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HOW'S EVERYONE TODAY? I'M OKAY.
UM, THIS IS IMPOR AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TODAY THAT, THAT WE'RE HERE TO, TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE'RE HERE TO UNVEIL MORE THAN JUST A BILLBOARD.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM.
IT IS A HARRIS COUNTY PROBLEM.
IT AFFECTS OUR FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COWORKERS, OUR CHILDREN, OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND BEHIND EVERY STATISTIC IS A REAL PERSON THAT HAS BEEN, WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED FOREVER.
NOT TO MENTION THOSE AROUND THEM.
A BILLBOARD MAY SEEM LIKE A SIMPLE THING, BUT, BUT THE RIGHT MESSAGE AT THE RIGHT MOMENT IN TIME MAY HELP SOMEONE TO STOP, THINK, AND CONNECT TO THEIR RESOURCES.
IT CAN REMIND A VICTIM THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.
AND IT CAN ALSO HELP A FRIEND RECOGNIZE THE WARNING SIGNS THAT CAN ENCOURAGE AND THEY CAN ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO SEEK HELP.
AND SOMETIMES THAT ONE MOMENT OF AWARENESS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE OF SAVING A LIFE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
PUT THAT ASIDE, BUT AS A HOUSTONIAN, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AS A PARENT, AS A LEADER, THAT WE ALL ARE, I BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONFRONT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HONESTLY AND DIRECTLY.
WE CANNOT SOLVE WHAT WE REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
IT REQUIRES LAW ENFORCEMENT, SERVICE PROVIDERS, THE CORPORATE WORLD, INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES, AND EVERYDAY CITIZENS.
WE MUST STRENGTHEN OUR RESPONSE, CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RESOURCES, AND WE MUST MAKE SURE SURVIVORS KNOW THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE.
WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF SILENCE AND THE MINDSET OF ACCEPTANCE.
WE NEED TO CHECK ON ONE ANOTHER.
WE NEED TO LISTEN WITHOUT JUDGMENT.
AND WHEN SOMEONE TELLS US THEY ARE HURTING, WE NEED TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.
SOMETIMES THAT SIMPLE MESSAGE CAN LEAD TO A BIGGER PROBLEM.
TO ABDA, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO HELP SURVIVORS FIND SAFETY, SUPPORT AND THAT PATH FORWARD AND TO ALL THOSE OTHERS, AND THERE ARE MANY ON THE FRONTLINE.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THIS SOCIETAL EPIDEMIC.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO CLEAR CHANNEL AND LEAVE VELA.
IT'S PARTNERS LIKE YOU WHO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
FOR MANY, YOUR PARTNERSHIP MATTERS TO MANY.
IT TAKES US ALL DOING OUR PATH, AND YOU ALWAYS STEP UP.
THANK YOU, LEE, AND THANK YOU CLEAR CHANNEL.
AND TO ANYONE WHO MAY SEE A BILLBOARD, A CRY FOR HELP, A RESOURCE, RECOGNIZE THAT YOU TOO CAN DELIVER THAT MESSAGE, NOT JUST THE BILLBOARD.
LET THAT BE A CATALYST FOR YOU TO DELIVER THAT MESSAGE TO THE VICTIMS OUT THERE.
YOU DON'T STAND ALONE AND HELP IS AVAILABLE.
PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY, AND EACH OF US MUST DO OUR PART.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO TAKE THIS MESSAGE INTO THE COMMUNITY, INTO THE CLASSROOMS, TO THE CHILDREN, TO THE ADULTS, AND TO ALL WHO DESPERATELY NEED TO HEAR IT.
I'M THE CEO OF AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, ALSO KNOWN AS ABDA.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TR TWILA CARTER, OUR PARTNERS AT CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR, AND EVERYONE JOINING US TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
FOR 46 YEARS, ABDA HAS BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC ABUSE.
WHAT BEGAN AS A GRASSROOTS EFFORT HAS GROWN INTO AN ORGANIZATION SERVING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, INCLUDING SOME OF OUR MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES.
OUR WORK IS GROUNDED IN A SIMPLE UNDERSTANDING.
DOMESTIC ABUSE IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM, AND ADDRESSING IT REQUIRES MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION.
AT ABDA, WE'RE PROVIDING FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO HELP SURVIVORS FIND SAFETY AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
WE PROVIDE TRAUMA COUNSELING TO HELP ADULTS AND CHILDREN HEAL.
THROUGH OUR BATTERING INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM, WE WORK WITH OUR, WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CAUSED HARM, EMPHASIZING ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGING ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR.
AND IMPORTANTLY, WE WORK TO PREVENT ABUSE BEFORE IT BEGINS.
THAT IS WHERE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE COME IN.
[00:05:01]
VIOLENCE, WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SOMEONE HAS BEEN HURT.WE THINK ABOUT POLICE INTERVENTION, PROTECTIVE ORDERS, OR SOMEONE TRYING TO ESCAPE AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP.
AND WHILE THOSE RESPONSES ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, WE MUST ALSO ASK OURSELVES, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREVENT THE NEXT GENERATION FROM EXPERIENCING THESE SAME HARMS? YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DEVELOPING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF RELATIONSHIPS EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY.
THEY ARE LEARNING WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE, HOW TO HANDLE CONFLICT, WHAT BOUNDARIES MEAN, AND WHAT BEHAVIORS THEY SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT ACCEPT FROM SOMEONE THEY CARE ABOUT.
AND THOSE LESSONS DON'T COME JUST FROM THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
THEY COME FROM THEIR PEERS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY CAN SEE AND MODEL AROUND THEM.
THAT IS WHY PREVENTION MATTERS.
OUR 2026 BILLBOARDS CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT STARTING THOSE CONVERSATIONS EARLIER AND ENCOURAGING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT ON RESPECT, TRUST, DIGNITY, NOT FEAR, IMITATE, INTIMIDATION, OR CONTROL.
A BILLBOARD MAY SEEM LIKE A SIMPLE THING, AS TWILA JUST SAID, BUT SOMETIMES AS A MESSAGE SEEN ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL OR WORK OR HOME, CAN START A CONVERSATION THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT EVER HAPPEN, AND THAT CONVERSATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE WANT PARENTS TO TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN.
WE WANT EDUCATORS TO FEEL EMPOWERED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
WE WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS, WHETHER THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THEM OR THAT THEY'RE ENGAGING IN THEM.
AND WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT PREVENTING DOMESTIC ABUSE IS NOT JUST THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE ABDA.
IT IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
BECAUSE WE TRULY WANT TO CHANGE THE FUTURE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION.
I'M GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER CARTER AND CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MESSAGE AND HELPING US TO BRING, BRING IT TO THE BRO BROADER HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
OF COURSE, PREVENTION IS ONLY ONE PART OF OUR MISSION.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING ABUSE, HAVING SOMEWHERE TO TURN AND HAVING PEOPLE WHO WILL STAND BESIDE THEM CAN BE LIFE CHANGING.
AND TODAY, WE WILL HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT FIRSTHAND, LORENA IS A FORMER ABDA CLIENT WHO HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO SHARE HER EXPERIENCE AND HOW THE SERVICES SHE RECEIVED HELPED CHANGE THE COURSE OF HER LIFE.
LORENA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
FIRST, I WANNA THANK EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND TO SHARE A SMALL CHAPTER OF MY LIFE.
STANDING HERE MEANS MORE TO ME THAN I CAN PUT INTO WORDS.
THERE WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT THROUGH.
EACH DAY WHEN FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, AND SURVIVAL CONSUMED SO MUCH OF WHO I WAS, I NEVER IMAGINED THAT ONE DAY I WOULD STAND IN A ROOM LIKE THIS, NOT ONLY AS A SURVIVOR, BUT ALSO AS A MOTHER WHO REVEALED HER LIFE.
AN ADVOCATE WHO NOW WALKS BESIDES OTHERS, AND A WOMAN CONTINUING TO PURSUE HER DREAMS. SO BEING HERE TODAY IS MORE THAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY STORY.
IT IS A REMINDER OF HOW FAR MY DAUGHTERS AND MYSELF HAVE COME, AND OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED US GET HERE.
FOR MANY YEARS, I WAS MARRIED TO SOMEONE I HAD KNOWN SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS RAISED TO BELIEVE THAT MARRIAGE IS A LIFELONG COMMITMENT.
I ENTERED MY MARRIAGE BELIEVING THAT I WAS BUILDING THE LIFE AND FAMILY I HAD ALWAYS ENVISIONED.
HOWEVER, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, MY REALITY BECAME VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE LIFE THAT I HAD IMAGINED.
OVER THE YEARS, I EXPERIENCED VERBAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, FINANCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.
WHAT I BELIEVE WOULD BE THE LIFELONG PARTNERSHIP BECAME A PAINFUL AND DIFFICULT CHAPTER OF MY LIFE THAT AFFECTED ME IN WAYS I NEVER EXPECTED LEAVING THAT WAS THE HARDEST DECISION.
I NEVER IMAGINED I WAS GONNA BE CAPABLE OF DOING SO.
HOWEVER, WHEN I FINALLY FOUND THE COURAGE TO WALK AWAY, I LEARNED SOMETHING.
I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THE TRUTH.
SOMETIMES LEAVING DOESN'T ALWAYS MEANS THAT ABUSE ENDS.
SUDDENLY I WAS TRYING TO BU REBUILD MY DAUGHTER.
AND MY LIFE'S WORRYING ABOUT HOW I WOULD PROVIDE FOR MY DAUGHTERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.
THE DIVORCE BECAME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND TRAUMATIZING, AND THERE WERE MOMENTS WHEN I FELT EXHAUSTED, AFRAID, AND UNSURE OF WHAT WOULD COME NEXT.
HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT THIS DIFFICULT JOURNEY, THERE
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WAS ONE AGENCY THAT REMAINED BY MY SIDE PROVIDING SUPPORT, PROVIDING GUIDANCE, AND A SENSE OF HOPE WHEN I NEEDED IT THE MOST.AB DONE, THEY DIDN'T JUST OFFER ME SERVICES, THEY STOOD BESIDES ME.
WHEN I WAS TIRED OF ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF, THEY REMINDED ME THAT I HAD A VOICE, THAT I HAD RIGHTS, THAT MY DAUGHTERS AND I DID NOT HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THIS JOURNEY ALONE.
THEY EMPOWERED ME, REMINDED ME THAT I COULD REGAIN MY STRENGTH, AND GAVE ME A SPACE TO HEAL BY SHOWING UP FOR ME.
TODAY, I CAN LOOK AT MY DAUGHTERS AND SEE THEM HAPPY.
I SEE THEM SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THEM.
AND THAT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.
SOMEHOW, ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL CHAPTERS OF MY LIFE ALSO HELPED ME DISCOVER MY PURPOSE.
TODAY I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE, WALKING BESIDES OTHERS DURING SOME OF THEIR HARDEST MOMENTS.
AND RECENTLY, I BEGAN PURSUING MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK.
MY STORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN, BUT TODAY, FEAR NO LONGER IS HOLDING THE PEN.
TODAY MY STORY IS BEING WRITTEN BY HOPE, PURPOSE, GRATITUDE, AND WITH TRUE LOVE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
THANK YOU ABDA, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MAKES THIS WORK POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE OF YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT, I WAS ABLE TO REBUILD MY LIFE AND CREATE SOMETHING BETTER FOR MY FAMILY AND MYSELF, LOS.
[00:17:00]
OKAY.I I WANNA START BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
UH, SHE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST FIERCE ADVOCATES FOR CONTINUING TO KEEP THIS TOPIC AT THE FOREFRONT.
UM, LONG BEFORE SHE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, SHE WAS A COMMUNITY MEMBER ADVOCATING FOR THIS.
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO.
UM, CLEAR CHANNEL LEE, THE COOPERATION THAT WE SEE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTERS.
AND LEE, YOU HAVE BEEN HERE AT EVERY STEP, AND THIS IS THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE OF YOUR DEDICATION, ABTA.
UH, THERE'S NO GREATER PARTNER INSIDE THE COURTHOUSE THAT WE UTILIZE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AND GETTING THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU ALL.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY TO MY LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, SHERIFF GONZALEZ IS, HE'S A, A ROLE MODEL TO ME.
AND A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS DEDICATION TO THIS.
SO SHERIFF GONZALEZ, THANK YOU.
UM, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS AN EPIDEMIC IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WHILE THE REST OF VIOLENT CRIME IS PLUMMETING, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDES AROUND IT ARE CONTINUING TO CLIMB, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
AND IN THAT, IN THAT LANDSCAPE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW, WE'VE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF FEAR AROUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEIR BEHAVIOR ON OUR ROADS.
IT IS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO HOLD VIOLENT CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE.
IT IS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SURVIVORS TO REACH OUT AROUND A TOPIC THAT IS ALREADY COVERED IN SHAME.
WE HAVE GOT TO COMMUNICATE TO THESE SURVIVORS THAT WE ARE HERE.
THE PEOPLE ON THIS STAGE DO NOT ASK YOUR STATUS.
THEY DON'T ASK THE STATUS OF ANYONE ELSE IN YOUR HOME.
THEY'RE HERE TO HELP YOU BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE SCARED OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAN THEY ARE THE PERSON IN THEIR HOME ABUSING THEM.
AND YOU'RE SEEING IT CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE PEOPLE UP HERE, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
LAST WEEK WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY ABBY CAYMAN, WE ANNOUNCED OUR POET PROGRAM, THE PROTECTIVE ORDER EXTENDED TEAM.
WE ARE GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE WITH OUR LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS
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AND OUR PROSECUTORS TO FACILITATE PROTECTIVE ORDERS, MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE NOT ASKING THEM TO COME DOWNTOWN TO GET IT DONE.AND AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THE MEDIA TO CARRY ABOUT THOSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE FILED A POLICE REPORT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE MADE AN OUTCRY TO ANYONE ELSE.
THERE DOES NOT NEED TO BE CRIMINAL CHARGES.
IT CAN BE THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT YOU SPEAK OUT.
AND IT IS NOT A CRIMINAL ACTION.
IT IS SIMPLY DOCUMENTING AND REMOVING THAT OFFENDER FROM YOUR HOME.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS WONDERFUL GROUP, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TO FIGHT THE FIGHT ON EVERY FRONT, TO MAKE EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY SAFE.
I'M HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ.
UH, SO FAR THIS YEAR IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY, WE'VE TRAGICALLY AND VIOLENTLY LOST 25 OUR OF OUR NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING A CHILD, UH, TO AN INCIDENT STEMMING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THAT'S 25 OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT INCLUDE ALL THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER STATED, THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC.
WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
AND AS MUCH AS WE DO, UH, THAT REALITY CONTINUES.
SO WE GOTTA CONTINUE TO DOUBLE DOWN, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
UM, IT REALLY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE MESSAGE THIS YEAR.
UH, THE CYCLE ENDS WITH US BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT'S SUCH A SHORT SENTENCE, IT'S INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.
WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.
WE KNOW HOW IT GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.
WE KNOW IT LEADS TO SERIOUS INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH.
UM, WE KNOW THAT, UH, IT NEEDS TO END.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
WE'RE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE'RE GONNA PROSECUTE YOU TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.
US AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER STATED THIS AS WELL.
IT REALLY TAKES ALL OF US, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN GO AND RENDER A SCENE SAFE.
WE COULD TRY TO HOLD THE OFFENDER ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, SOME, SEVERAL OF MY TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE THAT DO THAT IMPORTANT WORK.
UH, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALL ALONE.
UH, THAT'S WHY, UH, WE DEPEND ON DEN FOR 46 YEARS NOW, UH, THEY'VE BEEN LEADING THAT CHARGE, MAKING SURE THAT WHEN A SURVIVOR NEEDS A LEGAL ASSISTANCE, PERHAPS WITH A PROTECTIVE ORDER OR NEEDS OTHER SUPPORT, THAT THEY'RE THERE TO WALK THAT JOURNEY WITH, WITH, UH, WITH THAT SURVIVOR.
UM, AND SO IT REALLY TAKES ALL OF US, ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FRIENDS, THE COWORKERS, FAMILY MEMBERS.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY IN NEED, LET 'EM KNOW THAT WE BELIEVE 'EM, HELP 'EM MAKE THAT FIRST CALL.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY TAKES ALL OF US, UH, INCLUDING OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS, AS YOU HEARD.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SO LONG.
UH, AND, AND, AND THIS IS INCREDIBLY WORK, WORK.
UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL.
AND MANY TIMES THE OFFENDERS WILL TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR PHONES, FOR EXAMPLE.
YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR PHONE, BUT THEY MAY BE DRIVING THROUGH A BILLBOARD.
AND THIS MAY BE THE MESSAGE THAT STICKS IN THEIR MIND THAT REALLY HELPS 'EM MAKE THAT CALL OR TO SEEK HELP.
YOU KNOW, AND SO ALL OF THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND SO, UH, AGAIN, AND, AND IT'S ALSO, I, I CAN'T THANK MY, MY PARTNER, MY PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNER UP HERE AS WELL, SEAN TIER, UH, FOR JUST, I'M SO IMPRESSED.
THEY'RE DOING TREMENDOUS WORK IN THIS SPACE.
HE CREATED A DIVISION DEDICATED TO THIS WORK.
UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, UM, THE, THE PROACTIVE WORK THEY'RE DOING TO REALLY MAKE THE PROCESS EASIER FOR, FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS THAT ARE SEEKING A PROTECTIVE ORDER.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, PARTNERING WITH HIM TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THAT WORK AND REALLY, UH, MAKE THE PROCESS EASIER ON SURVIVORS AND, AND VICTIMS THAT NEED TO NAVIGATE OFTEN SO MUCH, GO TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR PART TO MAKE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, BETTER FOR THEM AND, AND REALLY BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM.
AND SO WE'RE JUST, UH, INCREDIBLY, UH, PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS WORK.
I WANNA COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AS WELL.
I I TOLD HER YESTERDAY AT A FORUM SHE HOSTED, UH, AROUND THIS ISSUE THAT SHE'S BEEN, UH, AS WE'VE ALREADY HEARD, UH, SUCH A CHAMPION FOR THIS ISSUE LONG BEFORE SHE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, AND NOW SHE CONTINUES TO DO THAT WORK AND REALLY REPRESENTS, UH, THE BEST IN GOVERNMENT AND WHAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO BETTER, UH, SUPPORT, UH, PEOPLE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
UH, OUR PARTNERS AT, UH, HPD, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS MY HOME AGENCY, HAVE A LOT OF LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THAT AGENCY.
WITH THE WORK OF, UH, CHIEF DIAZ, GREAT PARTNERS, JULIE PLEASANT, I SEE HAS BEEN A CHAMPION IN THIS SPACE AS WELL.
DOES TREMENDOUS WORK, HAS REALLY SET A STRONG MODEL FOR SO MANY OF US TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW AND EMULATE.
[00:25:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COURAGE, UH, FOR YOUR STRENGTH.I LIKE HOW YOU STARTED YOUR COMMENTS BY SAYING THIS WAS A SMALL CHAPTER.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU HAVE THAT POWER, YOU'VE RECLAIMED YOUR POWER, AND I WISH YOU SO MUCH SUCCESS FOR YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER'S GOING FORWARD.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOUR JOURNEY'S GONNA BRING.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING INSPIRING OTHERS AND LO AND LEARN, LETTING 'EM KNOW THAT HOPE IS POSSIBLE.
AND SO, JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR CONTINUING TO AMPLIFY THIS MESSAGE TO, UH, TO THE MEDIA MEMBERS AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE NEED YOU, AGAIN, IT'S ALL OF US COMBINED.
GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT TO THE VIEWERS OUT THERE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO OTHERS THAT MAY LISTEN.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA CONTINUE TO GET THIS MESSAGE OUT, UH, UNTIL AGAIN, THAT WE COULD PUT AN END TO IT.
AS THIS, AS THIS SAYS, A CYCLE WILL END WITH US JUST BRIEFLY IN SPANISH.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ANGEL AUGUST.
I AM WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY VIOLENCE DIVISION.
UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS MORE THAN PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.
IF YOU BELIEVE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE IS AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TALK TO THEM AWAY FROM THEIR PARTNER AND HELP THEM DEVELOP A SAFETY PLAN.
SAFETY PLANS ARE CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING, SO MAKE SURE YOU STAY IN CONTACT WITH THEM.
UM, HPD PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES LIKE I'M STANDING HERE WITH TODAY.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE OUR, UH, VICTIM SERVICE ADVOCATES AND OUR DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAMS, WHICH WE CALL DART, THAT WILL TRAVEL TO THE CALLS FOR SERVICE TO ASSIST THE VICTIMS WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEEDED.
SOME OF THOSE, UM, RESOURCES WOULD BE VICTIM'S COMPENSATION, UM, FILING THE PROTECTIVE ORDERS, SHIELDING THEM FROM COURT WHILE THEY'RE IN COURT, UM, AND ASSISTING THEM WITH MONETARY EXPENSES AS WELL AS SHELTERS.
WE EQUIPPED ALL OF OUR OFFICERS WITH THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO FACILITATE REFERRALS TO LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELING CENTERS AND SHELTERS.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO ESCAPE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OFFER AID AND HELP THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THEY'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE NOT ALL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UM, ABUSERS ARE READY TO LEAVE IN THAT MOMENT.
THEY NEED A MOMENT TO WORK OUT THEIR SAFETY PLAN AND DEVELOP HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
UM, HELP THEM MAKE, UM, THE BEST DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN.
IF YOU'RE ASSISTING WITH SOMEONE TO ESCAPE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A SAFETY PLAN FOR YOURSELF, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN VICTIMS ARE LEAVING THEIR ABUSERS, THAT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME.
IF ANYONE NEEDS HELP, WE ARE ALWAYS HERE.
YOU CAN CALL 9 1 1 FOR ASSISTANCE.
I'M WITH, UH, CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD WE ARE TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN FOR 10 PLUS YEARS NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S STILL AN ISSUE.
UH, AND WANT, WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN CARTER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS ARENA.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH YOU ON NOT ONLY THIS, BUT ON THE TEXAS COUNCIL FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE, UM, AND SO MANY OTHER PROJECTS.
IT'S UP TO, AS WE HEARD ALREADY, IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING.
OUR, OUR GREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT GUYS, CHIEF, UH, SHERIFF, SHERIFF GONZALEZ, UM, UH, UH, UM, UH, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
THEY'RE DOING THEIR PART, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT AS WELL.
AND AS, AS PART OF THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO STEP UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS MESSAGE THAT THIS ENDS NOW IS THERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.
THESE ARE THE FIRST OF, UH, AROUND 30 BILLBOARDS THAT ARE GOING UP AROUND THE AREA, BUT THEY'RE NOT JUST FOR THIS MONTH.
THEY WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND THROUGHOUT NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
WE THINK THAT THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT HAS TO BE NOT JUST IN OCTOBER, BUT CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE, THE, UM, THE AREA.
WE COVER 13 COUNTIES WITH OUR, WITH OUR DI DIGITAL BILLBOARDS.
WE HAVE 60 IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS, AND THEY'RE GOING UP ON 18.
[00:30:01]
NOW ON 18 OF THOSE BOARDS.UH, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO CYCLE THROUGH ALL OF THOSE BOARDS AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UH, AND INSIDE HOUSTON, WE HAVE THE PRINTED BOARDS THAT WILL BE GOING UP NEXT WEEK.
UM, AND THEY WILL BE ON THE FREEWAYS, AND THEY'LL BE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THIS MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE SEEN.
SO, WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS, THIS MESSAGE WILL BE SEEN.
PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S HELP.
ADVA IS INCREDIBLE, AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION.
UH, THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, SUCH A TRACK RECORD, UH, IN HELPING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND WE WANT TO BE THERE WITH THEM TO SUPPORT THEM.
SO, UM, WE WILL CREATE MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF MARKET IMPRESSIONS WITH THESE MESSAGES.
AND, UM, YOU'RE GONNA SEE 'EM.
SO WE, WE HOPE THAT EVERYBODY SEES 'EM IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO WITH THAT, DO YOU WANNA OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS? WELL, FIRST AND, UH, FOREMOST, THANK THE MEDIA FOR BEING HERE, AND WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS.
BUT AS, UH, I, I THINK SHERIFF GONZALEZ MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MEDIA FRIENDS, IT IS UP TO YOU TO, TO DELIVER THIS MESSAGE.
YOU, YOU, YOU'RE HERE TO RECORD.
YOU'RE HERE TO, TO, UH, TO REPRESENT.
AND THE MEDIA PROBABLY WOULD BE OUR, ONE OF OUR BEST RESOURCES TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE.
AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT DOMESTIC.
IT IS VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.