VGCC observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Vance-Granville Community College held educational programs for students on two campuses in recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Faculty and staff members at both the college’s Main Campus in Vance County and the South Campus in Granville County organized events on Oct. 22.
At Main Campus, counselors Seletha Pherribo and Cathy Davis discussed the resources available at the college’s Student Learning and Success Center , including free, confidential counseling to address students’ personal and relationship concerns. “Domestic violence affects everyone — men, women and children,” Pherribo emphasized. VGCC Campus Police Chief Sean Newton also promoted awareness of the services provided by his department.
The guest speaker was Karen Branch, court advocate from the Henderson-based non-profit organization, Infinite Possibilities, Inc. Branch talked about her agency’s services to help victims and survivors of domestic violence to rebuild and regain control of their lives. She distributed informational brochures as well as the purple wristbands and ribbons that have become associated with Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The event at South Campus featured remarks from Pam Hester, the executive director of Families Living Violence Free, Granville County’s domestic violence and rape crisis center, as well as moving testimony from a domestic violence survivor, Amanda Bennett. Attendees also participated in a domestic violence walk outside the campus and released balloons representing local victims.
For more information on VGCC counseling services, contact Seletha Pherribo at (252) 738-3317 or pherribos@vgcc.edu .
Infinite Possibilities can be reached at (252) 431-1926 (office) or (252) 425-2492 (24-hour crisis line).
Families Living Violence Free can be reached at (919) 693–5700 (office) or (919) 528–3579 (24-hour crisis line).
Above: From left, Karen Branch of Infinite Possibilities talks with VGCC Human Services Technology student Eunice Parker of Roxboro during the Domestic Violence Awareness event at the college’s Main Campus. Parker completed her work-based learning course at Safe Haven, a domestic violence agency in Person County, and recently took the state certification exam to become a victims’ advocate. (VGCC Photo)
Above: Participants in the domestic violence awareness program at VGCC’s South Campus included, from left, South Campus Dean Cecilia Wheeler, survivor Amanda Bennett, Families Living Violence Free executive director Pam Hester, counselor Phyllis Thomas, library/open lab technician Roberta Freeman, financial aid assistant Sonya Richardson, and Developmental Math instructor Jillian Davis. Others involved in the event but not pictured were receptionist Diane Blalock and administrative assistant Geraldine Cash. They are pictured standing behind a display created by Freeman that features plates in memory of domestic violence victims. Each plate bears the message, “Domestic violence leaves an empty place at the table.”
