‘Shine a Light on Domestic Violence’, hosted by Elgin Community Crisis Center, took place in the Seigle Auditorium at ECC last Thursday night, Oct. 27. The message was clear, powerful and simple; there needs to be more public awareness on the issue of domestic violence.

The event was modestly attended, and each attendee was given an electric candle as they walked in. Kimberly Schellin-Rog of the Community Crisis Center opened the event with a warm greeting but followed with a cautionary statement, warning the audience that what they were about to hear was not going to be “easy to listen to.”

The atmosphere was relaxed, but quickly turned somber as she read the statistics of domestic violence to the audience. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines receive approximately 21,000 calls, an average of close to 15 calls every minute.”

Keynote speaker Vicky Smith, executive director of Illinois coalition against domestic violence, pronounced on the fact that domestic violence can happen anywhere to anyone.

“We allow domestic violence to happen when we don’t recognize it in any kind of family, in any kind of home, in any kind of status,” said Smith.  

The recurring theme through Thursday night’s event was the harsh reality of domestic violence. Once the lights in the auditorium were dimmed and the audience was asked to light their candles, 27 stories of fatal domestic abuse cases were read aloud in memoriam of the victims; some of which were as recent as this past September. These stories hung heavy in the air as they were being told. To combat the negativity, several more stories were read about domestic abuse survivors and how they were on the road to recovery. This brought a much-needed dose of hope to those listening, and showed that people can reclaim their lives after domestic violence.

While certain strides towards awareness are being taken, there’s still an unhealthy stigma attached to the families that suffer from domestic violence, a stigma that Smith wants to break. 

“The media is a big issue, because they are not informed,” said Smith. “The language that they use is a big issue. The thing that’s the most difficult about domestic violence is that people don’t understand that it’s the way that we all are in society. Its sexism, it’s racism, it all of those things. But when it boils down to the individuals, we think it’s just those people. They can’t get along, they’re in a bad relationship, but it’s really much more complex than that.”

It happens everywhere, in all kinds of families. Its complex; not an easy, ‘just stop’ and it’ll be fine.

Anyone in need of help is encouraged to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or, online go to DomesticShelters.org.