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The Center for Family Justice’s annual Fairfield Domestic Violence Awareness Month vigil was focused not only on commemorating these victims but also on calling attention to the community effort to reduce domestic violence in Fairfield.
During the past year, the center, which has a satellite office in Fairfield, has served more than 229 domestic violence-related clients in the community.
Following a somber roll call reading of the 18 victims, several public officials spoke about their hope that those numbers can be reduced by breaking the cycle of intimate partner violence through prevention and education.
Debra Greenwood, president/CEO of The Center for Family Justice, said while “one victim is too many” she found hope in the number of young people attending this year’s candlelight vigil a hopeful sign.
They included more than 20 teenagers representing Raising Abuse Awareness for Fairfield Teen clubs at Fairfield’s Warde and Ludlow high schools, Fairfield University students and a large group of men representing Sacred Heart University’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity, which supports domestic violence awareness as a philanthropic platform.
“Domestic violence is 100 percent avoidable, but we have to raise awareness and our commitment to make sure this stops,” said Fairfield’s First Selectman Mike Tetrrau. “So seeing all these young people here is very encouraging.”
Fairfield Police Chief Gary McNamara, who chairs a statewide task force focused on getting men more involved in domestic violence prevention, also paid homage to the countless anonymous victims of domestic violence.
The Center for Family Justice stressed the availability of free, confidential help to local residents who are dealing with domestic violence in their lives or the lives of someone they care about. The center’s hotline is staffed 24/7 and can be reached at 203-384-9559
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