This month is teen dating violence awareness month, and last night a local community organization held a vigil to highlight the cause.

The National Council on Crime and Delinquency reports one in three American teenagers experience some form of abuse by an intimate partner. In New Iberia, teens, parents, and community leaders united through a vigil to spread awareness.

The Iberia Parish vigil was held at Bouligny Plaza and featured music, poems and statistics about violence in relationships.
             

Chez Hope, an organization serving victims of domestic violence, organized the event. Organizers said this is just the beginning of change they hope to bring to the community.

“Education is part of intervention and prevention. And at Chez Hope we are firm believers that education is the key to preventing domestic violence,” said Executive Director Cherrise Picard.“Chez Hope has three school programs that we present. Hands are not for hitting, bully-free kids and teen dating violence. So we go into the schools and we present these programs. So, tonight is just a highlight of that. It’s the beginning,” Picard added.

Chez Hope already held two vigils in St. Mary Parish. Tonight, a vigil will be held in St. Martin Parish at the St. Teresa of Calcutta Center. It begins at 5-30.