In the News

Project PEACE Coordinator Candice Lopez Honored at 2024 National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony

Doorways was honored to partner with Congressman Don Beyer and his team to nominate Candice Lopez, MPA, for the Allied Professional Award. An unparalleled advocate for victims and survivors in Arlington County, Candice is a cornerstone of community-wide efforts to respond to and prevent domestic and sexual violence as coordinator of Project PEACE. As a leading advocate for victims and survivors of interpersonal violence in our community, Candice is a leader defined by her passionate dedication to service, decades of experience, and her successful engagement of a wide range of partners in these efforts.

Thank you, Candice, for all you do to support survivors and prevent violence in our community. Congratulations on this much-deserved recognition of your efforts and impact!

As advocates, "we don't do this for awards," Candice said at the ceremony. "We do it because we believe that everyone is deserving of a safe and healthy home, and a safe and healthy relationship," because "survivors deserve the resources and supports they need when they need them," and because "domestic and sexual violence is preventable."

The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance brings together lawmakers and advocates at Doorways to discuss intimate partner violence

On Friday, April 11th, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance hosted a press event at Doorways, where lawmakers and advocates discussed the lethal intersections of gun violence and intimate partner violence.

In particular, sponsoring legislators discussed Governor Glenn Youngkin's veto of several bills that would have closed lethal legal loopholes, helped protect victims, and provided millions of dollars to child advocacy centers and domestic and sexual violence victim services.

Arlington lawmakers decry vetoes of bills to further limit access to guns by domestic abusers

"Two local lawmakers who spearheaded bills to limit domestic abusers’ access to firearms blasted recent vetoes of that legislation at a press conference today (Thursday).

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) last month struck down bills from State Senator Barbara Favola and Delegate Adele McClure that would have strengthened existing gun control laws around people who have physically attacked family members and romantic partners."

"A woman who is in a situation of domestic violence [where] a firearm is present is five times more likely to die," Senator Favola said. "This is a matter of life and death."

Doorways opens new headquarters amid surging domestic violence rates in Arlington

“We are trying to make this as cozy and as trauma-informed as possible,” Counseling Program Manager Virginia Dominguez told ARLnow on a tour of the space.