TUCSON, ARIZONA – Tuesday, October 1, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse (Emerge) will host a press conference kicking off Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Attendees at Emerge’s Richard Elías Memorial Office at 4455 E 5th Street will hear from Charlene Mendoza, Chief of Staff for the Office of the Mayor, Emerge, and several community partners speaking on the need for community solutions to domestic violence. The conference will also include an announcement sharing details of a new annual event to create a safer community from violence.
In light of recent domestic violence-related deaths impacting Tucson families, Emerge and several partner agencies invite the community to join in an event that fosters healing. Footsteps for Healing: Building Community Safety Together will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Silverlake Park.
We invite the community to be part of this transformative event, organized in partnership with Goodwill of Southern Arizona, Tucson Juneteenth Festival, Indivisible Tohono, Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault(SACASA), and the City of Tucson Community Safety, Health, and Wellness program.
The event will include an opening ceremony followed by an awareness walk around Silverlake Park, a performance from the Esperanza Dance Project, a resource fair, and interactive activities led by each partner organization, including healing groups, a coping skills art project, and more.
The event invites community members to take part in a powerful statement of unity, resilience, and commitment to supporting survivors and families impacted by violence. Domestic abuse, sexual assault, gun violence, transphobia, racism, violence against Indigenous communities and other forms of violence are deeply interconnected, creating a complex web of harm that affects individuals and entire communities. As we move together, we honor all those impacted by violence and highlight the importance of a comprehensive community response.
Footsteps for Healing is about fostering deeper relationships within our community and creating an environment where safety and healing can thrive. When we come together to center survivors and their experiences, we can better understand the collective impact of violence and work toward community-driven solutions.
Join us in this journey of hope and healing. Your presence is a move toward a safer, more connected community where every person can feel supported and valued. Following are reflections on the importance of this event from some of the organizations who helped organize it:
“Tucson Juneteenth is proud to announce a new partnership with the Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse in support of the annual Footsteps for Healing event on October 19, 2024. This collaboration highlights a shared commitment to healing, unity, and the empowerment of our community, with a special focus on supporting survivors of domestic abuse. By coming together, we aim to amplify the voices of survivors and honor their resilience in an event that aligns with Tucson Juneteenth’s long-standing mission to celebrate freedom, resilience, and cultural unity, while also addressing issues impacting the African American community.
Partnering with Emerge is a powerful opportunity for us to continue the work of uplifting our community. Through this event, we not only show solidarity with survivors of domestic abuse but also take active steps towards healing and hope.” — Larry Starks, President of Tucson Juneteenth
“We know that Tucson has the 4th highest number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls in the country, and the state of Arizona has the 3rd highest rate of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In the last few months it has become commonplace for women in Tucson to die at the hands of their partners. We all have a responsibility to the future and the safety of our communities and when I see the local news each night I recognize that we just aren’t simply doing enough.” — April Ignacio, Co-Founder of Indivisible Tohono
“Community engagement is vital in raising awareness for sexual assault and domestic violence because it transforms individual experiences into collective action. When communities come together to educate, advocate, and support, they create an environment where survivors are believed, justice is pursued, and prevention becomes a shared responsibility.” — Katlyn Monje, SACASA Director
“Teaching the community about sexual assault and domestic violence is important because it helps people understand the problem and know how to stop it. When people learn more, they can help make their community safer and support those who have been hurt. It also encourages others to step in when they see something wrong and to stop blaming victims. Learning about these topics helps everyone build healthy, respectful relationships. In the end, it helps break the cycle of violence and makes sure that victims are listened to and treated with care.” — Isaac Villegas Durgin, Community Enrichment Coordinator of City of Tucson Community Safety, Health & Wellness
Lance Meeks, Vice President of Community Engagement at Goodwill stated that The Village Program “benefits the communities in which we operate by specifically tailoring our outreach efforts, programs, and services to meet the needs of Southern Arizona’s most vulnerable and under-resourced populations, including people with disabilities; people with justice-involvement; disconnected youth; LGBTQ+; Black, brown and Indigenous people; and homeless youth.” Goodwill of Southern Arizona offers academic coaching, diploma and GED attainment, job training and paid job placement, bereavement support through a partnership with Tu Nidito, violence prevention mentorship programming through a partnership with Emerge, referrals for mental health and substance use services, housing resources, and more.
The Village Program has also been holding regular Community Conversations about gun violence throughout the city, including at the Dunbar Pavilion, the Children’s Peace Garden, and Freedom Park Center, to hear from community members and young people about the impact of gun violence on their lives. Meeks noted, “The Village Program will focus on strengthening families and healing community through a village approach in order to create safety and trust.