Seen Around Town
Domestic Violence marketing officer Julia Black, development officer JenniElise Ramirez, and executive director Jan Campbell
by Lynda Millner
Domestic Violence Solutions Domestic Violence event chair Danielle Hazarian and client advocate Miriam Ceballos
D
omestic Violence Solutions (DVS) gave their 12th annual fundraising luncheon at the Loggia ballroom in the Four Seasons Resort – The Biltmore. The group was founded 43 years ago. In 2019 alone they answered 5,091 calls to their 24-hour crisis and information lines, provided 7,908 safe nights of shelter to victims of domestic violence, responded to 450 calls from law enforcement and emergency rooms at the victims’ locations and participat-
ed in 423 educational and outreach events throughout the community. They sheltered as many children as adult victims of domestic violence and provided hundreds of counseling sessions to victims. That is an amazing record! After a VIP reception we sat down to beautiful tables in moss green and white. Soon event chair Danielle Hazarian welcomed all the guests. Executive director Jan Campbell introduced the keynote speaker Rachel
Domestic Violence committee Melissa Rick with the book author Rachel Louise Snyder
Ms Millner is the author of The Magic Makeover, Tricks for Looking Thinner, Younger and More Confident – Instantly. If you have an event that belongs in this column, you are invited to call Lynda at 969-6164.
Louise Snyder who was there to tell us about her book No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us. The New York Times called the book “extraordinary” and the Washington Post said, “It will save lives.” It was one of Publishers Weekly’s top non-fiction books of 2019 and one of The New York Times’ as well. And that is just the beginning of her credits. Rachel’s book reveals “how the roots of America’s most pressing social crises – from mass shootings to mass incarceration to #MeToo – are buried
in abuse that happens behind closed doors.” She has heard stories of victims, perpetrators, law enforcement, and reform movements from across the country. Jan Campbell introduced the client advocate for DVS Miriam Ceballos who spoke to the group. Three survivors of abuse were introduced by Zahida Pacheco, director of client services followed by a video presentation showing the three ladies. One said, “The best thing that happened at DVS was I slept the whole night through without waking up so scared.” It’s really hard to imagine the horror that victims feel if it’s never happened to you and especially the children. Rachel’s book has been translated into 11 languages, so it will reach around the world. CEO of Santa Barbara City College Foundation Geoff Green was there
SEEN Page 414 Domestic Violence clinical director Carolina Najera-Magana and board president Jackie Hall
14 MONTECITO JOURNAL
“A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” – Leopold Stokowski
5 – 12 March 2020
