Domestic Violence Awareness March
Before Gina started working at the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend nearly ten years ago , she didn ' t think family violence happened to other people . Other people didn ’ t talk about it . Her family didn ’ t discuss it . The violence she experienced was a personal thing , a private thing . She believed she was alone in her struggle . Her awareness shifted quickly once she started working at the Family Crisis Center and witnessing how pervasive and insidious domestic violence is . “ It ’ s more than just physical violence ,” she says . “ It ’ s not about losing control . It ' s not about anger management . Domestic violence is a systematic pattern of behavior , used to maintain power and control over another person .”
To help clients identify it , Family Crisis Advocates use a tool called the Power & Control Wheel , a circular graphic that identifies eight patterns of actions an individual may use to intentionally control or dominate their intimate partner . “ Its main purpose is to spotlight that domestic violence is not about aggression or anger ,” adds Jennie Wettle , an advocate in Alpine . “ It ' s all about controlling that partner . A person who ' s a domestic violence abuser doesn ’ t generally go up on random people in the grocery store . They wait until they go home , because it ' s about controlling someone , and keeping the power .”
On the other side of town from the center is Déjà Vu Thrift Store , a project of the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend . 100 % of profits go directly to funding the center ’ s services , allowing the center to adapt to the swiftly changing needs of any family ’ s crisis , from Pecos to Presidio , Fort Davis to
Terlingua . Stacy Harrison , like many others who work at the crisis center , has taken her own journey through domestic violence . She now knows it can happen to anyone . She knows how , without help like shelter , food and clothing , a family can spiral , fast , into unfathomable chaos and despair . She ’ s experienced the victim shaming and the indifference of a flawed justice system . And she knows the difference it can make when someone reaches out and gives shelter and support . “ If it weren ’ t for the Crisis Center , I ’ m not sure where I ’ d be today . They gave me housing , then work , and even now , as staff we get counseling . I have my life back . When I come here , it ’ s not work . Each day I know I ’ m giving a family a chance .”
Stacy ’ s words echo throughout the organization ’ s three centers in Presidio , Terlingua and Alpine . Letty Carrillo , the new executive director , has seen domestic violence both as a victim and law enforcement official during her 18 years in the Alpine Police
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