PHOENIX — Survivors, families, advocates, and state leaders gathered on the Arizona State Capitol House Lawn on Monday, October 5, 2026, for the 12th Annual Lighting Arizona Purple event. Hosted by the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF), the gathering marked Domestic Violence Awareness Month under the theme “With Survivors Always,” bringing Arizonans together to support survivors and strengthen efforts to prevent abuse.
Domestic violence affects families and communities across Arizona. Between 2009 and 2023, the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) documented 1,543 domestic violence-related fatalities statewide, including 84 in 2023 alone; each one representing a loss felt by families, friends, and communities.
“For 12 years, Lighting Arizona Purple has brought partners together for the cause of stopping domestic violence in our state, because no single agency can fight it alone,” said GOYFF Director Tonya Hamilton. “We are grateful to every advocate, service provider, and Tribal partner carrying this work forward every single day, and to the organizations breaking down silos so no one in crisis has to navigate complex systems on their own.”
The program opened with remarks from Governor Hobbs’ Deputy Chief of Staff Tracy Lopes and Director Hamilton. It also included a Tribal Blessing and a song performed by Kristopher Dosela, Leader of the Chi’Chino Spirit of the Gila River Indian Community.
Throughout the evening, speakers shared personal experiences and perspectives on prevention, advocacy, and healing. April Barbosa shared her daughter’s story and discussed founding Rosaura’s Legacy and advocating for victims’ families. Elizabeth Ortiz, co-chair of the Governor’s Commission to Prevent Intimate Partner and Gender-Based Violence, and Shreya Raman, the 2026-2027 Governor’s Youth Commission (GYC) Domestic Violence Workgroup Co-Chair, also addressed attendees.
Memory Dawn Long Chase, domestic violence response director at the Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition, Carey Onsae-Namoki, executive director of the Hopi Coalition to End Abuse, and Jenna Panas, chief executive officer at ACESDV, spoke about their work alongside survivors and the importance of ongoing support throughout the healing process. Lauren Easter closed the program by sharing her experience as a survivor.
Beginning October 11, 2026, the Arizona State Capitol Executive Tower will glow purple as a symbol of Arizona’s support for survivors. The GOYFF invites agencies, businesses, and residents across the state to participate by lighting their buildings and homes purple.
To help Arizonans take part, the GOYFF’s Digital Toolkit offers downloadable graphics, sample social media messages, and the 2026 Arizona Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month Proclamation. Visit EndDV.AZ.gov to download the toolkit, learn about the campaign, and find state and national resources.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, you are not alone. Help is available:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Free, confidential support is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
- Arizona Sexual and Domestic Violence Helpline: Call 1-800-782-6400 or visit arizonasurvivors.org.
