Mayor Bill de Blasio, First Lady Chirlane McCray and Office to Combat Domestic Violence Commissioner Cecile Noel hosted on October 25, the City’s 3rd annual Upstander Awards at Gracie Mansion. The Upstander Awards salute New Yorkers who, along with the Administration, have taken an active role in helping the City to raise awareness about domestic violence.
Domestic violence occurs in every neighborhood and community in New York City regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation. Awareness is the greatest tool we have, which is why OCDV wants every New Yorker to understand that he or she plays a role in combatting domestic violence.
The Upstander Campaign was launched to inspire New Yorkers to move from being bystanders to domestic violence to being Upstanders, focusing on the idea that everyone plays a role in preventing intimate partner violence. This public awareness campaign was featured in taxi cabs and online, and is one component of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness and bring an end to domestic violence in New York City.
To become an Upstander against domestic violence, the City encourages New Yorkers to:
· Recognize and speak out against intimate partner violence, gender injustice and all forms of abuse.
· Offer unconditional support to someone who has experienced violence.
· Speak up against statements that promote violence.
· Get help from an expert, advocate, or other professional.
· Help share resources with those who need help: NYC DV Hotline 1-800-621-4673; 911 in emergencies; for information and connection to services, call 311 and ask for OCDV’s Family Justice Centers.
The five honorees at the award ceremony include: The Color Purple The Musical, the NYC Anti-Violence Project, New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito, Judge Toko Serita of the Queens Human Trafficking Intervention Court, and Huffington Post senior reporter Melissa Jeltsen.
The Color Purple The Musical has brought the issue of domestic violence to the forefront of culture in New York City and throughout the nation, helping to raise awareness of the issue through the creativity of the theater. The production has also partnered with the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, bringing singers to awareness events throughout the city.
NYC Anti-Violence Project empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy. Their onsite partner staff provide assistance at all five NYC Family Justice Centers and provide training and support to partner staff.
NYC Sheriff Joseph Fucito is a dedicated public servant whose attention to detail and commitment to his agency’s narrowly focused work has resulted in serious improvements for domestic violence victims, their advocates and the rest of law enforcement in New York City. He has shown that he understands the issue and the needs of survivors by his persistence to improve the system, and has demonstrated his unwavering commitment through the increased service of Orders of Protection and holding offenders accountable.
Judge Toko Serita is a pioneer and a true champion for trafficking victims and survivors. She works tirelessly with stakeholders including attorneys, court personnel, mental health providers, social work and case management staff to ensure all victims receive the most compassionate, dignified and highly effective services. According to the New York Times, Judge Serita’s court “change[s] the legal conversation around the multibillion-dollar sex trade by redefining the women in it as victims instead of criminals.” Judge Serita has made a measurable impact and will continue to make a difference in the lives of trafficking victims and survivors.
Melissa Jeltsen has focused her journalistic career on domestic violence, gender-based violence, and other issues relating to women’s health, safety, and security. Through her reporting, Melissa brings a much-needed focus to these issues, becoming a shining example of how to report on incidents of domestic violence.
For more information on services offered through the City’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, call 212-788-3156 or visit the website at www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence.
Photo credit: Mayor’s Office
