Mesa Domestic Violence Awareness Night Oct. 23 to honor survivors and victims

October 15, 2019 at 2:50 pm

With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the City of Mesa will host Domestic Violence Awareness Night Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Pioneer Park, 526 E. Main St., to honor survivors and those lost to domestic violence.

"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 Prosecutor John Belatti; Linda King, Founder and President of Fix the Hurt, a nonprofit performance group that raises awareness about domestic violence and Vanna Paij, Miss Gilbert USA 2019 and a domestic violence survivor. Mesa performance artist Brie Wadsworth will sing "The Me I Could Have Been" and a domestic violence survivor from Mesa will read a poem.

Representatives from nearly 20 agencies will have displays and information pertaining to domestic violence awareness. The program will conclude with a candlelight vigil featuring purple candles. Everyone attending is encouraged to wear purple.

The event, featuring speakers and a performance by Fix the Hurt, 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/city-hall/city-attorney/city-prosecutor-s-office/domestic-violence-awareness-month.

Public Information and Communications
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov