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ELKINS -- Davis & Elkins College is set to host a Community Conversation on Domestic Violence on Tuesday, Oct. 15 with speakers from Centers Against Violence, the Randolph County Sheriff's Office and more.
The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Senate Commons in D&E's Myles Center for the Arts on 100 Campus Drive. Attendees are invited to arrive early at 5:30 p.m. for a "Meet and Greet" with the panelists. All are encouraged to attend the conversation.
"This is important in every community," U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld II, who is moderating the event, told The Inter-Mountain this week. "Domestic violence exists in every community. Sexual violence exists in every community. So, it's important that we talk about these issues and make sure as many people as possible know."
According to BreakTheCycle.org, in the United States, "nearly every one in two women and more than two in five men reported experiencing intimate partner violence at some point in their lifetime," and every minute, 32 people in the country experience intimate partner violence.
Panelists will include Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker, Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon, Centers Against Violence's executive director Jennifer "JJ" Johnson, and Emily Matheny and LiveAbility Community Integration & IL Skills Manager Brenda Dasher, as well as a regional leader of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
"The idea is to offer the perspectives of those on the panel who have dealt with the issue from the roles they play in the community and also to allow those in attendance to engage with the panel, to ask questions," Ihlenfeld said. "Generally, the idea is to raise awareness about the issue."
Ihlenfeld said he and the panel will discuss how common domestic abuse is, how it starts and how to break the cycle, as well as explain the federal and state court systems in regard to domestic abuse. They will also discuss how victims can access safety, what the biggest barriers are for victims' safety, how victims can overcome said barriers, and what resources are offered in the community.
Stalking will also be a topic of discussion, with panelists breaking down issues of "traditional" stalking, such as being followed or watched, and cyberstalking, which Ihlenfeld described as "much more prevalent than any other form of stalking."
Ihlenfeld said they'd like to hold more Community Conversations on Domestic Violence, saying the one they had in Martinsburg a while back was very well-received. He said they'd like to set one up in Clarksburg next and then Wheeling.
"We have really good shelters and advocates that all fall under, what's known as, the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence," Ihlenfeld said. "It's important to raise awareness about the fact that those resources exist, what people might be able to take advantage of when it comes to those resources."
To contact Centers Against Violence, which covers Randolph, Tucker, Barbour and Upshur counties, call 304-636-8433. If you live in Pocahontas County, you can contact the Family Refuge Center at 304-645-6334.