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Letter to the Editor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
As incidents of domestic violence continue to be ever present in our local media, we feel compelled to continue lifting up the realities of abuse and inform our communities that there is help available. As providers of both domestic violence services for victims and services to help those who use violence to stop their abuse, the Crisis Center for South Suburbia and Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse are especially sensitive to the needs of each group and want the community to be reminded that domestic violence comes in all forms. Domestic violence, at the core, is all about exerting power and control over another person. It is never OK. Every nine seconds a woman is beaten, yet despite increased awareness of domestic violence, it continues to be a public health crisis.

Domestic violence can impact anyone.

The Crisis Center for South Suburbia and Anew are here to support victims of domestic violence in the south cook and eastern will county communities. We provide services to those directly and indirectly impacted by domestic violence. We serve those who have been harmed and we also have services for those who have done harm. Our agencies share a believe that change is possible and that change we work to bring forward is a world free from abuse.

We need your help, as a community, to make sure that people in need are aware of our services. People need to be able to find us when they are in trouble before another life is lost or traumatized. If you are a victim of domestic violence and don’t feel safe, we are here to help. If you feel isolated and alone because someone is controlling you, reach out. Call our 24-hotline for support, emergency shelter, resources, or just to talk. Our help and services are free and confidential.

If you are hurting your partner or fear that you might be, you can contact our agencies to learn more about Partner Abuse Intervention services.

Call 708-335-3028 or visit www.anewdv.org Call 708-429-SAFE or visit www.crisisctr.org.

A Letter from Kris Scott, CEO

On behalf of the staff and board of directors of Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of Shaneiqua Pugh, her seven children, and all those impacted by Sunday’s mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed a devastating number of lives lost to domestic violence—individuals killed at the hands of intimate partners. Among them are Dr. Cerina Fairfax, wife of Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax; Nancy Metayer Bowen, Vice Mayor of Coral Springs, Florida; Pastor Tammy McCollum of Charlotte, North Carolina; Myneika Scott of Grovetown, Georgia; and Davonta Curtis of Chicago, Illinois. These names represent just a fraction of the lives lost. Too many stories go untold, and too many families are left grieving.

As these tragedies continue to unfold, I am reminded of the urgency of our work. Domestic violence does not discriminate—it affects individuals across all communities, backgrounds, and identities. In recent weeks, there has been heightened visibility around the murders of Black women.

According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, 45.1% of Black women have experienced domestic violence, and more than half of Black female homicides are connected to intimate partner violence.

At Anew, we see the impact of this violence every day—and we also see the possibility for change. We provide comprehensive, wraparound services to survivors, while also investing in prevention efforts that address the root causes of abuse.

We believe accountability is essential. Through our Partner Abuse Intervention Program, we work with individuals who have used violence, helping them take responsibility for their actions while building the skills needed to create nonviolent, healthy relationships.

We also believe prevention begins early. Through our Community Education and Prevention Program, we are equipping young people—from pre-K through high school—with the knowledge and tools to build safe, respectful relationships and break cycles of harm before they begin.

This moment calls for more than awareness—it calls for action. Each of us has a role to play in creating safer communities, supporting survivors, and holding systems accountable. Everyone deserves to live a life free from abuse. I remain committed to a future where that is not an aspiration, but a reality.

 

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