CCWF holds domestic violence workshop

Pathway to Kinship founder Marc Vahanian hosted a three-hour domestic violence workshop in the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) chapel for residents on August 1. Pathway to Kinship is an organization that supports incarcerated people as they reenter society.

The purpose of this workshop was to provide clarity about the many ways domestic violence can pres-ent itself. Such workshops are an important rehabilitative element at a women’s facility because they “help bring to light how victims should be treated,” CCWF staff member and regular program sponsor C. Hughes said. “A lot of the times victims do not recognize that they are being abused.”

That day, participants gathered and shared their personal experiences. This included physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, and emo-tional/psychological control. These types of domestic violence can cre-ate generational trauma, violence, poverty, addiction, instability, and childhood experiences.

Resident Jizette Nahapetian said, “I learned that domestic violence comes in many forms. And I learned that not only was I a victim of domestic violence, I was also an abuser.”