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October 3, 2019Unity House Domestic Violence Awareness Community Block Party
In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Unity House will host a block party to raise awareness of the issue on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Union St. in Troy between Fulton St. and Broadway. The block party kicks off a series of events Unity House will present throughout the month to help raise awareness of the domestic violence services it provides.
Unity House has counselors available 24 hours a day to provide crisis intervention, information, and referrals to victims and survivors, concerned family members, friends, organizations and members of the community. Unity House’s Domestic Violence Services program provides a wide variety of services to those in or transitioning out of domestic violence situations from safety planning to legal services, counseling, housing, advocacy and much more.
“This event not only aims to raise awareness of domestic violence, but also allows victims to see that they are not isolated or alone and that there is an entire community here to support and help them,” said Tabitha Dunn, service director at Unity House. “We understand the challenges victims go through when seeking help and with this event we hope to showcase the resources available to make that process more comfortable.”
At the event, Unity House will recognize two honorees for their service in the community. The Outstanding Volunteer Award will be presented to Cynthia Urbach, executive director of Families In Need of Assistance. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area (BGCCA) will be awarded the Outstanding Community Partner Award, and will be accepted by Patrick Doyle, chief operating officer of BGCCA. Awards will be presented at 1:00 p.m.
Urbach is a champion of survivors of domestic violence. As someone who understands the needs of survivors and the challenges of establishing safety, her advocacy and action have been key in not only helping people directly, but in creating greater awareness among institutional partners about domestic violence and how to best meet the needs of survivors. In establishing Families in Need of Assistance, she has developed policies and training for law enforcement and judges so they can better assist victims.
The BGCCA is a key collaborator with Unity House, providing services and programs to help young people make positive life choices. Its staff works closely with Unity House’s Domestic Violence Services to teach youth about healthy relationships, where to get help and steps the community can take to create a culture without abuse. Its focus on empowering youth to develop self-confidence and self-esteem, along with the organization’s work on the issue of teen domestic violence has a large impact on many of the children it serves.
The Domestic Violence Awareness Block Party is free and open to the community and will feature food, local vendors, games, regional community resource tables, children’s activities, raffles, performances, a live DJ and information about resources available to victims. For more information visit https://bit.ly/2m76kuz.
