Monitor photo/Carla Gray
East Texas Crisis Center Survivor Advocate Kayla Glidewell (left) and Advocacy Coordinator Scotti Smothermon are guests at the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon Aug. 14. To volunteer call (903) 509-2526 or email volunteerprogram@etcc.org.
 

Monitor photo/Carla Gray
East Texas Crisis Center Executive Director Nichole Henry is the guest speaker at the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon Aug 14. If you or someone you know needs help due to domestic violence, please contact East Texas Crisis Center at https://etcc.org/ or call the hotline at (800) 333-0358. 

Monitor photo/Carla Gray
Public Relations Representative for Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative Joy Long (from left), The Monitor’s Director of Sales and Marketing Janice Grubbs-Vincik, Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Chair Marty Mullins, Simmons Bank Mortgage Loan Officer Tamara Hahn and Wealth Advisor Lee Montgomery discuss local businesses at the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon Aug. 14. 

Monitor photo/Carla Gray
The Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon is a time of fellowship with local business and city leaders. Gun Barrel City Community Engagement Coordinator Brooke Hairl (from left, front row), Gun Barrel City’s City Manager Dr. Angie Smith, Learning with Miss Laura’s Laura Young and The Monitor’s Director of Sales and Marketing Janice Grubbs-Vincik (back row) enjoy visiting before lunch is served.

Monitor photo/Carla Gray
The Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon is held each month. The chamber selects a Business of the Month that goes above and beyond with donations, volunteering and support in the community. The Business of the Month for August is KRT Realty Group of Keller Williams. Realtor Kimberly Capps (from left), Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Chair Marty Mullins and realtors Ally Kurtal and Lynsey Grissom are proud to receive a certificate for Business of the Month from Mullins.

GUN BARREL CITY‑The Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon was held Aug 14. The guest speaker was Executive Director of East Texas Crisis Center Nichole Henry. 
Henry has devoted her life to serve others. She spoke of the East Texas Crisis Center saying, “The East Texas Crisis Center, has been an agency serving East Texas for over 46 years. We continue to make sure that we are providing the support and services that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault deserve. We have offices in Henderson, Rains, Smith, Wood and Van Zandt counties.”
Henry explained, “Domestic violence is a plague in our community. People often say, it will always be here, it is what it is. But there are ways that it can change. There are ways that we can end domestic violence.”
To show the impact that the crisis center, is making, according to Henry, in 2024 the crisis center served over 1,000 women and children in the five counties the center serves. That included about 144 from Henderson County.  Out of that there were 48 in Athens, 17 in Chandler, 12 in Gun Barrel City, 16 in Mabank, and 14 in Malakoff. Henry continued, “Over 144 women and children needed our services last year, and we showed up for them.” 
Henry divulged that 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. And that is just the number that is reported, she said. Henry spoke of how the impact of trauma can be long-lasting, especially for children. Henry said, “We know that boys that grow up in homes witnessing their mom being abused are 10 times more likely to grow up and be an abuser. Girls that grow up in an abusive home are six times more likely to be abused when they have a partner. So, we work to make sure that we are stopping that generational cycle of abuse. Making sure that the youth know that there is a better way, that there is hope out there.” 
Henry declared,“The most dangerous place for a woman is in her own home. But hope is here. Hope is that confident expectation that things can get better, that there is a better way, that you are worthy of a better way, that there are options out there, that this does not have to end this way.”
Henry said, “What ends domestic violence are programs that we have just implemented, like the domestic violence high-risk team. What we do is, we collaborate with law enforcement, with the court system and with the parole and probation [departments], to make sure while we are providing services to survivors, we are holding the offender accountable, because that is how you prevent domestic violence in the community, by making sure we address the issue. Since the domestic violence high-risk team launched in Oct. 2023, this year since January we have already served 65 high risk cases.”
In May, the crisis center launched the transitional housing program. This is the first housing program that the crisis center has sponsored in it’s 46-year history. It is for long-term support (up to two years) of rental assistance, transportation, child care, finding employment and going back to school. According to  Henry, that is “so that she can rebuild her life and have the support she needs.”
If you are looking to help with East Texas Crisis Center, Henry said, “We are always looking for volunteers, we cannot do this work alone. It is a great work, it is a righteous work, but we need community support. We need volunteers in the office, come to Tyler to volunteer at the shelter, assist with answering the hotline, lawn care or cleaning services for the offices. That helps us make sure that our funding dollars go toward services and not just the care of daily operations. We are also looking for board of directors out in the community, we need representation in the other four counties that we serve. Also, advocate for change, for policy change, law change and within your own family. If you see someone and wonder about her safety, reach out or contact us to reach out. We have an amazing team, and we want to have a presences in the community.”
If you or someone you know needs help due to domestic violence, please contact East Texas Crisis Center at https://etcc.org/ or call the hotline at (800) 333-0358. To volunteer call, (903) 509-2526 or email volunteerprogram@etcc.org.