Domestic Violence: Driving Change

By Virginia Witt, Director, NO MORE

Domestic Violence affects over 12 million people in the U.S. every year. Nearly 3 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner. Sadly, domestic violence also affects our children. The U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect suggests that domestic violence may be a major precursor to child abuse and neglect fatalities in this country. It can happen to anyone, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or economic status.

Victims and perpetrators of domestic violence are people we know in our families, churches, schools and neighborhoods. Although it can be overwhelming to figure out how to help victims and stop these crimes, each of us holds the power to be an active bystander and help prevent further abuse.

In 2013 the NO MORE campaign was launched in partnership with over two dozen national domestic violence and sexual assault organizations and major corporations to serve as a unified voice to bring national attention to these issues.
Through popular media, celebrity endorsement, professional sports and corporate leaders, NO MORE has reached millions of households with the message that we are all responsible for speaking up and taking action against these crimes.

This year NO MORE is proud to work alongside Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez, California Says NO MORE, the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and California Coalition Against Sexual Assault to promote the first ever NO MORE automobile license plate. Proceeds of the sales of the plate will go to domestic violence shelters and rape crisis programs across the state.

Funds will be used for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and education programs in your community. By purchasing a NO MORE license plate you will be showing your support for this cause while helping local programs educate our communities on how to prevent domestic violence. You can register for your plate at www.nomoreplate.org.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, pledge to make a difference. By donating, volunteering or even speaking up on social media, your actions can bring about the social change needed to prevent these crimes. We owe it to our families and our communities to speak up about domestic violence.

Make a difference today.

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As Director of NO MORE, a public awareness campaign to end domestic violence and sexual assault, Virginia Witt works with a wide array of partners in the field and in the corporate sector to elevate these urgent issues. She brings to this role more than 20 years of experience in communications strategy in Washington, D.C. and in San Francisco, California.Previously, Virginia headed up public affairs at Blue Shield of California Foundation, a leading funder of domestic violence services, where she became a founder of NO MORE. Virginia has also served as a senior program officer with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, where she partnered with Black Entertainment Television on the award-winning “Rap It Up” multi-platform campaign to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among African-American youth. Virginia’s strategic communications experience includes senior roles at several prominent non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C., including the Children’s Defense Fund, People for the American Way and National Education Association (NEA).