Breaking the Silence: Fayette Cares Launches Domestic Violence Awareness Month
SOMERVILLE, TN — Fayette Cares kicked off Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Fayette County General Sessions Court, gathering justice and community leaders to shine a light on domestic violence and the need for community involvement. The courtroom, a place where survivors seek protection and perpetrators are held responsible, was a powerful location for this important event.
“Domestic violence is not a private matter, it is a public crisis,” said Alexandra Porto, Executive Director of Fayette Cares. She shared sobering statistics that describe Tennessee’s rank among the top 10 worst states for intimate partner homicides, with more than half of all homicides in the state involving intimate partner violence. She also shared that for every homicide, there are eight to nine near-fatal injuries affecting children, bystanders, and emergency responders. “These are not just numbers,” Porto said, “they are a painful reality for too many of our families, our neighbors, our community.”
A highlight of the event was hearing from Amy Oliver, a former Fayette Cares client and survivor of domestic violence who now serves on the organization’s Board of Directors and the Tennessee Family Violence Advisory Committee. Her story exemplified hope and healing, demonstrating how victims can rebuild their lives and give back to help others.
Community partners joined the ceremony, including Fayette County General Sessions Court Judge David Douglas, 25th Judicial District Attorney General Mark Davidson, Fayette County Sheriff Bobby Riles and Chief Deputy of Administration Ray Garcia III, and Fayette County Mayor “Skip” Taylor, who read a proclamation announcing the month of awareness.
To further spread the message, Fayette Cares staff, board members, and hotline volunteers worked with law enforcement to place purple ribbons on patrol vehicles throughout the county. “Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homicide in Tennessee, and responding to these calls is one of the most dangerous duties our officers face,” Porto said. “Awareness saves lives, and together we can change the statistics.”
Fayette Cares provides shelter, safety, and support services for individuals and families affected by domestic violence, poverty, and crisis, and urges the community to support this important work. To donate or learn more about Fayette Cares, visit FayetteCares.org.
About Fayette Cares
The mission of Fayette Cares is to empower those in need with solutions to end homelessness, break the cycle of domestic violence, and create stability and self-sufficiency from crisis. Fayette Cares has served the Mid-South as a community-supported non-profit organization since 1986 and is a United Way member agency.
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