By Maegan Ortiz
The East Los Angeles College Community can help women and their children transitional shelter by participating in a supply drive on campus.
The drive is just one of many events organized this month by ELAC’s Violence Intervention Team, a group of faculty, staff, administrators and community professionals dedicated to violence prevention.
According to information on ELAC’s website, the team tries to prevent violence through raising awareness, providing resources and educating people about the different forms that violence can take and by trying to create a campus culture free from fear.
Tiffany Rice Ph.D., Psychology professor at ELAC and Co-Team Lead of Violence Intervention Team said it is important to have a wide range of activities to try to reach as many students as possible.
“We have events this month focusing on the LGBT population,
student athletes and events that have traditionally drawn participation from women, men and transgender students at both Main Campus and South Gate Campus,” Rice said.
The team has held film screenings, HIV testing, self- defense demonstrations, and Denim Day activities.
According to the Los Angeles House of Ruth website, the organization strives to provide a caring and supportive environment and temporary shelter as a way to empower women away from dependency and towards success and independence.
Items requested for donation include basics like toiletries, feminine hygeine care and baby care products.
Some of the residents of the shelter have infants to care for
“Students have been very receptive to attending the events. The students have always been very participatory and interested in the events and using this information for themselves and others close to them,” Rice said.
For more information, visit losangeleshouseofruth.com.