The YWCA—Young Women’s Christian Association—Sonoma County was founded in fall 1975, and addressing domestic violence quickly became a priority, after several community members learned about women, some with children, who were sleeping in their cars. Homelessness wasn’t the issue it is today, and living in vehicles was unusual, so they decided to find out why it was happening. They discovered that the women had left their homes because physical violence or threats of aggressive behavior at the hands of their partners made staying unsafe, and they had no other option. Wanting to help, the concerned citizens held a garage sale in 1976 and raised enough money to establish a domestic violence hotline that victims could call for help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A supporter of the YWCA provided space for an office. The number, 707-546-1234, is the only crisis hotline for victims of domestic violence in Sonoma County and has helped countless people over the years. In 1980, the YWCA further increased its services by purchasing a former board-and-care facility for use as a safe house shelter. Counseling and childcare services followed, creating the YWCA’s three pillars of service: assistance for victims of domestic violence, counseling support and childcare. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports that two in five women and one in four men will experience sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by a partner at some point in their lives. “Domestic violence is a broad term; we also talk about intimate partner violence,” says Madeleine Keegan O’Connell, CEO of YWCA Sonoma County, who explains that an abuser can control the life of a victim in many ways. Although the word violence suggests physical harm, abuse takes many forms and can also be psychological or financial. If a victim must turn over a paycheck, for instance, the
O’Connell pictured at the YWCA Sonoma County office in downtown Santa Rosa.
February is the month to visit Charlie’s! Go to: windsorgolf.com/charlies-restaurant
707-838-8802 1320 19th Hole Dr. Windsor
t
Valentine’s Day
Indulge in an enchanting evening with your special someone: • Romantic ambiance • Fine wine & handcrafted cocktails • A specially curated Valentine’s Day menu Reserve your table today and let us make your night unforgettable!
Sonoma County Restaurant Week 2/24 - 3/2 Special Prix-Fixe lunch & dinner Menus, Savor a curated selection of our most-loved dishes: From farm-to-table ingredients to award-winning wines, we’re serving up the best Sonoma County has to offer.
32 NorthBaybiz
January 2025
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker