St. Pete is celebrated for its fabulous weather, beautiful vistas, world-class food scene, and thriving cultural atmosphere but its people make the city special. In appreciation, each month Green Bench shines a light on one of the many who make St. Pete unique.
In recognition of October’s designation as National Domestic Violence Awareness month, we’re focusing the spotlight on Lariana Forsythe. Since June 2017, she has served as the CEO of Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA). As the official domestic violence center for Pinellas County, CASA provides lifesaving services. Beyond being reactive, it also aims to be proactive as the organization envisions a world free from domestic violence. As CEO, Forsythe leads CASA’s efforts to bring that vision to life. Her personal journey offers evidence of the empowering possibilities embodied in the motto “Stand Up to Silence.”
Learning to Stand
Forsythe was born and raised in Phoenix. After graduating from Arizona State University, she was vice president and chief development officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix. She married and had two children, and eventually she hid a terrible secret: She was in an abusive relationship. Breaking her internal silence was the first step to regaining her life. After her divorce, she continued her full-time work and parenting, and she returned to school, earning an MBA as part of her effort to get “a piece of me back,” she said. In her case, divorce did not eliminate the danger. Forsythe had an extended hospital stay during which she heard the stories of other survivors who conceded reluctance to disclose their own narratives. She realized she wanted to do more to prevent and eliminate domestic abuse, and her interest led her to CASA.
CASA: Standing Up to Silence
As Forsythe’s experience illustrates, domestic violence isn’t always a singular, or physical, act. It is a form of control that can include verbal, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse. One in three women and one in four men will experience abuse in their lifetimes. “Standing up to silence” is more than admitting domestic violence happens; it’s raising voices against violence through advocacy, empowerment and social change. CASA’s three-prong approach includes emergency services, preventative education, and restorative programs. Its 24-hour hotline (727)-895-4912 or TTY (727)-828-1269 can help evaluate the degree of danger, prepare a safety plan, and relocate to the CASA shelter if necessary. Once immediate danger is managed, CASA can connect survivors to a programs designed to help victims and their families regain control of their lives, including counseling services, justice advocacy, housing assistance, child protection advocacy, and access to cell phones. But CASA doesn’t just react. Primary Prevention programs help affected youth transition into healthy adults. CASA resources can connect abusers to tools and resources designed to help them stop the cycle of violence.
Standing Up to Silence: Community
CASA’s vision is a community without domestic violence. If you need support, or if you’d like to help make that vision a reality, visit the website at www.casa-stpete.org.
