Emerge Statement on Racist Comments and Mistaken Identity

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We have heard from community members about racist comments circulating online that have been attributed to an Emerge employee. We want to acknowledge the harm and clearly correct the mistaken association.

The person who made these racist comments shares the same name as an Emerge employee, but they are not the same person. The individual responsible for the comments is not employed by or affiliated with Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, and our employee’s information has been mistakenly shared as belonging to that individual. Our employee is a Black woman who did not make these comments, and we are concerned about the impact on her safety and well-being.

The comments are racist, dehumanizing, and unacceptable. They echo a long history of anti-Black racism and racial violence in this country and in our own communities. Black women experience the intersecting harms of racism and sexism, including having their humanity attacked, their pain dismissed, and their safety disregarded. The hurt, anger, and concern expressed in response deserve to be taken seriously.

To Ana, and to Black community members affected by these words: your humanity, dignity, and safety matter. We stand with you against anti-Blackness and racial violence.

Emerge is committed to being a multicultural, anti-racist organization. Our values of Love, Safety, Responsibility & Repair, and Liberation call us to challenge racism, listen to Black survivors and communities, and examine how we put those commitments into practice. This includes addressing barriers to safety within our services and the systems around us.

We understand why community members have reached out. Please direct questions about this statement to our social media inbox so our hotline remains available to survivors and loved ones seeking support related to domestic abuse.

Building a community where everyone can experience safety requires confronting racism, taking the harm seriously, and working together to prevent further harm.

Holding our LGBTQIA+ Community Close

Purple-tinted image of the Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse office beneath a blue sky and palm trees, with the message: “Holding Our LGBTQIA+ Community Close.”
Purple-tinted banner featuring the Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse sign and the message: “Holding Our LGBTQIA+ Community Close. Our hearts are with the loved ones of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara, the Venture-N family, and our LGBTQIA+ community.”
At Emerge, love is our commitment to transforming our community into one where all survivors can heal and thrive, free from violence. It calls us to stand with those who are hurting, to share the weight of their grief, and to speak clearly when violence threatens safety and belonging in our community.
 
Today, that commitment calls us to hold Tucson’s LGBTQIA+ community close. Our hearts ache for the loved ones of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara, the Venture-N family, and everyone who is grieving, frightened, or struggling to make sense of this devastating act of violence. We join our community in mourning and recognize that many of the people we love may now feel less safe.
 
LGBTQIA+ spaces are more than businesses or places to gather. They are where people find friendship, chosen family, acceptance, joy, safety, and the freedom to exist fully as themselves. When one of these spaces is targeted, the harm reverberates far beyond its walls, leaving an entire community questioning whether the places where they have found belonging are still safe.
 
This tragedy joins a painful history of violence targeting places where LGBTQIA+ people gather. This year marks ten years since the attack at Pulse and nearly four years since the attack at Club Q. We are once again reminded that spaces of connection, authenticity, and joy have too often been targeted by those who seek to destroy what they represent.
 
At Emerge, we know violence does not occur in isolation. It is shaped by systems that treat some people’s safety and humanity as less worthy. LGBTQIA+ people deserve more than survival. They deserve to gather without fear, experience joy without apology, and live with dignity and belonging.
 
Emerge has long been dedicated to serving individuals and families impacted by domestic abuse. Over the past decade, we have also worked to build partnerships and programs that seek solutions at the intersection of domestic and community violence. This work is especially critical in a moment when gun violence has been so visible and devastating in our community.
 
We stand with our LGBTQIA+ community in grief, outrage, and love. We also recognize the strength of a community whose history is rooted in collective care, courage, survival, and the determination to protect one another. In this moment, may we hold one another close, check on those we love, make space for grief, and remain visible and united in our commitment to one another’s safety.
 
Emerge is committed to creating a future where healing is rooted in love, joy, and community. Through our collective commitment to safety and liberation, we work to create spaces where all survivors of violence, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable communities, belong and thrive.
 
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PCAO and Emerge Join Forces in Crisis Response Agreement

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PCAO and Emerge Join Forces in Crisis Response Agreement

TUCSON, ARIZONA – A critical service for people experiencing domestic violence (DV), the After-Hours Crisis Response System (AHCRS) will give more support to the community thanks to a partnership between the Pima County Attorney’s Office (PCAO) Victim Services Division and Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse (Emerge).

Earlier this year, the PCAO Victim Services Division met with Emerge to develop a plan to assist PCAO with maintaining the vital service of triaging after-hours and weekend crisis calls. Emerge teams will also support volunteer victim advocates who are dispatched to 911 domestic violence calls to provide continued services as needed.

Through the AHCRS, law enforcement officers responding to DV calls in Pima County can request victim service advocates to provide on-scene support to survivors. The system, a central component of Pima County’s coordinated community response to DV that helps connect survivors to immediate support, was at risk of being eliminated without the infrastructure to sustain it. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover says the collaboration is another extension of the office working with key organizations for the well-being of the community.  

“Our agreement with Emerge makes good sense. Not only do we want to be a strong partner in our community, but we also want to ensure that there’s no lapse in access to the crucial services needed for some of our most vulnerable residents. This will enable us to optimize our precious resources effectively to get the best possible outcomes for victims who have nowhere else to turn.” Conover said.

“The 24/7 nature of our work through our emergency shelter and crisis hotline allowed Emerge to quickly jump in and provide this essential service,” said Anna Harper, Emerge CEO. “Domestic abuse can be life-threatening, and our community cannot afford to let resources for survivors go away. We urge the community to do everything they can to support the work and vision of our much-needed services.”

DV is the number one generator of 911 calls for local law enforcement agencies, and PCAO and Emerge recognized the need to protect this essential service. Many of the after-hours’ calls involve high-risk DV situations identified through the Arizona Intimate Partner Risk Assessment Instrument System (APRAIS). During the 2025 fiscal year, Emerge alone served 2,128 APRAIS victims. In the first month of operating the After-Hours Crisis Response System, Emerge noted that more than half of the calls were APRAIS referrals.

As part of the one-year pilot program, PCAO has provided $50,000 in special revenue to Emerge.  Emerge will operate as PCAO’s victim services provider from 5pm to 8am Monday through Friday, 24 hours a day on weekends and on holidays.  While volunteer victim advocates with PCAO respond to requests for on-scene support, Emerge staff will fill in telephonically when no volunteers are available.

Back to School Supplies Needed

A colorful graphic with a school supply theme. A wooden-framed chalkboard is centered, surrounded by various supplies including pencils, rulers, crayons, paint, paperclips, and scissors on a green background. On the left side of the chalkboard, a smiling child wearing a red shirt and black backpack is featured. On the right side, the text on the chalkboard reads: “BACK TO SCHOOL” with a yellow sun doodle above the word "TO." Below, it says “Supplies Needed By July 10, 2026,” with the date highlighted in white and purple.

Help ensure children receiving Emerge services are equipped and supported as they step into their first day of class—ready to learn, grow, and thrive.

If you would like to support school-aged children impacted by domestic abuse, please check the list below of school supplies needed. Items can be dropped off at our administrative office, located at 2545 East Adams St. from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

We appreciate your support!

You can download a PDF copy here. You can also shop from our Amazon Back To School Wish List here.

School Supplies

  • Backpacks (All ages)
  • Markers, Pens, Pencils, Colored Pencils, Mechanical Pencils, Highlighters, Dry Erase Markers
  • Binders, Spiral Notebooks, Composition Books, Sketch Pads
  • Pencil Boxes, Erasers, Scissors, Glue/Glue Sticks, Pencil Sharpeners, Protractors, Rulers
  • Paper (Wide-Ruled and College-Ruled)
  • Calculators, Texas Instruments Calculators
  • Organizers/Planners, Index Cards, Thumb Drives

Home Room supplies

  • Tissues
  • Disinfecting Wipes, Hand Sanitizers
  • 3-Gallon Bins to Store School Items
  • Individual Dry-Erase Boards and Markers

Personal Items

  • Lunch Boxes (for Children and Adults)
  • Reusable Water Bottles
  • Headphones/Earbuds
  • Hygiene Items (Toiletries, Hair Accessories, etc.)

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Celebrating 50 Years of Healing, Hope and Liberation—Emerge Marks Milestone

Image of Emerge's building with text: Celebrating 50 Years of Healing, Hope and Liberation—Emerge Marks Milestone
Emerge 50th logo
IMAGE OF ANNA HARPER, EMERGE CEO, in front of Emerge's administrative office.

A Historic Celebration—and Welcoming a New CEO

This year marks a monumental moment for Emerge as we celebrate 50 years of supporting survivors of domestic abuse in Tucson and Pima County. Since our founding as the Tucson Center for Women and Children, our mission has been rooted in the safety of survivors, and today, we continue to evolve, embracing the future with hope and dedication.

Earlier this year, we welcomed Anna Harper as our new CEO. Having joined Emerge in 2009, Anna has played a pivotal role in the organization’s transformation over the past 15 years, shaping a holistic, survivor-centered approach that embraces each person in their full humanity. With 29 years of experience in working with survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, Anna’s leadership demonstrates a profound commitment to reimagining what community-based solutions to violence can look like—solutions founded on empathy, compassion, and above all, love.

As our CEO, Anna brings the same courage, vision, and dedication that defined her tenure as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. She continues to lead Emerge with a clear focus on collaboration and innovation, ensuring that every survivor has access to the support they need, no matter where they are in their journey. As we move forward, Anna is steadfast in her commitment to building on our strong foundation, guiding us through the challenges that lie ahead, especially as we face uncertainty around the continued availability of federal funding for programs supporting survivors.

“Survivors are often already living with fear due to the violence in their relationships—and the added uncertainty that support services might be taken away can further reduce their likelihood of seeking help,” said Harper. “At Emerge, we remain focused on the lived realities and the safety of people impacted by violence in our community. This community cares deeply for survivors. Tucson and Pima County have a long history of showing up for vulnerable people, and we will need our community’s support—as we always have—to maintain services, support, and safety for survivors.”

Meet the Team Leading Emerge’s Vision

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Emerge embarks on the next 50 years of service to survivors as a team led by a group of passionate and capable people representative of our community. These individuals are entrusted with creating a safer community inside and outside of Emerge that upholds our values. With decades of experience in survivor advocacy, social justice, and community engagement, our leadership team shapes the programs and services that make Emerge a place of hope and renewal for those affected by domestic abuse.

Honor 50 Years by Investing in Community Safety

Fifty years of service is an achievement to be celebrated! We are grateful for the courageous women who started this work, for the many advocates who have dedicated their careers to serving survivors, for the community that has decade after decade shown its love and compassion for our neighbors, and for the people whose safety and well-being drives our mission. Emerge is proud of all that we have accomplished together in 50 years, and of the safer, more compassionate community that has already taken shape.

To honor this progress—and to sustain it through the next 50 years—we have created fundraising campaigns driven by individuals, groups, or organizations:

Individuals – Join the 50 for a Safer Future Campaign

We invite community members to make a donation of any amount, or set up a peer-to-peer fundraiser to encourage your network to give. Learn more here.

Groups – Join the 50 for $50k Campaign

Local businesses, churches, and community groups have been a vital part of sustaining Emerge operations since our founding! Organize fundraisers or host a donation drive to keep this tradition of strong community partnerships alive. Learn more.

Corporations – Join the 50 for $100k Campaign

Let our community know that your organization believes in creating a safer community for survivors. We’re calling on corporations and foundations that serve Tucson and Pima County to help us reach $100k—find out how. We are grateful to TEP for demonstrating their commitment to supporting survivors with $25k toward our $100k goal.

Throughout the year, and at our 50th Anniversary Celebration in September, we will recognize and celebrate our partners by announcing the total funds raised to date. Together, we can build a future where safety and healing are not just possibilities, but realities for all. Thank you for being part of our journey.

Honoring Congressman Grijalva’s Legacy

Image of Congressman Raúl Grijalva
Image of Congressman Raúl Grijalva

Honoring Congressman Grijalva’s Legacy

Today, we at Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse join our community in mourning the loss of Congressman Raúl Grijalva.

There is much to express gratitude for in Congressman Grijalva’s long career in public service. His legacy includes an unwavering commitment to uplifting the voices of marginalized people, safeguarding natural resources, and investing in vulnerable communities. At Emerge, we would like to honor his work protecting and expanding resources for people experiencing domestic abuse, both locally and at the national level. He wrote that abusive relationships are a public health issue and a human rights issue, and he worked to improve protections for populations facing additional risks and barriers to safety, including Tribal members and immigrants.

Congressman Grijalva was a longtime supporter of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a measure passed by Congress to improve the criminal justice response to gender-based violence and support services for survivors. Not only did he champion this landmark legislation calling for its reauthorization throughout his tenure in Congress, but also he argued for preserving legal protections under VAWA for all women experiencing domestic abuse, regardless of their immigrant status, and for extending protections to Tribal nations.

Four years ago, the United State House of representatives passed the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization with Representative Grijalva’s urgent and unwavering support. He said at the time, “With an astonishing number of Native women facing gender-based violence, this legislation makes drastic improvements. It remedies the issues tribal governments have faced in holding non-Native perpetrators of abuse accountable and improves the response rate to cases concerning murdered and missing Indigenous women. The law should protect all women, regardless of where they live…”

Through his leadership as Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, the House held its first-ever hearing on the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). Congressman Grijalva also co-led the resolution to designate May 5 as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, amplifying the efforts of grassroots organizations led by Indigenous women to bring awareness to this issue.

We send our condolences and peaceful energy to Mona, Raquel, Marisa, Supervisor Grijalva and to all his loved ones. We are forever grateful for the tireless advocacy of Congressman Grijalva, and we know that this work is not done. We invite our community to honor his legacy by stepping up, as he did, to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. He believed that all survivors of domestic violence and their children deserve to be safe and lead healthy lives, and we thank him for all he did for this community in support of that belief. In gratitude for the progress he made possible, we call on our community to lift up courageous leaders who are willing to prioritize protecting survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence—that is his legacy.

Domestic Violence and Guns: Supporting Survivors at High Risk

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Domestic Violence and Guns: Supporting Survivors at High Risk

TUCSON, Ariz.: Once again, Tucson families mourn the loss of loved ones whose lives were taken in acts of violence. Earlier this month, 24 year old Delysia Yasmine Urbina and 26 year old Anisa Moreno were both killed by their boyfriends in separate domestic violence (DV) shootings. The loss of these young women will continue to impact their children, their families, friends, and their communities for many years to come.

And, we know that every day, many more domestic violence survivors in Tucson and Pima County live in fear of the direct or indirect threat of their partners’ access to firearms. Studies show that women are 5x more likely to be killed by an intimate partner when they have access to a gun. Gun violence is especially prevalent in Arizona, where in 2021, 70% of all DV-related homicides were by firearm.

Guns are not only a huge risk factor for domestic violence homicide, they are used to cause fear and wield control over survivors. Often, guns are used as a tactic of abuse to threaten the survivor or children, other family members, or pets in the home. When people use guns to threaten and control their intimate partners, the fear invoked is tied to a very real risk as we have seen time and again in these preventable tragedies.

Help is available. Whether a survivor is interested in support through the criminal legal system, or through the community, there are options to increase safety in DV situations involving firearms. Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse (Emerge) offers a crisis hotline available 24/7 to address immediate safety needs and connect survivors to other supports, such as emergency shelter or lay legal support services.

“While the risk associated with domestic abuse and guns is severe, survivors may feel afraid to call 911 for help—and they may not know what support options are available to them,” said Anna Harper, CEO of Emerge. “We want to help survivors find the option that feels safest to them based on their needs, and we want survivors to know what they can ask for from the criminal legal system when accessing safety.”

Emerge staff are able to walk survivors through their options in support of their goals and provide education about options available through the courts, including applying for an order of protection. For more information, visit https://emergecenter.org/find-help/domestic-violence-and-guns/.

At Emerge, we are holding the pain of the families impacted by this violence. We invite the community to join us in our work to build a safer community. Some ways to get involved are by volunteering, donating or joining our team. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, call our multilingual hotline at 520-795-4266. Emerge hotline specialists can help with safety planning and provide further information on available support. Community-based support is also available to help men in taking responsibility for being safer in their relationships. Emerge’s Generate Change: Men’s Helpline is available 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday to support men during escalated interactions with identifying safer, non-violent choices. For the men’s helpline, call 520-444-3078, Option 1.

Rebuilt Domestic Abuse Shelter Opens Doors

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Rebuilt Domestic Abuse Shelter Opens Doors

TUCSON, Ariz.: Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse has opened the doors of a completely rebuilt emergency shelter facility for people experiencing domestic abuse. The $8.5 million shelter renovation project is years in the making and is rebuilt from the ground up to address the unique trauma and safety needs of domestic violence survivors.

The renovation strikes a balance between providing as many beds as possible to meet the huge need in Pima County and creating the most survivor-centered, trauma-informed experience possible. The result is 25 studio-style living units where individuals and families have their own kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom. The shelter campus also includes a toddler playground, basketball court, and a community building where participants can access basic needs items, laundry facilities, and a full kitchen. Shelter residents also have the opportunity to receive services to heal from trauma and work toward their individual goals, participate in support groups, and join in other activities.

“It’s been a dream to have a space that is trauma informed and designed in a manner that allows survivors and their children to have the opportunity to feel cared for, loved, and to have everything they need,” said Anna Harper, CEO. “As a community, it is our responsibility to think about how we care for people who have been impacted by violence, and this renovated shelter is a beautiful space to reimagine what survivor-centered services can look like.”

Emerge enlisted the help of an interior designer certified in trauma-informed design practices to ensure that every element of the space, from the paint colors to the furnishings and layout, contributes to a healing environment.

The new shelter facility is a testament to a community that cares about people experiencing abuse, and believes that they deserve a comfortable, welcoming space to heal. Emerge is grateful for members of our community, our partners, the City of Tucson, Pima County, and others who have contributed financially or through advocacy to this essential resource for survivors of abuse. Emerge staff, especially in the shelter program, have been adaptable and helped to support survivors with uninterrupted services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, contact our 24/7 hotline at 520-795-4266.

Emerge Announces New CEO

Image of the Emerge administrative building with text that reads "A Message from Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse"

Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse will change CEOs starting next month. What will not change is our commitment to creating a community that’s safer for everyone experiencing domestic violence (DV).

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Our Community Owes Domestic Abuse Survivors Better Choices

Imagine of Tucson's skyline with text that reads "Our Community Owes Domestic Abuse Survivors Better Choices"
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Every day, people experiencing domestic violence (DV) make the choices they can to survive. In far too many cases, the choices available to survivors simply aren’t good enough—with devastating consequences.

Recently, one DV survivor in Tucson faced an impossible choice: stay in the car while her intoxicated boyfriend fled the police up Mt. Lemmon, or take the risk and jump. Tragically, she did not survive the injuries she sustained from jumping out of the vehicle. This case is a heartbreaking illustration of what happens when the DV response system—and when the community as a whole—does not provide DV survivors with better options.

Public records show that the tragedy on Mt. Lemmon developed from a history of “high risk” domestic abuse. William Holloway had a pending case in misdemeanor court for a previous assault when he kidnapped Debra Murrieta. That case involved strangulation—which can be classified as felony-level aggravated assault in Arizona, and is a strong indicator that the abuse may escalate to lethal violence.

At Emerge, we are deeply pained each time a survivor loses their life to violence. This case and others like it highlight the need to build safety into our community’s DV response system by recognizing and responding to the danger that domestic abuse presents.

Understanding Risk Can Prevent Tragedy

We invite organizations serving survivors to recognize our limitations and work together to improve the systemic response to DV. Emerge, for example, acknowledges our limited capacity to meet the huge demand for support services. As a result, we prioritize beds in our emergency shelter program for high-risk cases to ensure that survivors who are in danger of being killed by their partner can recover in a confidential location. While we do not believe that we as a community can incarcerate or punish our way out of this DV epidemic, the criminal legal system can likewise improve survivor safety by prioritizing and understanding the risk associated with domestic abuse.

Recognizing the level of danger DV presents can have an enormous impact on survivor outcomes. In one notable case, a survivor’s partner put her in a chokehold until she lost consciousness. First responders were not trained to identify signs of strangulation on a Black woman. Ultimately, police arrested her and held her in jail overnight.

The decision to punish instead of support this survivor reduced the likelihood that she would reach out to the system for support as the abuse continued. Additionally, her partner, a man who used potentially lethal violence on her, received no support in being accountable for and changing his behavior. As a result, the abuse continued to escalate. The consequences were fatal when she was later left with her own impossible choice: endure life-threatening violence, or fight back.

A Community Inundated by Tragic News

A more recent tragedy highlights the critical need to properly assess the risk of DV. While our community mourns the loss of Zahriya Moreno, many were likely confused by the fact that Angelito Olivas was released on a $2500 bond for a DV incident that ended her life. According to public records, he was assessed by pre-trial services to be at the lowest level of risk to the community. This case shows how vital it is to include DV risk factors in pre-trial risk assessments. Survivors in our community deserve a consistent, coordinated response to domestic abuse that understands risk and takes measures to increase safety. More recently, the Pima County Attorney’s Office dropped charges against Olivas and we, like the rest of the community, await developments in this tragic case.

Every week, another devastating DV-related story airs on the news, whether it’s a young woman brutally attacked by her ex-boyfriend, a man shooting his partner, or a person fleeing a domestic incident shooting a Pima County Sheriff’s Department deputy. Unfortunately, these incidents provide only a glimpse of the scope of the harm DV causes in our community, as the vast majority of cases are never reported.

The Community’s Role in Creating Safer Choices

Beyond the systems involved in responding to DV, like law enforcement, the criminal legal system—or Emerge, a DV support services provider—our community as a whole has a responsibility to provide survivors with better options. Did the men in these cases have family, faith groups, or friends who could recognize their struggles with substance use or abusive behaviors and offer support to make safer choices? Did the survivors know that their community believed them, or that what was happening to them wasn’t their fault?

Ending domestic abuse demands change at the community level. The harmful beliefs and behaviors that enable domestic abuse to happen are deeply engrained in our communities. We invite you to join us in imaging possibilities for making Tucson and Pima County safer from violence of all kinds. Become active in creating a caring community. Take part in disrupting the culture that enables violence. Believe survivors. Get involved by volunteering at Emerge. Connect with our Men’s Engagement program to learn how to support people in making safer choices in their relationships. Together, we can build a community where survivors have the support and the options they need to create lives free from abuse.