigil. It is a truly moving evening in which we honor the lives lost to domestic violence in the past year, while also lifting the voices of those who often go unheard.
But the work doesn’t stop on October 31. The fight to break the cycle of violence is year-round. If you take nothing else from Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let it be this: whether it’s your friend, your work colleague, your child’s teacher, or a passerby on the street – any of them could be a survivor.
Your compassion, your advocacy, and your willingness to act can make all the difference.
Everyone knows someone. And everyone has the power to help. This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s break the silence, stand with survivors, and build a world where abuse is never acceptable — and never invisible.
To learn more and get involved, visit centerforfamilyjustice.org. If you or someone you know needs help, our 24/7 crisis hotlines are available:
- Domestic Violence: 1‑888‑774‑2900
- Sexual Assault: 203‑333‑2233
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