Starting in mid-September to mid-October, KOMU 8 News is doing a special series highlighting the Hispanic and Latino community of Mid-Missouri for Hispanic Heritage Month. Along with 4 other reporters and a student producer, I will be doing a story in regards to domestic violence in the Hispanic community, why and when it happens and how Hispanic women can receive help. I have spent today researching and making endless phone calls trying to find out more about who I can speak with on this subject. After speaking with the Cambio Center on the MU campus, I was referred to different volunteers and social workers that typically deal with domestic violence awareness and help in the Latino community. The Boone County Shelter as well as a local domestic violence warmline ParentLink, both have volunteers who speak spanish and work with Hispanic victims in Mid-Missouri. Another great resource I found, is the Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV). I spoke with a social worker there who specializes in domestic violence in the Latino Community. She is able to connect me with some men and women who are working in their church communities to raise violence awareness and provide help for their Hispanic peers.
I also found statistics about domestic violence in Latin America, how many women are suffering country by country and also which countries have legislation in place to protect their citizens from violence. Another huge aspect of this story is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a federal law enacted in 1994 that seeks to improve criminal justice and community based responses to domestic violence. Much of this law focuses on protecting women who want to get out of an abusive relationship without losing their legal status in the United States. These provisions are set to protect immigrants and their children from staying in a violent relationship by giving them the option to live legally and independently away from a dangerous spouse.
Next week I will begin conducting interviews with some of the social workers and experts in violence in the Hispanic community. I am also going to speak to a family from El Salvador who is part of the Latino community in Mexico, MO about the work they do to educate their others about the dangers of domestic violence and how Latinos can find help. I also hope to attend a big traditional Hispanic dinner next Sunday night to see how they celebrate their culture in Mid-Missouri.
Wow, I have learned so much and I am excited to see how the story turns out. This HFR series on Hispanic Heritage and KOMU en Espanol, have given me an amazing opportunity to give voice to part of the Mid-Missouri community that is not always heard. This subject of domestic violence is very important and needs to be brought out of silence so help can be found by those who are suffering. This is why I am a journalist.
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