Men, women, children and multiple organizations came together to promote Domestic Violence Awareness month by attending the the Shelter for Abused Women & Children’s annual Immokalee Children’s Fair and Peace March. Josie Means, Outreach Office Manager, said that their goal is to prevent, protect, and prevail over domestic violence through social change and that’s why the Shelter for Abused Women & Children once again hosted the fair and peace march. Means said that their ultimate goal is to be a voice in the neighborhood in an effort to put an end to domestic violence. That’s done through a cooperative effort with the public and local organizations. Means went on to say that every nine seconds in the United States, a woman is assaulted or battered and that each year there are over 10 million victims of domestic violence nationwide. Additionally, one in three women are abused by their partner. Some may think that women and children are the only victims of domestic violence, but as Means points out, one and four men are abused by their partner. The National Network to End Domestic Violence classifies domestic violence as “coercive, controlling behavior that can include emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse (using money and financial tools to exert control).” For those interested in joining forces and helping to put an end to domestic violence, please visit naplesshelter.org/how-to-help/ If you, or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call 911 and get to a safe place or or call the Shelter for Abused Women & Children’s 24-hour confidential hotline at 239-775-1101. For more information about the Shelter, please visit naplesshelter.org