Mrs. California to lobby against DV

Tracie Stafford, reigning Mrs. California, will be at the CA Capitol next week to talk with legislators about domestic violence. She'll be joined by over 100 domestic violence survivors and advocates who will converge on the capitol to try to stop the proposed 10% program cuts.

The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV) is hosting its annual Heart To Heart Legislative Advocacy Day on February 12th. The all-day event will include Stafford talking about her experience as a domestic violence survivor. Stafford says that after offering testimony to legislators, during last year’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, she had a turning point in her life.

“It was very emotional for me,” she said. “It allowed me to assert power over a situation where I had been powerless. Legislators need to hear from survivors directly, to put a face to this problem. We have to build a bridge between the people who make the policy and the people who live the experience of domestic violence. No one can build that bridge better than survivors.”

Senator Romero, the highest-ranking woman in the California Legislature, will deliver the luncheon keynote address.

In addition to a legislative briefing in the morning, the Heart to Heart event will include a luncheon awards ceremony in which CPEDV honors its strongest allies in the Senate and Assembly, and afternoon visits when advocates and survivors deliver Valentines and have “heart to heart” talks with their State representatives.

So come out to the State Capitol Building Basement, Eureka Room on Tuesday February 12th, from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m and lend your voice to this advocacy work.

CA NOW is proud to be a part of The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, California’s statewide domestic violence coalition, with 200 member organizations and individuals.

Comments

[mmminteresting]

That's wonderful. It goes without saying that violence against women and the fact that it so often goes untreated and ignored is something that affects every part of our world. Survivors with the courage to come out and speak from their intense knowledge and experience is one of our best hopes to end this dire crisis.