Commission proclaims October 2025 Domestic Violence Awareness Month after local advocacy presentation

Joe Elliott, executive director of Community Alternatives to Violence (CAV), and representatives from the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPIC) asked the Berkeley County Commission on Sept. 18 to adopt a proclamation designating October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Elliott, joined by Claudia Bentley (CAV board member) and Nicole Rowe (director of outreach services, EPIC), said community coordination is central to supporting survivors and preventing domestic violence. "Domestic violence affects each and every one of us," Elliott said, urging residents and officials to recognize the issue and the available community resources. The commission moved, seconded and adopted the proclamation, and the clerk recorded the vote. County staff and the presenters noted EPIC and CAV will hold events and outreach during October to raise awareness and funds. The proclamation adopted by the commission states Berkeley County "does hereby proclaim October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month" and encourages county employees, officials, agencies and residents to cooperate in raising awareness and supporting survivors. CAV and EPIC representatives thanked the commission for the time to present the proclamation.