Donya Rouzbehi
Staff Writer
University’s United Leos organization collaborated with House of Ruth, the Pomona-based domestic violence treatment center, for a panel discussion about domestic violence and recovery.
More than 30 students and community members attended the event Tuesday, in the Ludwick Center Sacred Space.
Ashley Spencer, volunteer manager of House of Ruth, moderated the panel. She encouraged community members to get involved and support the cause.
“The best way to support is through monetary donations,” Spencer said. “So the money can go directly to the client and we’re able to keep our services going. We also love to get volunteers and interns, either undergrad or postgrad.”
The panelists included Jessica-Marie and Jesus Jacuinde, who discussed different aspects of domestic violence, including the early, happier phases of a relationship, experiences of their own abuse and their healing journeys.
Speakers also dove into heavier and sensitive topics such as neglect, PTSD responses, guilt and overall trauma they endured due to the abuse.
Spencer asked panelists about their own healing journeys, including the “turning point” in walking away from a life with abuse.
Education was a key factor in the survivors’ healing journeys – when they learned that their relationship dynamics were not normal.
Jacuinde showed appreciation for empowering the survivors by giving them a voice and becoming more educated on domestic violence.
“Learning not only the language of domestic violence but also knowing how to navigate the triggers and finding good interventions suitable for the specific person,” Jacuinde said.
Students who attended said they’d like to see more such events that bring awareness of domestic violence on campus.
More than one in three women, and one in four men have experienced, or will experience domestic violence – which includes rape, physical violence or stalking – by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Graduate student Frankee Puentes emphasized the importance of advocacy.
“Creating spaces where survivors can come and share their stories is important. I think no one has better knowledge than those who have lived through domestic violence and have experienced it firsthand,” Puentes said.
The House of Ruth collaborates with law enforcement and other agencies to protect and support victims. Another speaker, Jessica-Marie, explained their collaboration with an officer throughout their training of domestic violence.
Advocates and staff must go through a state-mandated 40 hour domestic violence training. The speakers went through training until they were able to answer the 24 hour hotline, help in the children’s program, represent at events, resource tables and more.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call House of Ruth at 909-623-4364, the Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE.
Donya Rouzbehi can be reached at donya.rouzbehi@laverne.edu.
Donya Rouzbehi is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism, and staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has previously served as sports editor and a staff writer for the Campus Times, and is co-editor-in-chief of La Verne Magazine. Her other writing can be found at trillmag.com/author/donya-rouzbehi
