Page 57 - FOP June 2019 Magazine

Members Only Section
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4th District Domestic Violence Committee fuels hope and healing
Fourth District residents grew curious at the sight of a uniformed police officer hanging flyers in storefront windows at the beginning of May. Capturing the community’s attention was exactly what CPD Officer Amy Christensen set out to do, as she spread the word of a resource fair to prevent sexual violence in a neighborhood where crimes of that nature are far too common.
“I drew a lot attention doing that,” noted Christensen, who walked the 424 beat hanging flyers in any businesses that would allow them. “We wanted to make sure the information was conve- nient for the people who needed it for themselves or other survivors.”
Residents who took a closer look at the notice were given all the informa- tion they needed to know about the resource fair hosted by the 4th District Domestic Violence Sub-Committee to provide victims, survivors and the gen- eral public with a network of support against sexual violence.
On May 15, many of those observ- ers, and other community members who heard about the event through social media and various local sup- port groups, attended the resource fair where 4th District officers and Metro- politan Family Services teamed up to provide immediate access to help and healing.
“As it turns out, a lot of crime is relat- ed to domestic violence,” shared Chris- tensen, who became the Domestic Vio- lence Liaison Officer for the 4th District in September. “Many sexual offenders have a history of domestic violence as well.”
Some of the resources available at the fair included Family Rescue, SGA, Hartgrove Behavioral Health, Mujeres Latinas En Accion, the State’s Attor- ney Office, Kennicott Park Ministry for Compassion, Mercy and Justice, and Healing from the Inside Out. The fair also featured a keynote presentation by
the Young Women’s Christian Associa- tion (YWCA) and healing workshops to help survivors cope with the trauma of sexual violence.
Christensen and the rest of the 4th District Domestic Violence Committee were happy to partner with Metropoli- tan Family Services to bring awareness, help and healing to survivors while breaking the cycle of criminal violence.
“We’re not just here to save people after the fact,” Christensen explained. “Our mission is to serve and protect. Why not stop the crime before it actual- ly happens? Or at least try.”
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CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2019 57