Contra Costa's 9th Annual 'Men of Merit' Celebration Is Thursday

STAND! For Families Free of Violence and Contra Costa’s Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative on Thursday will honor 17 men who have demonstrated remarkable commitment to ending community violence and will strengthen awareness for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The event is :

Thursday, October 23, 2014, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Mt. Diablo High School, Romaine Hall

2450 Grant Street, Concord, CA 94520

At the 9th Annual Men of Merit event, 200 community members and leaders will celebrate everyday heroes, revisit the declaration to prevent violence against women and girls, and encourage the community to be empowered bystanders.

Men of Merit Honorees:

Congressman George Miller,

Lieutenant Jim Alcorn,

Daniel Beath,

DeVone Boggan,

John Boylan,

Max Bridges,

Tim Calvin,

Mike Fields,

Robert Gomez,

Christian Hutchings,

Milton Johnson,

Isidro Llanos,

Armando Martinez-Lopez,

Kenny McGaugh,

Michael Pitts,

Timothy Russell,

Jerry Zimmerman.

Special guests include eight years of Men of Merit alumni, Contra Costa County District Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Contra Costa County Chief Probation Officer Phillip Kader, and City of Concord’s Chief of Police Guy Swanger.

Keynote speaker Senator Mark DeSaulnier, California’s 7th district, has been an integral part in making Contra Costa County communities safer.

As a former Concord City Councilmember, former Concord Mayor, and longtime small business owner, Senator DeSaulnier truly understands the importance of strong and healthy families. He has co-authored several bills that address issues of family violence.

Men of Merit honorees participate in the DELTA Project and are nominated by community members.

The DELTA Project is a community-wide initiative that brings together leaders from across the county to teach young boys and men that strength does not equal violence and to prevent domestic violence.

Honorees come from diverse backgrounds and professions, and they sign a pledge to stop intimate partner violence in their families, schools, and work places.

ABOUT STAND! FOR FAMILIES FREE OF VIOLENCE

STAND! has served Contra Costa County communities for over 35 years and is the County’s sole provider of comprehensive domestic violence and child abuse services. STAND! has become one of the largest family violence service providers in Northern California and provides a three-pronged model of Intervention, Treatment, and Prevention services designed to surround the problem of family violence from all sides: intervening when violence strikes, supporting victims as they rebuild their lives, and guiding the community as a whole toward nonviolence. STAND! serves more than 10,000 men, women, and children each year. Visit www.standffov.org for more information.

ABOUT ZERO TOLERANCE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INITIATIVE

In 2000, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors founded the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative, a comprehensive, coordinated, and community-wide effort to reduce domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in Contra Costa County. Authorized by the California Legislature as the first Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence County, the initiative aligns policies, practices and protocols, coordinates services, and creates a climate where violence and abuse are not tolerated. Zero Tolerance functions on the principle that no one entity can do it alone; placing emphasis on public systems and private providers working, advocating, and taking concerted action together. Visit www.contracostazt.org for more information.