County leaders are marking the 20th anniversary of an initiative they believe has made a significant difference in addressing intimate-partner and sexual violence.
Looking ahead, those behind Project PEACE say it is being updated to align with best national practices, with a focus on listening more intently to survivors of violence. A new blueprint provides “a refreshed, community-driven vision for the future,” said LaToya Young, coordinator of Project PEACE.
Young was joined by Department of Human Services deputy director Deborah Warren at an April 22 briefing of County Board members. Warren is co-chair of Project PEACE, an acronym standing for Partnering to End Abuse in the Community for Everyone, along with Diana Ortiz, CEO of Doorways.
Young told Board members the new service standards have been “informed with and by and for survivors.”
“The people closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions,” she said. “Survivor voices remain central, not just symbolic — truly embedded in our planning, policy and program design.”
The result, Young believes, is a program that is “more responsive, more equitable and more collaborative and impactful than ever before.”
Young was recruited to staff the Project PEACE office less than a year ago, but is the latest in a line of solid leaders, Board member Maureen Coffey said.
“Project PEACE has a long history of really wonderful staff liaisons who have done great work,” she said.
The initiative was created in 2006 by Barbara Favola, who then was serving on the County Board. Two years later, it was reorganized in a formal committee structure, adopting the “coordinated community response” approach to addressing domestic violence.
In 2015, efforts expanded to include services for youth facing dating and sexual violence.
Favola, who now serves in the Virginia Senate, told ARLnow the initiative was born from a desire to coordinate services and make them more easily accessible.
“Experts told me that the ‘best-practice model’ required the cooperation of trusted community institutions like churches, schools and community-based nonprofits along with trauma-informed police officers, trained judges and county-supported social services,” she said.
“At the time, it seemed like an impossible task to pull together the various players and create the coordination necessary to tackle the problem,” Favola said. “But I believed that the prevalence of the problem would also be a strength in the effort to make a difference and create a community where everyone feels safe and valued.”
Favola said she took those values with her when leaving the County Board in 2012 following election to state office.
“My experience with Project PEACE has informed much of my work in the State Senate and the leadership I have provided on the Virginia Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence,” the senator said.
During the April 22 discussion, County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti singled out Favola, former Board members Mary Hynes and Katie Cristol, and Deputy County Manager Michelle Cowan for their leadership on issues related to domestic violence.
He said County Board members, past and present, were supportive of the efforts.
“Every member of this Board cares deeply about this work,” de Ferranti said.
The April 22 discussion came just days after two high-profile cases of domestic violence: Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shooting himself and his wife as they were in divorce proceedings, and a Louisiana man’s murder of eight children, including seven of his own.
Board member Susan Cunningham said the message to those facing abuse is to reach out for support.
“The help is there,” she said. “Ask for that help. We have safe places to go.”
A community event to mark the 20th anniversary of Project PEACE took place yesterday (Tuesday).
Photo via Project PEACE/Instagram
