On November 15th, 2025, the Southwest Organizing Project’s (SWOP) Community Violence Intervention team, Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), hosted a powerful and deeply moving Domestic Violence Empowerment Ceremony. The event served as both a celebration and a moment of reflection—an opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous progress made by the participants of CP4P’s domestic violence support program, led with compassion and dedication by Keana Lindo and Doris Villaverde.
For weeks, participants gathered together to share their stories, uplift one another, and rebuild their sense of strength and self-worth. What began as a support group blossomed into a community where women found not only safety, but sisterhood. As they learned self-defense, explored healing practices, and reclaimed their narratives, the group became a testament to resilience and the power of collective empowerment.
Among those honored during the ceremony was participant Theresa, who shared the profound impact the program had on her journey. “Coming here and being surrounded by all of these powerful women who get me… who understand what I’ve been through, has been phenomenal,” she said. “Keana has been an amazing teacher and coming here has brightened my life. I felt traumatized before I started attending this support group and had a lot of fear in my life and was constantly looking over my shoulder, but I learned to talk about what I had gone through. We learned self-defense and more importantly, we learned how to take our lives back.”
Though the Empowerment Ceremony marked a milestone, it was not an ending. Participants were reminded that the support they’ve built together will continue week after week, just as it always has. For them, the group has become more than a class—it is a family.
In her closing words, Theresa offered encouragement to anyone living through or trying to escape a painful situation: “Don’t be afraid, help is always out there and if you need support, please come to these classes. I know firsthand how uncomfortable it can be, but this sort of support makes all the difference. I truly feel like I found a family that supports me.”
