Cambridge Officials Kick off New Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative

City officials held a special reception this week at City Hall to officially kick off the Cambridge Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative.

The goal of the Initiative is to engage and mobilize Cambridge’s communities, agencies and city departments to change attitudes, behaviors, policies and practices to prevent and bring attention to domestic and gender-based violence. In collaboration with community leaders, local agencies and interested citizens, the Initiative will develop and provide accessible, safe and relevant strategies and resources to prevent and respond to domestic violence within all communities in Cambridge.

For the past 10 months, the Coordinator of the Initiative and a steering committee have been laying down the groundwork for the process. At the kickoff event, the Director reported on their initial work, including recent citywide trainings (with more planned in the future), and the results of a comprehensive Needs Assessment conducted this spring and summer.

Photo: Deputy City Manager Lisa Peterson, Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative Coordinator Liz Speakman, City Manager Richard C. Rossi, State Representative Marjorie C. Decker and members of the Hip Hop Transformation. The Hip Hop Transformation (THHT) is a program for teens ages 14-18 offered by the Cambridge Community Center, in partnership with the Cambridge Health Alliance and Cambridge Police Department. THHT teaches teens the history of hip hop, the role hip hop plays in society, and the skills needed to write, record, and perform original music.

For more information, please visit: www.cambridgema.gov/domesticviolence