Houston officials, survivors mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month as AVDA and Clear Channel unveil yearlong billboard campaign

Council Member Kamen opened a Domestic Violence Awareness Month event Oct. 1 at City Hall, announcing a yearlong billboard campaign by AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) and Clear Channel Outdoor that will rotate five designs across Houston and neighboring counties in English, Spanish and other languages.

The campaign, a 10-year partnership between AVDA and Clear Channel, is intended to publicize support resources and encourage people to report abuse and seek help. "AVDA holds a special place in my heart," Kamen said, noting the group’s outreach and the need for the media and community to destigmatize domestic violence. Kamen cited national and state figures to frame the problem, saying "1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience physical violence from a partner in their lifetime" and that a firearm in a domestic violence situation makes it "five times more lethal."

Myesha Coulter, AVDA’s CEO, said the organization has provided legal services, batterer-intervention programming and community prevention for 44 years. Coulter described AVDA’s civil-legal help—divorce, custody, child support and protective orders—provided free to people leaving abusive relationships, and outlined AVDA’s batterer intervention and prevention (BIP) program as an 18-week, group-based program that includes psychosocial assessments and a required nonabuse plan at completion. "Our unique services in this space are legal representation free to individuals who are leaving abusive relationships," Coulter said, and she reiterated AVDA’s phone number for survivors.

Two survivors spoke. Megan Varakas identified herself as a domestic violence survivor who said her abuser later plotted to have her killed; she credited the Houston Police Department’s Major Crimes Division and AVDA’s therapy and services with saving her life and described ongoing volunteer work with the organization.

Local law-enforcement and criminal-justice officials used the event to quantify demand for services and press for action. Kim Ogg, Harris County district attorney, said domestic violence is the most commonly filed crime in Harris County and provided caseload figures: "In 2023, we filed 16,524 domestic violence cases," she said, and through September 2024 the office had filed 12,263 cases with 53 murders to date. Ogg said officials "will consider legislation to strengthen the protection for crime victims" in upcoming sessions.

Julie Pleasant, police administrator for the Houston Police Department, thanked partners and described the risk to victims and first responders, saying about "1 in 5 of our homicides have been domestic violence intimate partner" and urging anyone in danger to call for help. Lieutenant John Klofka, speaking for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, noted teen dating violence as an underreported problem and provided contact numbers and text options for victim assistance in English and Spanish.

State Representative Jolanda Jones, who identified herself as a survivor, described a multi-year abusive relationship and promoted two awareness events she is hosting, including an Oct. 17 lethality-assessment event at Texas Southern University. Jones presented certificates recognizing Clear Channel and AVDA’s partnership.

Lee Vela of Clear Channel Outdoor said the digital and surface boards will be rotated across Houston and surrounding counties and that the company’s yearlong commitment seeks to reach "millions of people" who may need help.

Organizers closed with bilingual outreach plans: AVDA and the mayor’s office said they would provide Spanish-language remarks and sound clips, and attendees posed for photos. Officials directed people seeking help to avda.org and to the hotline and text numbers provided during the event. Several speakers urged legislative and community support rather than leaving the issue solely to law enforcement.

The event concluded with no formal votes or policy actions; speakers said they expect continued outreach and potential legislative proposals in future sessions.