Pam Hester (left), the executive director of the nonprofit organization Families Living Violence Free, is introduced to the VGCC South Campus audience by Roberta Freeman, who coordinated the program on her campus. (VGCC Photo)
Vance-Granville Community College held educational programs for students on three campuses in recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Each program called upon students to “paint the campus purple” by either wearing purple or receiving a purple ribbon, which has become the symbol popularly associated with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The VGCC Student Government Association sponsored the events.
The events held at the college’s Main Campus and South Campus were held in partnership with Families Living Violence Free, Granville County’s domestic violence and rape crisis center. At both campuses, FLVF executive director Pam Hester and youth advocate/ sexual assault coordinator Kim Henley discussed the prevalence of domestic violence, common myths and misconceptions about sexual assault, safety tips for college students, and their agency’s free, confidential services.
At South Campus, they were joined by volunteer and domestic violence survivor Patricia Chapman, who offered her own moving testimony. “I’m grateful to be alive and to be able to tell people that it is never the victim’s fault,” Chapman concluded.
Students from Granville Early College High School presented an original skit dramatizing domestic violence and relationship issues, and VGCC Human Resources director Audrey Parker made remarks to round out the program.
A display created by South Campus library/open lab technician Roberta Freeman featured plates in memory of domestic violence victims. Each plate bore the message, “Domestic violence leaves an empty place at the table.”
Families Living Violence Free can be reached at (919) 693–5700 (office), (919) 528–3579 (24-hour crisis line) or at flvf.org.