DAYBREAK BREAKFAST

WHERE:            

YWCA Central Massachusetts

1 Salem Square, Worcester

WHEN:             

Monday, October 25, 2021- 8:00 a.m.

WHO:

Deborah Hall, Executive Director, YWCA Central Massachusetts

Harriette Chandler, Senator, Massachusetts

Joseph Petty, Mayor, City of Worcester

Lovern Gordon, Keynote Speaker

MEDIA NOTE: Interviews will be available upon request.

BACKGROUND:

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data, and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified.

While COVID-19 shutdowns and social distancing offered safety and comfort to many, for those experiencing domestic violence, it created the perfect storm fueled by isolation, heightened stress, and uncertainty.

Though the shutdowns and restrictions have lifted, the residual effects remain. The intensity and rate of violence has increased leading to the increase in the number of domestic violence-related murder/suicides.

Locally, the YWCA has seen a 98% increase in service referrals during May and June 2021 compared to the previous year.

Keynote Speaker:

Lovern Gordon is the founder of Love Life Now Foundation, Inc. (LLN) which promotes year-round awareness around domestic violence and the author of The Legacy He Left Me – a domestic violence memoir.

Believing the more we all talk about this issue publicly, the better a victim’s chance is of seeking help, she conducts educational domestic violence workshops at high schools, college campuses, and job sites. She also has appeared on numerous radio and television programs including CBS This Morning and NBC’s This is New England.

She also has been featured in the Huffington Post Magazine and Boston Voyager Magazine, and she is the co-writer of #SheWins book. The Boston Celtics name her one of their “Heroes Among Us” in 2020.