This week we are highlighting one of our advocates of the month. We started this initiative within our coalition to give our programs the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the amazing advocates that they have on staff. Advocacy is a difficult job and they are such a fundamental part of supporting survivors, so we wanted to make sure that our advocates across New Mexico know that we see them and value their hard work and dedication to the cause.
This is part two of a two-part episode to honor two amazing advocates that were nominated by Linda Tollefson of El Refugio Inc. in Silver City, New Mexico. Linda nominated both Diana Gordillo and Clarissa Sierra for their outstanding work and we are honored to have them as our April Advocates of the Month.
Clarissa's Bio:
"Clarissa Sierra is a 28-year-old mother of two beautiful and outgoing daughters, Serenity and Savannah, and is the youngest of her 3 older brothers and twin sister.
Clarissa is always up for a good laugh and spending time with her family and friends especially when it comes to being her daughters’ biggest fan on the side lines at sporting events they partake in. Before starting at El Refugio, Inc. she served 8 years in the New Mexico Army National Guard and was a Detention Officer for 4 years with the County of Grant.
Clarissa became a Victim Advocate with El Refugio, Inc. in January of 2021 and since then has helped with empowering many survivors of domestic violence and their families. As a victim advocate with El Refugio, Inc. she assists domestic violence survivors in getting domestic violence protection orders, supports them through the court process, and she also spends many hours doing outreach in her community. As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Clarissa is dedicated to the cause of empowering survivors, being a voice against domestic violence and spreading awareness in her community."
You can find out more about El Refugio, Inc. at https://www.eridv.org/
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there is help available. Please call The Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit their website on a safe device at www.thehotline.org. Or find your nearest New Mexico domestic violence program at https://www.nmcadv.org/find-nm-resources. You are not alone.
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