Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr., hosted the sixth annual DiVA Spa, an annual event to bring domestic violence awareness information to the men and women of the borough.
This year’s theme, “Combating Unhealthy Relationships in Our Schools,” reached out to the youth of the borough, who seem to be one of the rising numbers for the domestic violence epidemic. Borough President Carrion announced the teen version of the pregones-in-motion-to-combat-domestic-violence play, “The Phone Call.”
This production is an interactive play based on first-hand accounts of real-life teen dating violence victims, where members of the audience determine the best course of action under different circumstances and in dialogue with peers and legal experts, followed by a public conversation with domestic violence specialists.
“According to the 2007 N.Y.C. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 11 percent of high school students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend within the past year,” said Adolfo Carrion, who added that in 2007, 16,861 teen calls were received by the N.Y.C.’s Domestic Violence Hotline.
Under the sponsorship of Pregones Theater and the Bronx Borough President Office, the performance, “The Phone Call,” will be taken to numerous high schools throughout the city.
Also this year during the 6th Annual DiVA Spa conference, victims of domestic violence shared their experience and explained how the DiVA Spa program helped them to get out of the abusive relations.
“I want to explain how important it is to get help, because if we don’t make the decision on time, we could lose our life,” said Rosalba Rolon.
The DiVA Spa is an annual event that transformed the Veterans’ Memorial Hall into a fully equipped day spa that allows the DiVA guests to receive free beauty services as well as information on domestic violence awareness.
Over 700 men and women are serviced each year at this event with counselors on site and/or crisis intervention; victims also receive referrals for long term services.
