Mayor Dewey Bartlett proclaimed Thursday, Oct. 11 is "Domestic Violence Awareness Day.
Domestic Violence Awareness Day coincides with a free awareness event on the 11th, which is sponsored by Domestic Violence Intervention Services and Verizon Wireless.
The organizations are hosting a local screening of "Telling Amy's Story" at Philbrook Museum of Art at 7:30 p.m., which will be followed by a panel discussion. Victoria Bartlett will read the proclamation during the welcome at 7:20 p.m.
"Telling Amy's Story" chronicles the time leading up to the death of Amy Homan McGee, a mother of two who was shot and killed in 2001 by her husband. McGee was an employee of Verizon Wireless.
"'Telling Amy's Story' is a powerful documentary of the story of a young mother who died at the hands of her husband as she was trying to leave their abusive relationship," Katherine Silvey, DVIS/Call Rape director of development, said. "A panel of compassionate and informed community leaders will convene following the documentary to discuss the effects domestic violence has on our community."
Panel members are Tim Harris, Tulsa County district attorney; District Judge Mary F. Fitzgerald, Chief Judge of the Family Division; Sgt. Stephanie Jackson, Family Violence Unit supervisor and DVIS board member; Crystal Brill, DVIS children's counselor; and Terry Rackley, district manager, Verizon Wireless and DVIS associate board member.
"Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects thousands of Oklahoma families each year," said Dean Taylor, president of the South Central Region of Verizon Wireless. "As a communications company, we have the opportunity to help those who feel they have no voice, as is commonly the case with victims of domestic violence, and raise awareness of this important issue in Oklahoma. Victims often need a safe line to call for help or make contacts to help get their life back on track, which is what Verizon Wireless and its HopeLine program do for organizations across Oklahoma."
For the month of October, there will be Verizon Wireless HopeLine boxes placed throughout the Tulsa metro area, including all Verizon locations, five Citizens Security Banks and DVIS/Call Rape. HopeLine boxes are used to collect any brand cell phones in all conditions, which are refurbished and given to victims of domestic violence. Location details can be found at dvis.org.
For more information about the event, visit
dvis.org or call 918.508.2711.
