Purple is the color of Domestic Violence. It may have been selected for the color of the bruises on its victims.
Purple is the color of Domestic Violence. It may have been selected for the color of the bruises on its victims. Throughout the month of October, you may see many people wearing purple in honor of Domestic Violence Month. It is a time to remember the loved ones we have lost to violence and to celebrate our survivors.
Twenty-one years ago, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed. Before this historic law, domestic violence was seen by many as a lesser offense, and women in danger often had nowhere to go. But VAWA marked a turning point, and it slowly transformed the way people think about domestic abuse.
License to Freedom is a non-profit organization that promotes non-violence through community education, self-sufficiency and advocacy for refugee and immigrant survivors of domestic and relationship abuse in the East County and San Diego region. Led by director, Dilkhwaz Ahmed, this group of advocates believes that every person has a right to live without fear. They believe that refugee and immigrant battered women and children should be able to seek and receive help and services that are respectful of their language, culture, race, age, sexual orientation, disability and religious belief.
License to Freedom provides a wide range of services including individual and family therapy for all ages, a domestic violence support group for women and a court-ordered perpetrators’ group treatment for men and women. Realizing the trauma that is also inflicted on the children, there are expressive art and music therapy programs available. License to Freedom staff will also meet with the families in their home. They realize the need to provide outreach and education to our new immigrants about the cultural expectations of their new country.
Over the years, Ms. Ahmed and her staff have built trusting relationships with local faith leaders in the community. This cooperative relationship helps the victim trust the staff at License to Freedom and allows them a safe place to turn. In partnership with the county ACCESS program, License to Freedom provides free legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in San Diego County. They also offer immigration law, family law with restraining orders, divorce and custody, and criminal law. For assistance you can contact License to Freedom at (619) 813-7415 or dilkhwaz@licensetofreedom.org.
Join us this month as we rally for Domestic Awareness Month in El Cajon. The walk will be on Thursday, Oct. 30. It will begin at the El Cajon Police Station at 9:15 a.m. and end at Prescott Promenade. Please join us in this walk to stop domestic violence and bring awareness and education to our community.
Additional resources can be found at the El Cajon Resource website sponsored by the El Cajon Collaborative. Language translation is available at www.elcajonresources.org. The website contains resources throughout East County for social services, healthcare, senior programs and more. The El Cajon Collaborative is made up of over eighty local agencies and organizations to support and promote health and wellness for our families.
Carol Lewis
El Cajon Collaborative
