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Latino Community Unites to Raise Domestic Violence Awareness
28 Oct
Summary
- Domestic violence cases often go unreported in Latino community due to fear of deportation
- Nonprofit Center for Safety and Change leads annual "Shine the Light" walk to raise awareness
- $100,000 in grants distributed to Latino-owned restaurants to aid pandemic recovery
As Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed in October 2025, the Latino community in New York is taking steps to address the issue within their own neighborhoods. Many Latino individuals often refrain from seeking help due to fears of deportation or family separation, leading to underreporting of domestic violence cases.
To shine a light on this problem, the nonprofit Center for Safety and Change recently organized the annual "Shine the Light" walk across the Mario Cuomo Bridge. The event, supported by Goya Gives, aimed to raise awareness and provide resources for Latino domestic violence survivors. Stefany Ovalles from the Center for Safety and Change and actress April Hernandez, a domestic violence survivor, joined the walk to share their experiences and encourage the community to seek help.
Separately, the New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar and Lounge Association has taken action to support local Latino-owned businesses. The organization partnered with GrubHub to distribute $100,000 in grants to these establishments, helping them with staffing, equipment upgrades, marketing, and other essential needs to overcome the challenges of the pandemic.
