United ISD joined forces with community partners and a UISD family to bring awareness to Domestic Violence. It is an issue that at times is not spoken about enough. It permeates all economic levels and too often has tragic negative consequences, not only for the victims but their entire family and our community. The UISD boardroom, on Wednesday, was filled with purple during our Domestic Violence press conference. Those in attendance wore purple as a sign of solidarity and to encourage others to join us in being a voice for those who may be afraid to speak up and stand up for themselves.
It was an emotional morning as we saw images and heard from a United High School graduate's mother, who shared her daughter’s brutal attack by her then-husband. Edith Terrazas said she received the dreadful call that her daughter Erika, a mother of two little girls, had been shot on June 1st of this year. Her husband fired his weapon 14 times with several of those rounds hitting her. “You never expect to get a phone call that your daughter has been shot, much less to be in the emergency room and have the doctor tell you that they don’t think she is going to make it,” said Terrazas as tears filled her eyes. “Even harder to picture that her 4 year-old daughter witnessed everything and having to explain to her why her dad did this to her mother.” Erica has beat the odds and continues to push through, having gone through multiple surgeries. Since this tragic incident, she’s missed a lot of “firsts” with her girls, to include their first day of school, first pageant and volleyball games. Both of her girls attend UISD elementary schools.
During this Domestic Violence Awareness month and throughout the year, UISD continues to work with victim’s families through our Federal Programs Department providing transportation, groceries, uniforms, hygiene supplies and other resources. “Here at United ISD, all of our teachers go through specialized training to identify domestic violence and when students are in crisis, " added Dr. Gerardo Cruz, Superintendent of Schools. “Our counselors are also well-versed on the latest strategies to help students and their families cope when they are going through this.” Dr. Cruz applauded our district and local law enforcement agencies for their support.
Also in attendance was the UISD board secretary, Michelle Molina who shared this message. “This month is to raise awareness. To tell our children don’t be afraid to speak up. To identify the forms of violence. To identify the early stages and more than anything, break the silence. They see it at home. Don’t be a victim and don’t allow this to continue and be acceptable in your life.”
UISD works collaboratively with Casa de Misericordia with our domestic violence cases. It is partnerships like these that allows us to fully support our families. “Domestic violence, including dating violence is a pattern of behaviors used to gain and maintain power and control over one’s partner,” Maria Elena Arambula, Director of Programs at Casa de Misericordia pinpointed what often leads to these situations. “Abusers use physical, financial, emotional, sexual, verbal abuse and violence to exert this power and control over their victims.
United we can end domestic violence! Prevent it, Recognize it and Report it.
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