Tempe Mayor Joins O’Connor House Program Pledge to Speak Out Against Domestic Violence

Oct. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- The AVON Program for Women & Justice at O’Connor House announced that Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell is among the first elected leaders to sign its Pledge to Speak Out Against Domestic Violence, a year-long initiative launched in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, with the goal of collecting 50,000 signatures by October 31, 2013.

Arizona residents are encouraged to join Mayor Mitchell in taking action against domestic violence by also taking the pledge, which is available at the AVON Program for Women & Justice page on the O’Connor House web site (www.OConnorhouse.org/dv) and at Pledge to Speak Out Against Domestic Violence (http://www.change.org/petitions/avon-program-for-women-justice-at-o-connor-house-speak-out-against-domestic-violence).   Participants will assist the Program with raising awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence in Arizona, which affects one in four women in the state, and elevating the importance of domestic violence in public policy decisions.  Participants pledge to the following:

I pledge to speak out against domestic violence by:

Speaking up for those who are victims of abuse in families, my community and at work or school; and,

Encouraging and supporting policies that protect victims of domestic violence, and hold people who abuse responsible; and,

Setting an example for my family, friends and community by fostering a safe environment.

“We are grateful to Mayor Mitchell for demonstrating leadership and taking action on this important issue,” said Lucia Fakonas Howard, co-chair of the AVON Program for Women & Justice at O’Connor House.  “We are working diligently to raise awareness among the community and elected leaders in our state about the impact of domestic violence, and with support from leaders like Mayor Mitchell, I am confident that together we can develop public policy that does a better job of holding abusers responsible.”

About the AVON Program for Women and Justice:  Justice Sandra Day O’Connor chose domestic violence as the first focus for this program. Chaired by Kim Sterling Heflin and Lucia Fakonas Howard, the Avon Program For Women and Justice at O’Connor House has convened a diverse and multi-disciplinary group of participants and experts from across Arizona (many serving on a totally volunteer basis) to examine the issue of domestic violence and to build collaborations  to improve policies and services for victims.

In collaboration with law enforcement, the courts and other existing domestic violence organizations and services, the Avon Program uses the O’Connor House process of collaboration and action to convene leaders and the community to:

Ø  Affect positive change in domestic violence policies and systems;

Ø  Leverage leadership and resources to elevate the importance of domestic violence in public policy; and

Ø  Raise awareness about domestic violence among policy makers, community leaders, and the community.

For Additional information, visit:  http://www.oconnorhouse.org/dv