Supporters of the Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse want to add purple to the Old Pueblo’s palette of fall colors.
In an effort to end the silence surrounding domestic abuse, they are collaborating with the Pima County Attorney’s Office and local businesses and organizations to promote October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Paint Pima Purple. The initiative features various activities that will culminate in two events Friday: Wear Purple Day and a donation drive to benefit Starting Over Supplies for Survivors. (See box.)
“People experience domestic abuse second by second and minute by minute: It is nonstop, and our role is to create awareness about domestic abuse and what it is,” said Stephanie Noriega, program manger at Voices Against Violence, one of two community-based Emerge service sites for people seeking domestic-abuse support services. “For the last couple of years, we have been solidifying our community partners who do trainings and education about domestic abuse, and that is creating a ripple effect. People are more aware that there are services out there to help them.”
Noriega said the definition of domestic abuse is broad, encompassing a pattern of intimidating and coercive behavior that often includes the use or threat of violence and other menacing actions for the purpose of gaining power and control over another.
Abuse can range from emotional and verbal to financial and physical and often includes more than one type.
“Domestic abuse can be obvious, such as physical violence, but it is often nuanced emotional or psychological abuse. In the past, people thought if it wasn’t physical, then it wasn’t abuse, but if you experience fear due to another person, that may be abuse, especially if it is happening as a pattern of coercive control,” Noriega said.
Noriega said that Emerge and community partners work hard to start conversations and educate victims that abuse cuts across all social, cultural, racial, economic, educational and gender boundaries and that it is sometimes rooted in family value systems.
A common thread among survivors is the belief they should be able to stop abuse on their own, according to Bonnie, a Voices Against Violence volunteer who also serves as a court volunteer with Emerge clients.
“Frequently, victims feel that they should be able to control the situation and should have figured out a way to make it better, but they can’t. They need support and they need help.
“They don’t realize that the abuse is not their fault. We are there to support them and help them look at options,” said Bonnie, who asked that her last name not be used because of the nature of her volunteer work.
Emerge offers a wide range of assistance and support, including a 24-hour bilingual hot line — 795-4266 — for crisis intervention, safety planning or help in supporting a loved one; emergency shelter facilities; food, clothing and other necessities.
It also offers lay legal advocacy, including assistance in obtaining orders of protection; referrals to lawyers and legal clinics and victim’s-rights education; assistance with citizenship, naturalization and Violence Against Women Act documentation; court preparation, safety planning around court proceedings and accompaniment to court.
“A lot of what we do is to help victims understand proceedings and their constitutional rights.
“Frequently these victims have come into contact with the legal system for the first time and they don’t understand what is going on and it can be very intimidating,” Bonnie said.
She emphasized that throughout the process, survivors are in control when dealing with Emerge.
Tucsonans can support survivors in moving forward by making a donation at the drive for Starting Over Supplies, which provide household supplies for families making a new start.
Bonnie said the supplies are desperately needed, since many victims come to Emerge shelters with only the clothes on their backs.
“In the beginning it is tragic, but these are competent people and we watch them gain confidence and move ahead,” Bonnie said.
