TADA (Teens Against Domestic Abuse), the first organization of its kind created and led by South Florida teens, will hold a panel discussion on November 5th, 2009. Presented by Sapere Group, the event, “Break the Silence: Break the Cycle,” is aimed to shed light on domestic violence and how it transcends age, social and ethnic groups.
Emily Martinez-Lanza, a Gulliver Preparatory School student, established the South Florida Gulliver Schools’ chapter following the death of a close family friend, a result of domestic violence. “I saw how she suffered. Then I saw how her death devastated her family. I knew I had to do something to help make a difference,” said Ms. Martinez-Lanza.
“Break the Silence: Break the Cycle” will include a panel of experts in the field of domestic abuse: Rosa Figarola, Domestic Violence Judge; Lieutenant Eric Garcia, Miami-Dade Police Department, Criminal Investigations Division, Sexual Crimes Bureau; Susan Garcia, MSW, Miami-Dade Police Department, Criminal Investigations Division, Domestic Crimes Bureau; Brenda Bernstein Shapiro, Attorney, Family Law; María Elena Fernandez, Family Violence Treatment Specialist and Family & Victims Services of Miami-Dade County. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn (1350 S Dixie Hwy., Coral Gables, FL, 33146), across from University of Miami. Elena Linare, owner of Razzledazzle Barbershop and a survivor of domestic violence, will also join the panel.
The event is also an opportunity for TADA to raise funds, so they can continue to: