LET’S END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT

Domestic violence and sexual assault impact all of DC, but Ward 8 faces serious challenges. It’s time to come together and take action. LET’S END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT Monday, October 26, 2026 | 6:30 PM RISE Demonstration Center 2730 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE Washington, DC 20032 Domestic violence and sexual assault affect families in every part of Washington, DC, but the impact of violence on communities in Ward 8 demands our attention and action. In 2024, 21 adults were killed in domestic violence-related fatalities across the District of Columbia . Ward 8 experienced three intimate-partner homicides and seven other domestic violence-related homicides —meaning 10 of the District’s 21 adult domestic violence fatalities occurred in Ward 8 . The data also show the disproportionate impact on Black residents. Of the 12 victims of intimate-partner homicide in DC in 2024, 11 were Black . All nine victims classified as non-intimate-partner domestic violence homicide were Black. Sexual violence must also be part of this conversation. MPD reported 102 sex abuse offenses citywide in 2025 , compared with 143 in 2024. While that represents a decline in reported offenses, sexual violence remains an issue requiring prevention, survivor-centered services, education, and community awareness. These are more than numbers. They represent our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, neighbors, friends, and loved ones. It is time for us to come together and take action. Join community leaders, advocates, mental health professionals, social workers, victim-service professionals, and residents for Let’s End Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault , a community conversation focused on breaking the silence, supporting survivors, recognizing warning signs, connecting residents with resources, and identifying concrete steps we can take to prevent violence. Our Goals This meeting has two important goals: 1. Educate and Connect Residents to Resources Residents will learn about domestic violence and sexual assault resources available in Washington, DC, including services for survivors and families, counseling and mental health support, crisis intervention, advocacy, prevention programs, and organizations that can help people navigate available services. 2. Develop a Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Community Action Plan We will bring residents, advocates, service providers, community organizations, faith leaders, mental health professionals, social workers, and other stakeholders together to begin developing a community-driven Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Action Plan . The plan will identify practical steps our community can take to strengthen prevention, increase awareness, improve connections to services, support survivors, educate young people about healthy relationships, engage community institutions, and build stronger partnerships between residents and organizations serving Ward 8. We do not want this conversation to end when the meeting ends. Our goal is to turn conversation into coordinated community action. The discussion will also explore the mental, emotional, and community impact of domestic and sexual violence, with special attention to the experiences and needs of Black families and communities in Ward 8 . Sponsored by Commissioner Salim Adofo DC Black United Front National Association of Black Psychologists – DC Chapter National Association of Black Social Workers – DC Metropolitan Chapter Featuring President & CEO, DC Rape Crisis Center The DC Rape Crisis Center provides services and support for survivors of sexual violence and works to create a community where survivors are heard, supported, and empowered. Come listen. Come learn. Come get connected. Come help us build the plan. Ending domestic violence and sexual assault will take all of us. Together, we can work toward a Ward 8 where survivors are supported, residents know where to turn for help, families have access to resources, young people understand healthy relationships, community organizations work together, and everyone can live with dignity and safety. One especially powerful statistic for the flyer is “10 of DC’s 21 adult domestic violence fatalities in 2024 occurred in Ward 8.” That comes directly from the DC Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board data: 3 intimate-partner homicides plus 7 other domestic-violence homicides in Ward 8. OVSJG