WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition launched a new public awareness campaign Friday night in West Valley City, and their initiative is called Choose to Cherish.
According to a press release from event organizers, domestic violence is a big problem in Utah. There were at least 23 domestic violence related deaths in Utah in 2013, and for the last five years the rate of domestic violence in Utah has continued to surpass the national average.
Kendra Wyckoff, Executive Director of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, said Choose to Cherish is about encouraging people to have compassionate and loving relationships with those around them. She also said they hope to help people overcome their reluctance to discuss a sensitive topic.
“It’s about getting people engaged in the conversation around this issue, because it’s not a pleasant conversation, and so we hope that this is another way for us to address the issue, engage with individuals, and open up the conversation about domestic violence so that we can see some real change happen in our communities,” she said.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For more information about the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, click here.
