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By on September 16, 2024

Heal, Hold, Center: Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2024

The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) and Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP) will usher in another national Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) in October, building on their 2023 theme “Heal, Hold & Center survivors.”

In honor of DVAM, NRCDV released a reflection guide, full of conversation starters, considerations, and prompts for personal and organizational reflections. Read and download the reflection guide here. The guide can be completed by individuals, teams or organizations to help asses their capacity to advance racial justice and dismantle anti-blackness in their work to end domestic violence. 

Heal, Hold & Center provides action-oriented ways to practice racial and survivor justice. The theme calls on practitioners to:

  • Embrace the varying ways different cultures HEAL from violence and oppression. This is essential for fostering environments where survivors are included, respected, and supported.
  • HOLD space for survivors by deeply listening, practicing unconditional and non-judgmental support, and allowing survivors to harness their own power and lived experiences.
  • CENTER the most marginalized and those with the highest burden of violence. Marginalized survivors often face barriers in having their voices heard and their experiences validated which is re-traumatizing and contributes to a system of violence. To disrupt violence, we must continuously listen and learn from those most impacted and follow their lead in identifying solutions.

In addition, NRCDV is shifting its annual Call for Unity to embody connective action. Rather than a zoom call, organizers are asking for advocates and survivors across the country to gather on social media throughout October and tag advocates who embody what it means to heal, hold & center survivors with the #CallforUnity.  

NRCDV has released a suite of graphics and social media content for organizations to post leading up to and throughout October. Read more and find downloadable graphics and social media content here.