Hosted by ABC7's Val Warner
CHICAGO (WLS) -- ABC 7, Chicago's No. 1 station for news, presented a virtual town hall focused on raising awareness about domestic violence and resources available to help victims. ABC 7 Chicago's Val Warner, host of Windy City Weekend and ABC 7 specials, moderated "OUR CHICAGO: Voices of the Community," available on abc7chicago.com Thursday, Oct. 28, at 2:00 p.m.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was launched nationwide in October 1987 to raise awareness, connect people and organizations working on domestic violence issues and offer help to those suffering from physical/sexual abuse. Some reports estimate that one in three women worldwide experience violence, but violence is not solely confined to women and girls. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines have shown that domestic violence in the home and amongst children of both sexes has intensified.
In Chicago and across the state, those who have been victimized by violent home situations have also become survivors because of the dedication of amazing organizations providing services and support. Val Warner will lead an important discussion with Chicago area leaders and clinicians representing organizations who are making sure these victims, and in some cases potential perpetrators, get the unique help they need. They'll give keen insight into the various programs and their innovative approaches, including preemptive education for men and women.
Guest panelists for this week's town hall included the following:
-Neha Gill, Apna Ghar
-Christine R. Call, Center for Advancing Domestic Peace
-Stephanie-Love Peterson, Connections for Abused Women and their Children
-Martha Pazdro, Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc.
-Amanda Pyron, The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence
The virtual town hall was also exclusively streamed live on ABC 7's Facebook Live, YouTube, ABC 7's app, and ABC 7's connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku.
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About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago
ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.3 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space to Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, the station produces 41 hours of local news weekly and Chicago's only local weekday entertainment talk show, "Windy City LIVE," as well as its highest-rated New Year's Eve special. ABC7's award-winning programs such as "Heart and Soul," "The Ñ Beat" and "Asian Influences" showcase the city's diversity, while being the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago's rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focused on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates keeping Chicago's electorate informed. ABC7's outreach efforts include annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives and, most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.