By Philip Haldiman
Mail | X: @PhilipHaldiman

One way to heal pain is through the expression of dance.

And nearly 200 people stepped out at a recent event in Peoria to do just that.

Chicanos Por La Causa De Colores domestic violence program hosted Dancing Toward Healing to End Domestic Violence Oct. 10 at Centennial Plaza, which was dedicated to ending domestic violence, and part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, happening throughout October.

The event featured Folklorico dancing, free pet food, free blood tests, food trucks, a pumpkin patch where individuals could paint encouraging messages for survivors, activities for the whole family, and more than 20 community resources, which included CPLC housing counseling, CPLC healthy aging program, Arizona Coalition to end Domestic Violence, Arizona Animal Welfare League, and more.

“At Chicanos Por La Causa De Colores program, we are here to connect survivors with resources, community, safe options and remind them that they are not alone. You have rights. We have shelter, case management, legal advocates, and community-based outreach. This is a big part of what we do here at CPLC, and we want people to know we are here to serve the community and help,” said Cindy Garcia, Chicanos Por La Causa De Colores domestic violence program director.

More than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Every October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, organizations and individuals unite across the country in a national effort to “uplift the needs, voices, and experiences of survivors.”

Mayra Vasquez-Chavez, media relations manager for Chicanos Por La Causa, said the event helped bring resources, connections, and healing directly to the community. She said it featured dancing because of the mental, physical, and emotional benefits it brings to healing trauma through movement.

“CPLC De Colores celebrated the survivors of domestic violence this weekend and the power of always being in motion. The event brought community together advocating support and ongoing dedication to end domestic violence by showing up and dancing our way to healing,” Vasquez-Chavez said.

Senior News Editor Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on X @philiphaldiman. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Philip Haldiman
Senior News Editor | Peoria

phaldiman@iniusa.org

Meet Philip
Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.

Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater. 

Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.

Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.