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Caylee Chenkus

Silent No More candlelight vigil amplifies voices during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Gaby Molina; FOX61; Oct. 4, 2023

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — 50 years ago, when Davida Foy Crabtree helped start the Prudence Crandall Center she could have never imagined the crowd of people before her in New Britain on Wednesday. “It’s really a sign of hope and healing,” she said. People spoke out against domestic violence during a month dedicated to bringing awareness to it. 

“When I first started talking about it there were threats of violence against me for talking about it. And there were proper women who didn’t think that I should say the words,” Foy Crabtree said. However, she knew there was a need for help. “It was very controversial. People did not want us talking about it they thought that it should be hush hush but we knew the truth needed to come out and needed to be spoken about,” Foy Crabtree said. The importance of being “Silent No More” is still true decades later.

“We know that people who experience domestic violence are living in fear. They’ve been threatened and intimidated and they often feel as if they don’t have a voice. So we are their voice,” said Barbara Damon, president and CEO of the Prudence Crandall Center. The Prudence Crandall Center now offers a wide range of support and resources, including an emergency shelter, counseling and court-based services. “Domestic violence happens to one in four women and one in seven men that’s victims of domestic violence,” Damon said. “In Connecticut, the average is about 14 people every year murdered as a result of domestic violence.”

Shenia Walker of Bristol was one of those people in 2013. “Her smile would light up a room it was everything, was everything,” said her sisters Taffie Walker Dudley and Tammie Walker. They help keep her memory alive for her sons and want to make sure no other family goes through what they did. “People end up losing their lives and loved ones end up losing people they love and it’s devastating,” Tammie said. They share the same belief that talking about the issue can be a light in the darkness. “Most important. It should be spoken about every month,” Tammie said.

Watch the FOX61 news coverage of the vigil here.
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Shop for a Cause vendor event in Berlin to raise awareness about domestic violence

Jessica Fontaine; New Britain Herald; Sep. 25, 2023

BERLIN – The Color Platform and Fitness by Design will host the second annual “Shop for a Cause” vendor event to showcase local businesses and entrepreneurs while raising awareness about domestic violence.

The event will take place on Friday from 5-9 p.m. at The Color Platform hair salon, located at 848 Farmington Avenue in Berlin. Proceeds will benefit the Prudence Crandall Center to support its work helping people live freely from domestic violence through care, advocacy, support and education in Berlin and eight surrounding towns in central Connecticut.

The Prudence Crandall Center, which is Connecticut’s first domestic violence program, offers services such as a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, court advocacy, counseling and community education and prevention services, according to the organization. Its event with The Color Platform will kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month, held throughout October.
 
Read the full story in the Tuesday print or e edition of the New Britain Herald.
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Security upgrades for Prudence Crandall Center

Brian Johnson; New Britain Herald; May 14, 2023

NEW BRITAIN – The American Savings Foundation has provided a $165,000 capital grant to the Prudence Crandall Center to fund “critical” security upgrades.

The Prudence Crandall Center, founded in 1973, is the oldest domestic violence prevention program in the state. They serve nearly 9,000 individuals a year with a broad range of services for community members and victims of abuse as well as their children. The capital grant will allow the center to complete a security system upgrade, making the center even safer for those it serves.

Barbara Damon, president and CEO of Prudence Crandall Center, said the installation of a new security system “could not have arrived at a more critical time.” Last fall, a lightning strike damaged some of the system’s components. Even before then, she said, the system was aging and its software was soon to become obsolete. She said this upgrade was “critical to ensuring client and staff safety.”

Read the full story in the Monday print or e edition of the New Britain Herald.
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‘Where We Live’ interviews PCC CEO Barbara Damon, CCADV CEO Meghan Scanlon on critical DV challenges in our state

PCC CEO Barbara Damon & CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence CEO Meghan Scanlon discuss critical challenges we face as government funding for current services is in jeopardy at a time of escalating violence and increased need. Listen to this episode of Where We Live to hear Damon and Scanlon talk about the dire impact of potential funding cutbacks, long term health effects of domestic violence on adults and children, current trends, and how the community can help prevent future violence. Listen to the episode “Domestic violence cases are getting more aggressive, here’s how our state is addressing it” now.

 

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