[Archived] City of Alexandria Partners with Agencies Across Northern Virginia in Recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

For Immediate Release: October 5, 2020

The City of Alexandria’s Domestic Violence Program is partnering with agencies across Northern Virginia to promote #PowerUpNOVA, a regional campaign to encourage Northern Virginians to consider their power as individuals and part of a larger community devoted to reducing and eliminating domestic and intimate partner violence. 

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive or coercive behavior such as physical assault, verbal abuse or threat of harm that an individual uses to exert power or control over another, particularly in the context of a family or intimate relationship. Acts of domestic abuse can be perpetrated by a current or former spouse or partner; by a parent, stepparent or other relative; in relationships such as dating between people who do not live together; and between persons of any genders.

Throughout October, the Domestic Violence Program will post resources and information on the Community and Human Services Facebook and Twitter platforms to raise awareness and encourage social media users to help recognize and eliminate domestic violence and supporting survivors.The campaign will include free, informative webinars and presentations for the community and survivors. The first event will be a virtual briefing hosted by the Alexandria Commission for Women on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on survivors of domestic and sexual violence, on October 7 at 6 p.m. Visit alexandriava.gov/DomesticViolence for more information about this and other events. 

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the City encourages residents to participate in this regional campaign to raise awareness and help eliminate domestic and intimate partner violence.

Visit alexandriava.gov/DomesticViolence for more information. If you or someone you know may be a victim of domestic violence, call 703.746.4911 to speak with someone about services offered. If someone is in immediate danger, always call or text 911.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Debra Evans, Chief of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, at debra.evans@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3122.