Safe Lives, Strong Voices Ep.5

Host Soo Lee talks about Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the importance of supporting survivors in the Tri-Valley community. In this episode, she shares a powerful client story of finding safety, care, and hope through Tri-Valley Haven’s domestic violence programs. Soo also reflects on the success of Pace for Peace and highlights the upcoming Candlelight March on October 30 in downtown Livermore.

Listeners are reminded that even in the hardest moments, compassionate support and community make a real difference in survivors’ lives.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02: 0:04

Hi everyone and welcome back to Safe Lives Strong Voices, a podcast by Tri Valley Haven. I'm Sue and I'm really glad you're here. Each month we share stories that reflect the heart of our community: compassion, courage, and care. And this month, those values shine especially bright. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to remember, to honor, and to act. It's a month when communities across the countries come together to stand with survivors and to envision a world free from violence. At Tri-Valley Haven, that vision guides everything we do, from providing emergency shelter and counseling to offering food and legal support. And this month we have so much to reflect on and even more to look forward to. Domestic Violence Awareness Month began as a movement for visibility, to bring hidden experiences into the light. But for us, it's also a reminder that awareness must come with action. Each person who walks through our doors carries a story of strength, and every service we offer from our 24-hour crisis line to our client choice food pantry is part of a larger promise that no one has to face violence or hardships alone. Domestic Violence Awareness Month gives us a chance to amplify that message together. Whether it's wearing purple, sharing information, or joining one of our events, every gesture shows survivors that this community believes in their right to safety and peace. And as we step further into October, we're still feeling the energy and joy from our very recent Pace for Peace event. This year's 5K and 10K walk, run, and a kid's dash was a huge success, filled with families, runners, volunteers, and community partners all moving together for safety, justice, and peace. The atmosphere was full of hope and connection. Each participant, whether they ran across the finish line or helped hand out water, played a part in strengthening the message that peace is something we build together. To everyone who joined us, sponsored, or volunteered, thank you. Contributions to Pace for Peace go directly to our Domestic Violence Services Department, providing crucial support and resources for survivors and their families. And as Domestic Violence Awareness Month continues, we're inviting you to join us for the Candlelight March in downtown Livermore, happening on Thursday, October 30th at 6.30 p.m. We'll gather at Lizzie Fountain at the corner of First Street and Livermore Avenue to walk in solidarity with survivors, honor those we've lost, and shine light on the importance of community support. This march is a quiet but powerful reminder that even small actions, showing up, carrying a candle, walking together make a difference. Families, friends, and community members are all welcome to join. And now for some exciting news, I have updates on the rebuilding of our confidential domestic violence shelter, Shiloh. For nearly 50 years, Tri-Valley Haven has provided safety and hope. Shiloh is the only confidential shelter in the Tri-Valley area and the only one that welcomes teenage boys as part of families. And after decades of service, the original shelter had to be demolished. Now we're creating a stronger, safer space for the next generation. This$9.4 million project is well underway with just$1.4 million left to raise. And right now there's a special opportunity. A generous couple, the Shelter Rebuild Donors, will match every donation dollar for dollar up to$200,000. Your gift today can go twice as far to ensure survivors and their families have a safe place to heal for decades to come. To contribute, please visit TrivalleyHaven.org and select Shelter Rebuild. Every dollar counts and every dollar is doubled. Before we close, I'd like to share a story from one of our clients. Stories like this remind us why Trivalley Haven exists to provide safety, dignity, and hope for those who need it most.

SPEAKER_00: 4:53

When I first fled home, I uh was looking up domestic violence organizations for help because I fled due to severe abuse and my husband was threatening to kill me. And I needed a safe place. So I was looking up uh domestic violence organizations and I saw a few, but I picked Tri-Valley Haven because I heard good things about them. So I called and I called the crisis line and I talked to someone on the crisis line, and it just so happened that I was also in the middle of uh obtaining a restraining order, and I was asking questions, and I explained to the person on the crisis line that I was homeless in my car, and I had a daughter, and I needed to be safe, and I needed that restraining order, and I needed to start life over. They helped me, they helped me be able to rest. Um, they helped me be able to obtain and seek resources, resources that was much needed. I was with my husband for 30, 31, 32 years, and to flee, I I never thought that I would flee. And I had been caught in that cycle of violence for all those years, and I went back. I went back numerous times, even after he had harmed me, he had hurt me, he'd put me in the hospital, he'd even gone to jail and got out and convinced me, manipulated me to go back to him. And I went back. But this time was different. When I fled this time, it was very different. Something in me said, no, you're never going back because it was that bad. So when I got into my case management's office that day, my case manager's office that day, I was broken, and I realized that I just I didn't know, you know, like how am I gonna do this? Life is completely different and it's scary. And she said, I'll be back. She saw me, I was shivering, and I was crying, and I was shivering, and I was just like, Man, I don't know. And I just felt broken and lost. And she came back in and she brought a blanket the simplest little thing. And she wrapped me with a blanket and she gave me a hug, and she said, You're gonna be okay. And that care and that love at that moment that my case manager gave me, and we're strangers. I just met her like you know, a couple weeks before that. Felt so good. And I said, Yep, I'm gonna be okay. And now after graduating the program at Tri Valley, um, I feel very hopeful, I feel very good. Um I moved into my own place yesterday, a two-bedroom apartment with my daughter. It's the most amazing feeling to go from being abused, physically being threatened, not being able to sleep at home, you know, to going into the Tri-Valley's program, having a safe place, having a place where you can rest, having a place where you could feel loved and cared for. Recently I went shopping and I found um there was a sign and it said, This is our happy place. And I put it up on my doorway when you first walk in, and it says, This is our happy place. So now we've we have a happy place. And so I'm very thankful for Tri-Valley Haven because they helped my daughter and I a lot.

SPEAKER_02: 8:59

Stories like this remind us of the strength that it takes to start over, and the profound impact that care and support can have. Even in the hardest moments, hope is possible and healing can happen. We honor the courage of every survivor and the difference that community makes in their journey. This month, as we honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month, celebrate the success of Pace for Peace, and prepare for our candlelight march on October 30th, I hope you'll find a way to get involved. Whether by attending, donating, volunteering, or simply raising awareness. Thank you for listening to October's Safe Lives Strong Voices. To learn more about our programs or support the shelter rebuild, please visit Trivalleyhaven.org. Together, we can continue building a community where every survivor is seen, heard, and supported. So until next time, take care of yourself and each other.