STCC partners with YWCA to provide resources for victims of domestic violence
Dugana Celestin
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College is working with the YWCA of Western Massachusetts to provide free counseling services for students and employees who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
Dugana Celestin, STCC-YWCA campus advocate, works as part of the Safety and Advocacy for Everyone (SAFE) Project and the STCC Community Coordinated Response Team (CCRT). The SAFE Project is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW).
The STCC CCRT is a multidisciplinary team of campus and community partners working to reduce sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking through prevention, education and responsive support.
Celestin is available to offer counseling services and offer referrals if people need other services. She will also assist in raising awareness about sexual and relationship violence.
STCC will collaborate with Celestin to host events in April, which is recognized as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. April events include a self-defense program on the campus green in partnership with the LEAD Leadership and Mentoring Program at STCC and an engaging men event in partnership with the Office of Multicultural Affairs at STCC.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with STCC as a campus advocate,” Celestin said. “Many students at STCC might not know that we provide these services. We have created a safe space for students to come forward.”
Cynthia Breunig
Cynthia Breunig, SAFE Project Director, said Celestin and the YWCA play a critical role in efforts around prevention and responding to students and employees experiencing dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
“These issues are widespread. This is not about STCC per se,” Breunig said. “It impacts all communities and colleges and universities. Our goal is to create a campus-wide, trauma-informed response. Our campus will provide victims and survivors counseling with the option of being confidential.”
Celestin counsels people facing a range of domestic violence-related issues. “When people think of DV, they tend to think of physical abuse, but it’s a spectrum. Sometimes it’s verbal or emotional abuse,” she said. “A lot of people don’t pay attention to the mental and emotional aspects of DV.”
Celestin can relate to victims, as she has experienced abuse in her past. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, she came to the United States at the age of two. Her family moved around during her childhood. At 22, she left her abusive home and was briefly homeless but managed to get back on her feet.
She worked in a teen shelter with at-risk homeless youth for a few years. In April of 2021, she started work at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts as a domestic violence counselor. Over the past year, she has worked with clients and learned more about domestic violence and the range of issues victims and survivors face.
Celestin works on the STCC campus on Mondays from noon to 5 p.m. to provide services virtually or in person. She is also flexible to counsel clients during other days and times during the week.
Anyone who needs advocacy or counseling services, or knows someone in need of help, can contact Celestin at advocate@stcc.edu or leave a confidential message at (413) 319-2368. In an emergency, call 911. To speak with someone after hours, call the YWCA Hotline at (413) 733-7100.
To find out more information, visit the STCC’s Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Resources page at stcc.io/dv. Learn more about events on the #STCCWeCan page. Visit stcc.edu/resources/stccwecan.
#STCCWeCan is an initiative of the STCC Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) Campus Program grant that seeks to engage the campus community in the shared work of preventing sexual and relationship violence.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequalled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu