NORRISTOWN — Those on the front lines of the battle against domestic violence — victims’ advocates, law enforcers and court officials — gathered this week to support survivors and to honor three women who have spent decades helping victims of abuse.
“Domestic violence effects millions of Americans across our nation with devastating consequences… . Everyone deserves to live free from the fear of violence, especially in their own home,” Michael R. Kehs, chairman of the Domestic Violence Legal Network of Montgomery County, read from a proclamation signed by President Joe Biden declaring October as National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
The Montgomery County commissioners also issued a proclamation recognizing October as the month to shine a light of awareness on domestic violence and to support working together as a community to eliminate domestic violence.
Kehs, addressing more than 100 people who gathered at the county courthouse for the annual ceremony, explained DVLN’s mission is about “education and awareness.”
“Our numbers do tell a story and guide our efforts when we deal with education and awareness,” said Kehs, who reflected on the county statistics regarding requests for protection from abuse orders.
In 1989, the county recorded 685 filings for protection from abuse orders. This year, the county is on target to record 1,900 new PFA filings, according to Kehs.
“So that’s triple the number of new filings. Some people might look at that and say either you’re failing miserably at what you are doing or you’re doing really well in terms of education and awareness,” Kehs said. “I’m not convinced that there’s more violence. I’m convinced that people are aware of the resources that we have available for them in the court system and they’re availing themselves of those resources at a greater number.
“The bottom line is, these numbers tell our story in Montgomery County,” Kehs added.
The DVLN was formed in 1986 by professionals from law enforcement, the judiciary and victims’ services agencies for the purpose of sharing resources and expertise to serve domestic violence victims more effectively.
Each year, the DVLN recognizes people or organizations that show a strong commitment and dedication to the fight against domestic violence. This year, the organization honored three women who Kehs described as “long-term champions” in the fight against domestic violence.
Beth Sturman, the recently retired executive director of Laurel House, the nonprofit agency that provides crisis intervention, a safe haven, supportive programs and resources for victims of domestic abuse, received the DVLN Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Beth has touched so many lives in an incredibly positive way,” Kehs said.
Stacy Dougherty, the new executive director of Laurel House, described Sturman as “an extraordinary leader, a devoted advocate and a beacon of hope for countless individuals in the community.”
“As the executive director of Laurel House for 19 years, Beth has transformed not just the organization but the lives of countless survivors of domestic violence throughout Montgomery County,” Dougherty said. “In times of uncertainty she has always prioritized the well-being of survivors, ensuring that they received the support they so desperately needed.”
Mary C. Pugh, who has served as executive director of the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project for nearly two decades, was honored for her “strong commitment and dedication to the fight against domestic violence.”
Formed in the late 1990s and officially becoming a nonprofit group in 2005, the child advocacy project is designed to provide free legal representation and social services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect.
Volunteer lawyers support and protect frightened, overwhelmed children as they navigate the court system. The child advocates address the needs of children who are victims or witnesses in cases of family violence when the interests of the child are in conflict with the rest of the family.
Two county judges, Risa Vetri Ferman and Wendy Demchick-Alloy, who were instrumental as former prosecutors in developing MCAP about 25 years ago, presented Pugh with a plaque recognizing her work.
“For the past 20 years, Mary has taken the idea that we had and the little organization we started and built it into something that is a venerable institution in this county now. The work of building is what’s so important, of giving voice to children over the past 20 years, and Mary has been masterful in doing that,” Ferman said.
Demchick-Alloy said Pugh was one of the first lawyers to volunteer for the then fledgling organization more than 20 years ago before becoming executive director.
“She was a go-to. I could spot early on the passion that was coming from this human being…the passion for the work of representing children,” Demchick-Alloy said. “Mary did that like no other, she basically could not be stopped.”
Linda Connell, a member of the DVLN who also serves as assistant director and counselor at The Open Link, was honored for “always being willing to help” others.
The Open Link is a multi-service agency serving the Upper Perkiomen Valley area that provides programs that help educate, empower and promote socialization and volunteerism for people of all ages to lead healthy and productive lives.
“May her willingness to help serve be an example for those who follow her,” Kehs said as he presented Connell with a plaque honoring her work.
The ceremony also included a compelling and emotional display entitled “An Empty Place at the Table,” sponsored and arranged by Laurel House. The display of place settings, submitted by friends and families of victims of domestic violence, included personal touches in remembrance of victims who lost their lives to domestic violence.
Norristown Police Captain Michael Bishop presented a check from the DVLN, with the help of Laurel House and the Women’s Center of Montgomery County and The Lincoln Center, to the Thomas Barone Scholarship Fund, a fund set up in honor of Barone, a Norristown police officer who was killed in the line of duty Oct. 11, 1992, while investigating a domestic violence complaint.
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