Helping Survivors of Domestic Violence
Lakewood,
Oct 4 -
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) congratulated “Su Casa, Ending Domestic Violence” – a non-profit organization dedicated to helping survivors of domestic violence in Los Angeles County – on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
The congresswoman also thanked the organization for honoring her at the Lakewood event attended by more than 300 supporters for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of survivors of domestic violence.
“I sincerely thank Su Casa for tonight’s recognition and extend my sincere congratulations on its 30th anniversary celebration,” Congresswoman Roybal-Allard said during her remarks. “This award has great personal meaning because Su Casa’s work of empowering victims of domestic violence has been close to my heart throughout my 23 years of public service. To me, this award presented by Su Casa is very humbling, because I know how hard the dedicated staff and volunteers work, day in and day out, on the front lines, to provide life-saving services to families victimized by domestic violence.”
Founded in 1979 and based in Long Beach, Su Casa provides a wide-array of services to assist survivors of domestic violence and their children, including providing shelter, case management, counseling to residents and to victims still living with their batterer, shelter-based certified childhood education, community awareness training, and transitional housing.
Pictured in the group photo: Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (front in lavender) is shown with fellow honoree, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (12th District, San Francisco Bay Area) (front far right) surrounded by the Su Casa leadership and staff, including Su Casa Board Chair Jamie Hamilton (second, right, front row); and Su Casa Executive Director Vickie Doolittle (far left, second row).
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard is a longtime advocate on behalf of survivors of domestic violence. In the California State Assembly, where she served three terms, the congresswoman won passage of legislation that strengthened the legal definition of “consent,” as it relates to victims of sexual assault. She authored a law that requires state courts to consider a batterer’s history of domestic violence during child custody hearings. She was also the original author of legislation outlawing spousal rape in California. Since entering the U.S. House of Representatives, the congresswoman continues to be a lead advocate on behalf of survivors of domestic violence. She has introduced the Security and Financial Empowerment Act (SAFE Act) to help survivors maintain their financial independence in every Congress since 1996. Her provision creating a National Resource Center on Workplace Responses to Domestic Violence was enacted into law as part of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005.
