The Women's Resource Center at ASU West is sponsoring the "Violence is Everybody's Problem" conference today from 2 to 7 p.m. in the University Center Building (UCB).
The Center, which is headed by ASU West Campus professor Wanda Tucker-Hicks, has sponsored several domestic violence training events, but this is the first domestic violence conference sponsored by the center.
"Domestic violence is characterized by physical abuse, economic abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, isolation and control," Tucker-Hicks said.
Whether someone is a perpetrator, victim, observer, relative or associate, all people are impacted, she added.
Tucker-Hicks recounted the story of Kaitlyn Sudberry, who was slain by her espoused boyfriend, Daniel Byrd, on Jan. 1, 2008.
He noted that Sudberry, Byrd and both of their families, friends, neighbors and classmates were all affected by the murder of the Moon Valley High student.
"Individuals are hurt physically, emotionally and mentally," she said.
"Some individuals are killed, some are incarcerated, some are displaced in shelters or the streets. Domestic violence can and does alter our lifestyles and our worldview," she added.
The Women's Resource Center recently received a grant from the Verizon Foundation to educate the community and implement programs to affect change in domestic violence.
According to Tucker-Hicks, the purpose of the events they hold is to educate and inform the community on domestic violence issues from specialized perspectives: family, male, religious, and gay and lesbian relationships.
Mario Avalos, a life science senior, said he plans to attend today's conference.
"Whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, domestic violence is a problem in our society," Avalos said. "Though I don't come from an abusive household, I know many friends that do."
Tucker-Hicks said she plans to share her mother's story at the event.
"My mother chose to die at age 41 in the hospital rather than return home to incidents of intimidation and assaults, both verbal and physical, Tucker-Hicks said.
"Her choice to die, as painful as it was for her family, was liberating for her. Awareness and resources can help victims make better choices."
Tucker-Hicks has worked as an institutional chaplain in hospitals and in a retirement community.
"I worked for a local domestic violence shelter and a crisis hotline," she said. "Many women whispered their situations to me in confidence because they dared not say it too loudly.
She added, "Some perpetrators, whether male or female, can stop their behavior if they are informed how to make a different choice. One event does not have to lead to a lifetime of suffering."
Reach the reporter at: joseph.hermiz@asu.edu.
