Toni Terrett honored with Community Awareness Award

One of Alcorn State University’s mass communications instructors was recognized for her stance against domestic violence.

Toni Terrett received the Mississippi Coalition for Domestic Violence’s Community Awareness Award Thursday, Oct. 6 at the 7th annual Purple for Peace Ceremony at The Hilton in Jackson, Mississippi. The award is given to individuals who are working to help bring awareness to domestic violence prevention efforts. The ceremony was held in honor of October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Terrett, who also serves as a municipal court judge in Vicksburg, Mississippi, feels proud to have been awarded for her dedication to spreading awareness about domestic violence.

“I was very humbled and honored to be recognized in this way,” said Terrett. “In the last several years, I have learned a lot about domestic violence through various trainings I have attended and through my work as a municipal court judge.”

The negative effects of domestic violence are the reasons Terrett gives her time to finding a solution to the problem.

“Domestic violence affects not only the two people in a relationship, but it can have lingering effects on their children, extended family and the community at large. We have to acknowledge these issues and try to resolve them so that our families will be stronger and future generations can have a more positive outlook without all of the turmoil and stress that comes from living in a violent household.”

Terrett advises those who may be struggling with domestic violence to seek help.

“We can’t ignore domestic violence. While it is true that some relationships are so toxic until the individuals don’t need to be together, domestic violence awareness is also about strengthening the foundation for those who are seeking help with having a peaceful, healthy and happy household.”

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