Approximately 200 people gathered at Seattle City Hall on Oct. 28 to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month and honor survivors of gender-based violence, as well as service providers and advocates.
Titled “Giving Flowers,” the event focused on cultivating healing and lifting up stories of resilience. It was hosted by the Human Service Department (HSD)’s Mayor’s Office on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (MODVSA) and the Seattle Women’s Commission.
“Healing is not a solitary journey. It happens in connection with friends and neighbors, and with each other,” MODVSA manager Judith Panlasigui said during her opening remarks.
Attendees received long-stemmed roses for their individual roles in supporting survivors. Artwork on display provided a visual representation of the journey that survivors take toward healing and peace. People were also invited to add noteworthy moments from their personal and professional lives to a collective timeline tracing the progress of initiatives launched in response to gender-based violence.
Taffy Maene-Johnson, executive director of UTOPIA Washington, delivered a keynote address. Maene-Johnson, who identifies as a Fa’afafine and a Trans woman from Sāmoa, spoke to the needs of LGBTQIA+ survivors and called for solidarity among people from all backgrounds.
“You’re not invisible, you’re not alone. We give you flowers not just for surviving but for leading,” Maene-Johnson said. “You remind us that even in the harshest conditions, you bloom.”
First observed in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a “Day of Unity,” Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is held each October to unite survivors and advocates who work to end abuse. It became a federally observed month of awareness and action after Congress declared it in 1989.
As a funder, HSD invests more than $15 million annually in efforts to prevent, intervene, coordinate, and hold those that cause harm accountable for gender-based violence. The department partners with dozens on community organizations that provide services to more than 10,000 survivors each year.
At the Giving Flowers event, MODVSA staff read excerpts from stories of survival that were shared by partner organizations and their clients:
- “A long-time participant of our programs received a housing voucher after many years in permanent supportive housing and many more on the streets. … Finding an apartment to call home has given her a newfound sense of agency and self-worth.”
- “When I doubted myself, my (org name) attorney reminded me I had already survived the hardest part. When I was scared, she gave me clarity and confidence. And when I was ready to give up, she became like family, helping me keep going, and showing me the right path forward.“
- “A Deaf survivor of domestic violence successfully obtained a five-year Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO). … The survivor shared that they now feel empowered to reclaim their life, pursue their goals, and do home projects they were never able to do before.”
- “I want people to know there is help. There is someone you can call. There is hope.”
To share your own story of gratitude with the MODVSA team, please fill out this form.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, call the DV Hopeline at 206-737-0242 or visit dvhopeline.org.