Conversation on teen dating violence coming to SA

Event part of the national 'Week Without Violence'

SAN ANTONIO – During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the YWCA organization stages "Week Without Violence" events across America in an effort to bring attention and resources to gender-based violence.

YWCA San Antonio's first "Week without Violence" event will be held Thursday and will focus on teen dating violence.

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LINK: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES

There will be an educational panel discussion, followed by Q&A session featuring local experts and advocates who will present on what teen dating violence is and isn't and its connection to adult domestic violence.

Guests include the following:

  • Heidi Rueda, LMSW, Ph.D., assistant professor, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Department of Social Work. Dr. Rueda's research focuses on teen dating violence with Hispanic youth.
  • Patricia Castillo, LMSW, executive director of P.E.A.C.E. Initiative. Patricia has been working with domestic violence survivors since 1979 and will help connect the dots with adult domestic violence, as well as healthy identity formation and cultural considerations.
  • Kimberly Berry, Mi Carrera coordinator at YWCA San Antonio, formerly with the Rape Crisis Center. Kim has led teen groups on this subject and taught this material to educators at Region 20.
  • Jennifer Hixon, MPH from City of San Antonio/Metro Health, will introduce the program and the importance of the topic to the community. 

The event will be held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the YWCA Olga Madrid Center, located at 503 Castroville Road, San Antonio, Texas, 78237.

To RSVP, click here.

Event Flyer 


About the Author:

Courtney Friedman anchors KSAT’s weekend evening shows and reports during the week. Her ongoing Loving in Fear series confronts Bexar County’s domestic violence epidemic. She joined KSAT in 2014 and is proud to call the SA and South Texas community home. She came to San Antonio from KYTX CBS 19 in Tyler, where she also anchored & reported.