By Julie BUTCHER

Assemblymember Laura Friedman organized a town hall on Oct. 29, hosted by local attorney and co-chair of the Soroptimists of Glendale Diane Lambillotte, featuring Tara Peterson, YMCA of Glendale CEO and an expert on the effects and impacts of domestic violence.

“This has been a challenging year for all of us. For our most vulnerable neighbors, the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially difficult. While the Stay-At-Home Orders have been necessary for our public health, they’ve put some Californians at risk of domestic violence in an impossible situation. When your home is a dangerous place to be, where can you turn?” read the announcement of the forum.

Additionally, the town hall provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of advocacy for racial justice in local communities, the work the Glendale YWCA has been doing, the additional challenges facing domestic violence victims during the pandemic and state legislation to assist Californians in crisis.

Peterson has led the YMCA since 2016 as the organization “strives to eliminate racism and to empower women.” She is credited with revitalizing the agency’s 95-year legacy of supporting local women and girls by expanding programs and reach.

Friedman explained that she honored the group as nonprofit of the year because of the importance of the organization’s work, especially during a pandemic, as it works to keep people safe from their abusers and safe from the virus at the same time. She also lauded the Y for its groundbreaking work in helping the City of Glendale deal with its racist past.

“These are not easy conversations,” she explained, “and I thought this was the right time to honor their work this year.”

“I attended the Black Lives Matter rally in Glendale and when Tara was up on the stage, leading the event, that was inspirational and, I think, cathartic for the community,” she added.

Peterson detailed the myriad aspects of domestic violence; for instance, noting that 90% of abusive relationships include financial abuse, and that this harm may be exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19. Help is available for folks who want to leave their situation and for those who need to stay in worrisome situations. The YMCA operates an emergency shelter and a hotline that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That number is (888) 999-7511 and is staffed by trained professionals who can help access additional resources and services.

“We’re doing mobile advocacy now. Folks used to come to us but now we’re going to them if we need to,” Peterson explained, “and we can help with therapy and emergency planning and case management as well as legal and emotional support.”

As to her work helping to organize the Coalition for an Anti-Racist Glendale, Peterson characterized the group as diverse with individuals and organizations working together to address ongoing issues.

“After the murder of George Floyd, we saw the need to bring people together – and that it was not enough just to march and rally; we need to identify harmful practices, to build on the intersectionality that connects effects on groups of people,” Peterson said. “What would a just and equitable Glendale look like and how do we work towards that vision? It requires looking at city policies, at the police department that does such a good job responding to domestic violence, but how do they respond to other things as well?”

The video of the town hall is available to view at https://www.facebook.com/assemblymemberlaurafriedman/live