CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
Proclamation
Recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
WHEREAS, the City of Sebastopol recognizes that domestic violence affects one in four families in our local community and that nearly all of us know someone who has been abused, the crime of domestic violence violates an individual’s privacy, dignity, and security, based on the systematic use of emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, and economic control or abuse; and WHEREAS, established in 1976, YWCA Sonoma County is our community’s singular and vital resource for local residents experiencing violence in the place we should all feel the most safe, inside our own homes; and
WHEREAS, YWCA operates Sonoma County’s ONLY confidential safe house shelter and Sonoma County’s ONLY 24/7 domestic violence crisis hotline; and WHEREAS, YWCA’s Counseling Support Services offers trauma-informed individual and support group therapy for victims of trauma and domestic violence including the students at YWCA’s therapeutic preschool serving one of our most vulnerable populations: children ages 3-5 years old; and WHEREAS, only an informed community effort will end the cycle of violence for local families, members of our community are encouraged to participate in YWCA’s scheduled events and programs to raise much-needed funding to support their vision for every family in Sonoma County to live healthy, productive lives and be safe in their own homes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, I, Mayor Diana Gardner Rich, on behalf of the entire City Council of the City of Sebastopol, do hereby proclaim October 2024 in Sebastopol as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the Great Seal of the City of Sebastopol this 1st day of October 2024.
----------------------------------------------------------- Diana Gardner Rich, Mayor