CITY OF FRESNO
Office of City Council President Mike Karbassi
WH EREAS, domestic violence impacts countless individuals, without regard to age, race, religion, or economic status; as victims suffer at the hands of a spouse or partner, it affects their children, families, and entire communities; and
WH EREAS, domestic violence is widespread and affects over 12 million men and women in the United States each year, and at its most tragic level, kills an average of three women every day; and
WH EREAS, the Fresno Police Department filed more than 7,200 domestic violence reports last year, and as Fresno’s only dedicated provider of domestic violence safe housing and comprehensive support services, Marjaree Mason Center served over 8,482 adults and children impacted by domestic violence last year, including over 81,000 nights of safe shelter, and also provides services to those who cause harm; and
WH EREAS, there have been more than 35 domestic violence related homicides and/or deaths in the City of Fresno since 2017; and
WH EREAS, Marjaree Mason Center actively partners with the City of Fresno, the Fresno Police Department, as well as Planning and Community Development Department to ensure survivors have access to safe housing, support with restraining orders and other services; and
WH EREAS, each October, the formal recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month allows the community to acknowledge and show their support for survivors and advocates to end of the cycle of abuse through education; and
WH EREAS, the Marjaree Mason Center hosts a teen dating violence prevention program, the kNOw MORE® program, as well as countless training and outreach activities to educate our community on the dangers of power and control in intimate relationships and how individuals can seek safety; and
WH EREAS, the Marjaree Mason Center recently opened a new Community Resource Center, it’s Isnardi Foundation Building, within the City of Fresno, more than doubling the organization’s physical service capacity and enhancing all community -based, non-residential, services for survivors of domestic violence and their children, including 24/7 crisis response, individual and group therapy, children’s services, legal advocacy, case management, and more; and
WH EREAS, each year, the Marjaree Mason Center hosts the Top Ten Professional Women Awards in October to highlight the contributions of professional women while also raising awareness of domestic violence. This signature community event will be on Wednesday, October 15 at the Fresno Convention Center with keynote speaker, local deputy district attorney Rachel Baskin, with moderator David Carr, who will come together to discuss the power of second chances, justice, and healing — offering hope to those still living in fear and courage to those ready to speak out; and
WH EREAS, Purple Thursday, October 16, is a national day dedicated to remembering the victims of domestic violence, to supporting survivors, and to raising awareness on local resources available to put an end to domestic violence; and
WH EREAS, a partnership of organizations has emerged to directly confront this crisis and are achieving success. The Marjaree Mason Center, along with law enforcement, health care providers, community-based organizations, and concerned citizens are helping in the effort to end domestic violence. We must recognize the compassion and dedication of these volunteers and professionals and increase public understanding of this important problem.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Mayor Jerry Dyer and the Fresno City Councilmembers, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2025 to be:
“Domestic Violence Awareness Month ”
in the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 16 th
day of October 2025.
______________________________________________ __________________________________________ JERRY DYER, Honorable Mayor MIKE KARBASSI, Council President
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ MIGUEL ARIAS, Council Vice President ANNALISA PEREA, Councilmember District 1
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ TYLER MAXWELL, Councilmember District 4 BRANDON VANG, Councilmember District 5
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ NICK RICHARDSON, Councilmember District 6 NELSON ESPARZA, Councilmember District 7