Be A Part of The Solution--End Domestic Violence
It was one year ago tonight, my friend Vero almost lost her life, and instead, found a reason for this website. She escaped being killed by her estranged husband. 
She’s been through a living hell the past 365 days and I’m sure tonight will be no exception.
Please say a prayer or two for her. Yes, this happened a year ago. But it is going to take much longer for the wounds from that night to heal. If they ever will.
If you know anyone in an abusive relationship. Please, help them get help.
The story about Veronica’s speech about surviving domestic violence Thursday in Dallas is now featured on The Dallas Morning News website. Please stop by and check it out.
We offer a special thanks to editor Mike Drago and reporter Melissa Repko for providing the coverage for this story.
You can also hear her address here:HEAR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR’S ADDRESS TO DALLAS COUNTY PROBATION OFFICERS
Veronica Galaviz Spoke For The 1st Time Before Court Officers Since April 2010 Attack
DALLAS: Veronica Galaviz, who has launched her own organization to raise awareness about the effects of domestic violence, Thursday spoke to members of the Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, during a noon luncheon. Dallas County Juvenile Probation Officers and officers from other surrounding counties will also be in attendance.
During the address she outlined what life has been like the past nine months; how she has struggled to begin the recovery process and the challenges that have come about since then.
This address marked the first time she has spoken before court officers since nearly being murdered by her late-estranged husband who violated the terms of a protective order and broke into her house on April 21, 2010 and tried to kill her before setting the house on fire and killing himself. While under the court’s protective order, Ms. Galaviz reported multiple violations to Rowlett Police, but they never would make an arrest.
Ms. Galaviz has created her own organization, LivingToShare.org, and has become active in seeking changes in Texas laws, including support for San Antonio State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer’s House Bill 100 designed to create a domestic violence computer database in Texas, much like the one used to track sex offenders proposed legislation to create a Domestic Violence Registry.
She also is supporting HB 825, that seeks to add stalking provisions to the awarding of a protective order. The bill was introduced Monday by Dallas Rep. Rafael Anchia.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR TO SPEAK TO DALLAS COUNTY PROBATION OFFICERS THURSDAY
Veronica Galaviz To Speak 1st Time Before Court Officers Since April 2010 Attack
DALLAS: Veronica Galaviz, who has launched her own organization to raise awareness about the effects of domestic violence, Thursday will speak to members of the Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, during a noon luncheon. Dallas County Juvenile Probation Officers and officers from other surrounding counties will also be in attendance.
This will mark the first time she has spoken before court officers since nearly being murdered by her late-estranged husband who violated the terms of a protective order and broke into her house on April 21, 2010 and tried to kill her before setting the house on fire and killing himself. While under the court’s protective order, Ms. Galaviz reported multiple violations to Rowlett Police, but they never would make an arrest.
The event will begin at 12 p.m. in the Great Room of Highland Park United Methodist Church, located at 3300 Mockingbird Lane in Dallas.
Ms. Galaviz has created her own organization, LivingToShare.org, and has become active in seeking changes in Texas laws, including support for San Antonio State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer’s House Bill 100 designed to create a domestic violence computer database in Texas, much like the one used to track sex offenders proposed legislation to create a Domestic Violence Registry.
She also is supporting HB 825, that seeks to add stalking provisions to the awarding of a protective order. The bill was introduced Monday by Dallas Rep. Rafael Anchia.
Veronica Galaviz
After surviving an attack in her Rowlett, Texas home on April 21, 2010 by her estranged husband, Veronica Galaviz now seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of domestic violence, increase victims’ rights, implement tougher enforcement of protective orders and sensitivity training for police officers who respond to domestic violence complaints, and offer educational grants to victims allowing them to obtain financial independence and freedom from their abusers.
Claxton Creative, LLC
Claxton Creative is a Dallas public relations firm focused on social impact, innovation and invention. Owned by former political advisor and Dallas ISD spokesman Donald Claxton, the company specializes in social media and traditional mediums to market and brand products domestically and internationally. The company provides PR services for brands, bloggers, businesses and school districts.
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Veronica Galaviz interviewing with Univision 23 reporter in Dallas about the proposed legislation to create a Domestic Violence Offenders Registry in Texas.
The bill has been proposed by San Antonio State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer to create a domestic violence computer database in Texas, much like the one used to track sex offenders, is an idea she supports
“Well obviously, I haven’t seen the bill but I think it’s a great idea. I agree that it’s a good tool that someone can use to research a potential suitor,” Galaviz said. “I agree that it’s a great tool, especially for someone who doesn’t have the means to do a criminal background check on a potential suitor. It would be an easy tool to use.”
Galaviz, a survivor of a domestic violence attack by her estranged husband in April 2010 in Rowlett, Texas, said those in one abusive relationship need all the reassurances they can get about before getting into another relationship with someone.
“Once you’re in an abusive relationship, you have some trust issues and you always have some doubts and this would be one way to relieve some of those doubts,” Galaviz said. “This would be something that you would have at your fingertips, just like Google; you can research something there. It’d have a list of names of all the offenders. The only drawback is if they could find someway to eliminate the victims’ names from these lists and just have the abusers’ names on the list.”
Galaviz has created her own non-profit organization designed to raise awareness about domestic violence and to seek tougher enforcement of laws pertaining to domestic violence situations. Her website is LivingToShare.org.
Next week in Dallas, Galaviz is slated to speak to a group of law enforcement officers about her experiences and her mission to raise awareness.
NORTH TEXAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR: OFFENDERS’ LIST A GOOD IDEA
Veronica Galaviz’s Statement To CBS 11 KTVT Dallas
DALLAS: North Texas Domestic Violence Survivor Veronica Galaviz Thursday said in an interview with CBS 11 KTVT in Dallas Reporter Jay Gormley that legislation proposed by San Antonio State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer to create a domestic violence computer database in Texas, much like the one used to track sex offenders, is an idea she supports
“Well obviously, I haven’t seen the bill but I think it’s a great idea. I agree that it’s a good tool that someone can use to research a potential suitor,” Galaviz said. “I agree that it’s a great tool, especially for someone who doesn’t have the means to do a criminal background check on a potential suitor. It would be an easy tool to use.”
Galaviz, a survivor of a domestic violence attack by her estranged husband in April 2010 in Rowlett, Texas, said those in one abusive relationship need all the reassurances they can get about before getting into another relationship with someone.
“Once you’re in an abusive relationship, you have some trust issues and you always have some doubts and this would be one way to relieve some of those doubts,” Galaviz said. “This would be something that you would have at your fingertips, just like Google; you can research something there. It’d have a list of names of all the offenders. The only drawback is if they could find someway to eliminate the victims’ names from these lists and just have the abusers’ names on the list.”
Galaviz has created her own non-profit organization designed to raise awareness about domestic violence and to seek tougher enforcement of laws pertaining to domestic violence situations. Her website is LivingToShare.org.
Next week in Dallas, Galaviz is slated to speak to a group of law enforcement officers about her experiences and her mission to raise awareness.
Veronica Galaviz
After surviving an attack in her home on April 21, 2010 by her estranged husband, Veronica Galaviz now seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of domestic violence, increase victims’ rights, implement tougher enforcement of protective orders and sensitivity training for police officers who respond to domestic violence complaints, and offer educational grants to victims allowing them to obtain financial independence and freedom from their abusers.
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For Immediate Release Contact: Donald J. Claxton
Dec. 29, 2010 972-863-8784
dclaxton@claxtoncreative.com
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR SAYS LEGISLATURE, LAW ENFORCEMENT MUST LOOK AT SLAYING OF ARLINGTON OFFICER AS CALL TO ACTION
Veronica Galaviz says Domestic Violence laws are not working, and responding officers are not well trained on enforcing them, nor taking them seriously
DALLAS: Rowlett, Tex. Domestic Violence survivor Veronica Galaviz Wednesday said the slaying of Arlington Police Officer Jillian Smith while on a domestic violence call is further evidence that law enforcement is not taking the dangers of it seriously and that Legislatures across America need to come to terms that domestic violence laws are not working.
“I’m deeply saddened about the death of Officer Jillian Smith in Arlington, who apparently answered what was thought to be an inactive domestic violence call with no backup,” Galaviz said. “The problem is once a domestic violence situation takes place, it’s never inactive again. My belief is that anytime an officer is dispatched to the scene of a domestic violence event, whether in progress or not, they should have back up. This just goes to the feeling that law enforcement does not take the words ‘Domestic Violence’ as seriously as they should. I’m living proof that this is pervasive throughout law enforcement.”
Galaviz also said that Legislatures across America need to re-examine what’s being done to stop domestic violence.
“In the past few months, I’ve been told that the Texas Council on Family Violence feels that there are adequate laws on the books pertaining to domestic violence, and yet people keep getting killed from it and this time, it also involved an officer of the law,” Galaviz said. “It’s time for everyone from Gov. Rick Perry, the lt. governor and the Speaker of the House on down to get serious and begin to take a hard look at how we are failing those living in toxic relationships throughout Texas.”
“Lawmakers and law enforcement officers must begin to look at domestic violence as not something in the imagination of an alleged or potential victim, but rather from the standpoint of someone who is so far over the edge that killing innocent family victims, themselves and officers of the law is totally within the realm of possibilities. I’m one of the rare survivors. Unfortunately, Officer Smith and the mother killed in Arlington were not,” Galaviz said.
Galaviz was nearly murdered when her estranged husband broke into her home at 1:30 a.m. on April 21, 2010, and set the house on fire before shooting himself. Prior to him breaking in, she had a protective order in place and had reported multiple violations of it to local law enforcement, who did nothing.
As part of her recovery, Galaviz has created LivingToShare.org and created her non-profit organization to help others who might be in a tragic domestic relationship.
During the April attack, Galaviz awoke to find her estranged husband in her home and armed with a shotgun. He told Galaviz that he was going to kill her. Galaviz says thankfully she had a friend also in the home who attempted to fend off her husband. The friend was shot in the hand in the process. Thankfully, Galaviz and her friend were able to escape and call authorities. When the Rowlett Fire Department arrived at the home it was engulfed in flames and her attacker was found dead inside.
Galaviz’s conflict remains that she repeatedly notified the Rowlett Police Department of her husband’s violations of a protective order that was issued in November of 2009 with the assistance of her attorney, Julie Lucio, of Lucio, LaFleur and Associates in Richardson.
Each time Galaviz confronted RPD they told her that her husband hadn’t done enough to warrant his arrest so he could be brought before the judge who issued the protective order.
Veronica Galaviz
After surviving an attack in her home on April 21, 2010 by her estranged husband, Veronica Galaviz now seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of domestic violence, increase victims’ rights, implement tougher enforcement of protective orders and sensitivity training for police officers who respond to domestic violence complaints, and offer educational grants to victims allowing them to obtain financial independence and freedom from their abusers.
Claxton Creative, LLC
Claxton Creative is a DFW-area based public relations firm focused on Social impact, innovation and invention. Owned by former political advisor and Dallas ISD spokesman Donald Claxton, the company specializes in social media and traditional mediums to market and brand products domestically and internationally. The company provides PR services for brands, bloggers, businesses and school districts.
Veronica Galaviz has been saying since she began her campaign that Domestic Violence is a worldwide issue. Here’s proof.
A study released today from Moscow says that a woman dies from domestic violence every 63 minutes in Russia, with more than 650,000 women beaten by their husbands and other relatives each year.
Living To Share is looking for facts and figures for countries around the world. This is not just a problem in America.
The article says that for comparison, a woman is killed in a British domestic violence case once every three days.
Living To Share has begin to raise funds for a campaign to raise awareness about this issue. Please take a moment while you’re here to make a donation to our organization so that we can begin to make a difference.
8:53 pm. Looks like it’s about time to do the raffle and for Veronica to speak for a few minutes.
Veronica is thanking the team for helping put the event together.
Gift cards have been donated from Walmart, Outback Steak House, Olive Garden, and Chili’s. Now for a Starbucks gift bag.
CoorsLight Girls donated a LED Keystone bar light, a blue Moon portrait.
And Harley Davidson donated a cool shadow box that had motorcycles in it.
8:31 pm. I just survived, barely, the dj playing the Air Supply video I’m All Out of Love.
This is turning out to be a nice event. We have nearly two full long tables of people and Veronica is going to speak in a few minutes! The CoorsLight girls helped sell some purple domestic violence awareness wristbands, some t-shirts, and made sure everyone has a raffle ticket for some very cool prizes.
8:06 pm. I’ve been having a good conversation with Vicki, a local counselor talking about domestic violence. She’s still interning but learning lots, she says. When I asked her what the biggest surprise she’s had yet she said, “By this time in my life, there’s not much left that surprises me.” She’s very insightful about the impact of domestic violence and even recommended a program called Celebrate Recovery to look into as Veronica goes further and further down the path of life.
We were talking tonight about how much better Veronica is doing in December 2010 than she was back in April right after the incident at home. If you don’t know the story, her attorney, Julie Lucio helped her get a protective order in November of 2009.
After repeatedly notifying local law enforcement of violations her estranged husband broke into her home at 1:30 am and tried to kill her. Miraculously she was able to flee, but he set the house on fire and then sadly, took his own life.
8 pm. The CoorsLight girls have handed out buttons that you take a picture of and text it in to be entered in a drawing for two Super Bowl tickets! So cool. Thanks, CoorsLight for being a supporter of our organization.
7:18 pm. We’ve been joined by a local domestic violence support group counselor. Veronica is updating her now about the week’s developments–being invited to speak to two law enforcement organizations in the DFW in 2011, one local and one statewide; and one local womens auxiliary group, plus she heard from a DFW legislative office updating her on some key legislation that will include a stalking provison.
7:05 pm. Veronica reports that a person eating here and not affiliated with the event just made a nice contribution.
6:53 pm. Very cool! Veronica is handing out Living To Share brochures. We will be posting the brochure on the site tomorrow so anyone can download it and learn more about the LTS mission.
6:45 pm. (Apparently there is a huge flaw in trying to do WordPress updates in Safari on an iPad. In the text entry box, there’s no way to scroll down, so when you do updates for a live event, you have to keep adding them to the top of the document!). News Flash: It looks like at least one of the CoorsLight girls is here. Yes, I said, CoorsLight girls!
6:30 pm. Set up continues. Things are picking up. Veronica brought in three boxes of t-shirts to sell. She has a cool banner donated by a local Fast Signs! I’ve now met Veronica’s cousin Jeremy, his son Carlos, and Veronica’s friend Kate.
6:20 p.m. Set up continues. Veronica is running around making preparations and has been joined by LTS Treasurer Judy. The tables now are set up and it’s clearly going to be a big night here in event that’s slated to begin at 7 p.m. The banner is going up. It was donated by FastSigns which will certainly be lots of use!
6:10. Veronica arrives with balloons decked out in a Living To Share t-shirt. And has door prizes from some great sponsors, including the able assistance from the punctual staff here at the Addison Pointe Sports Bar and Grill.