From the Executive Director/CEO
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) — always one of the busiest and most active times of the year at Peace Over Violence. Traditionally, this month brings our community together for our annual gathering. This year, we launched something new — Lunch Over Violence (LOV) — and the experience of coming together was comforting and inspiring.
But this DVAM has also been one of the most challenging since it was first declared in 1989. Los Angeles has endured so much — wildfires, ICE raids, unrest, and uncertainty. Across the country, we’re navigating one of the most difficult landscapes in our history. Education, public health, and vital institutions are being dismantled.
At Peace Over Violence, two of our guiding messages have always been: We Take Care of Each Other & We Protect Each Other. These aren’t just slogans — they are necessities.
Government funding for domestic and sexual violence programs is shrinking. Restrictive requirements are making it harder to access support, even as the need for survivor services grows. The numbers are daunting, but it’s the people — the survivors, the families, the young people — who keep us going. Every survivor who reaches out, every student learning about consent, every family finding safety and healing reminds us why we do this work…
