Dear Madame Mayor Taylor and Menlo Park City Council Members,
My name is Nisha Advani and I have been a resident of Menlo Park since 2010. Today I am writing as an advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence to request the City of Menlo Park to once again commemorate October as Domestic Violence Awareness month.
I represent Maitri, an organization devoted to serving victims and survivors of domestic violence since 1991 and would like to share a few facts about this all-pervasive epidemic that is still alive and strong in homes, cities, our state and country, and all over the world.
Domestic Violence (DV) is an ill that exists in all communities irrespective of culture, religion, sexual orientation, financial status and immigration realities. DV is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that can include physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse (using money and financial tools to exert control).
Research shows nearly 20 people per minute are abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Domestic violence programs receive more than 20,000 calls a day on average. The presence of a gun increases the risk of homicide by 500% in a situation involving domestic violence. The need for prevention of DV was further reinforced in the past few years as the pandemic opened our eyes to the severity of the situation. State-based responses, community-based organizations and members of the community in general - all have our parts to play!
The need for a comprehensive plan to address domestic violence in our communities is urgent and we thank the City of Menlo Park for providing much-needed assistance in many areas in past years and request the City Council to continue to:
1. Enact and support policies that address intersectional approaches to addressing DV; homelessness, pay equity, reproductive rights, poverty reduction, reproductive rights, banning child marriages to name a few;
2. Support funding for DV service providers at the Federal, State, County and City levels.
3. Rethink law enforcement responses to crisis situations with a special focus on stopping brutality against people of color and also to support trainings on domestic violence
4. Offer training on cultural responsiveness to various local government employees and agencies and improve language access at city facilities
5. Involve non-governmental organizations as thought partners while planning city activities
6. Uplift the voices of the minority groups whenever possible as they lack representation in committees and other policy making spaces.
To the community members: I urge you to recognize Domestic Violence as a pressing issue, exemplify healthy relationships for children around us, elect leaders and create policies that contribute towards building a just and equitable future for all of us.
Thank you so very much for your consideration and endorsement of this Proclamation, a sample of which is attached.
Regards,
Nisha Advani
Nisha Advani, PhD, MPS
Executive Coach & Consultant
Developing Leadership and Team Excellence
nisha.advani3@gmail.com Tel: +1 650 303 1614
[cid:CMP_Email_Logo_100dpi_05d92d5b-e8e3-498f-93a6-d0da509bd602111111111.png]
Sarah E. Sandoval (she/her)
Deputy City Clerk
City Hall - 2nd Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6612 | fax 650-328-7935
menlopark.gov
See www.pronouns.org to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
