S.P. City Council lauds SISP for cancer, domestic violence awareness campaigns
October 21, 2011
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula City Council
Soroptimist International of Santa Paula kicked off two of awareness campaigns when they were recognized Monday night by the City Council.
Both Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in October, and Domestic Violence Prevention Month, in November, are causes actively advocated by Soroptimist International including the local professional women’s organization.
On October 26 at 6:30 p.m. SISP will be hosting a Breast Cancer panel discussion at the Limoneira Pavilion at the corner of East Telegraph Road and North Hallock Drive. Councilman Ralph Fernandez presented a Breast Cancer Awareness Month proclamation to SISP representatives Sandy Easley - also the city’s treasurer - and Heidi Juarez.
One in eight women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, more than 211,000 in 2009 alone. “Mammogram is recognized as the most effective method of detecting” tissue growths and changes that can signal cancer or pre-cancerous conditions. Such testing often precedes any obvious symptoms of cancer.
While presenting the Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation, Fernandez said domestic violence occurs in all countries among all cultures and across all incomes and living circumstances. Every nine seconds a woman is subjected to domestic violence, and Fernandez said about 1.9 million women report abuse each year in the United States.
“Women have the right to feel safe at home and in the workplace,” just as they have the right to be able to freely access to breast cancer information and testing. SISP is at the forefront of both issues by creating awareness through their “advocacy and action,” said Fernandez.
Soroptimists are “business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and around the world... they have launched a regional wide campaign,” color-coding breast cancer awareness efforts pink and domestic violence awareness programs purple.
Fernandez noted SISP, like others in the international organization, strives to help humanity overall, including men and boys, although their emphasis is women and girls.
Easley thanked the council for the proclamation, noting the October 26 Breast Cancer panel discussion is expected to include a cancer survivor, Oncology RN and American Cancer Society Relay for Life representative. She added, “Hopefully, in November” SISP will stage a similar event focused on domestic abuse awareness.
“These are both very important causes,” Mayor Fred Robinson told Easley, Juarez and SISP President Barbara Kroon, “and we wish you much success.”
