Latest news with #Merna
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Center for Prevention of Abuse awarded $20,000 grant
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Rotary Club of North Peoria awarded the Center for Prevention of Abuse $20,000 during its club meeting at the Barrack's Carter Inn on Thursday. These funds were raised during the Rotary Club's 'Mardi Gras 2025: Taking Action to End Human Trafficking' event in February. The event shared information about human trafficking locally and around the world. Carol Merna, CEO of the Center for Prevention of Abuse, said the grant will supply critical support for the Center. 'Human trafficking is when freedom is stolen. From illicit massage facilities to factories and brothels to farms and panhandlers caught up in a begging ring to cleaning crews and domestic servitude, human trafficking is the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world, and it is a serious issue right here at home,' Merna said. 'Our work to serve survivors, and CFPA's efforts to educate and train on awareness and prevention, are our core responsibilities, but we cannot do it alone. We are deeply grateful for the Rotary Club of Peoria North for their partnership and their commitment to the many thousands of people affected by this heinous human rights issue.' Rotary Club of Peoria North to presents $20,000 to combat human trafficking The Center provides services for victims of violence. It is the only agency in Illinois that provides services for Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse/Assault, Human Trafficking, Adult Protective Services, and Prevention Education under one roof. During the meeting, a $9,000 grant was also awarded to the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery. Anyone who wants to report a human trafficking incident can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rotary Club of Peoria North to presents $20,000 to combat human trafficking
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Rotary Club of North Peoria announced it will be awarding the Center for Prevention of Abuse $20,000 on Thursday. That grant plus a $9,000 grant to the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery will be presented during the club's weekly meeting at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday at the Barrack's Carter Inn. These funds were raised during the Rotary Club's 'Mardi Gras 2025: Taking Action to End Human Trafficking' event in February. The event shared information about human trafficking locally and around the world. Mardi Gras celebration raising money to end human trafficking Carol Merna, CEO of the Center for Prevention of Abuse, said the grant will supply critical support for the Center. 'Human trafficking is when freedom is stolen. From illicit massage facilities to factories and brothels to farms and panhandlers caught up in a begging ring to cleaning crews and domestic servitude, human trafficking is the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world, and it is a serious issue right here at home,' Merna said. 'Our work to serve survivors, and CFPA's efforts to educate and train on awareness and prevention, are our core responsibilities, but we cannot do it alone. We are deeply grateful for the Rotary Club of Peoria North for their partnership and their commitment to the many thousands of people affected by this heinous human rights issue.' The Center provides services for victims of violence. It is the only agency in Illinois that provides services for Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse/Assault, Human Trafficking, Adult Protective Services, and Prevention Education under one roof. The Rotary Action Group Against Slavery uses funding to support Community Awareness & Prevention Education projects around the world. Rotary Club of North Peoria President Ashley Schreck said she wants everyone involved in ending human trafficking. 'By boosting awareness and supporting human trafficking services, Rotary Peoria North wants to encourage more people everywhere to get involved in ending human slavery,' Schreck said. Anyone who wants to report a human trafficking incident can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Center for Prevention of Abuse CEO reacts to Karina's Law bill signing
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Victims and survivors of domestic violence now have another option to help protect themselves. On Monday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4144 also known as Karina's Law, which allows law enforcement to confiscate firearms from people whose FOID card has been taken away due to the issuance of orders of protection. Pritzker signs 'Karina's law' to remove guns from domestic violence situations Carol Merna, CEO of the Center for Prevention of Abuse, remarked how monumental this bill is. 'It affects everyone,' she said. 'When we can provide a blanket response that's available to them through law enforcement, we know that it's something that's going to stick. We know that it's something that people are going to find deep comfort in.' The center has personnel at courthouses in Tazewell, Peoria and Woodford County who assist with filing orders of protection. Merna said that when someone files an order of protection with the court, there is an option for a firearm remedy, which will create a search warrant to have any firearms removed from the person filed against. Once the order of protection is filed, the court has 96 hours for the search warrant to be executed and remove the firearms. 'That emergency order of protection that people seek through at the Center for Prevention of Abuse is often the first step to leaving a very violent or abusive relationship,' Merna said. 'Whatever we can do to accommodate that survivor or that victim, we want them to know that we're here for them. We believe them, [and] to give them all the tools possible to say safe.' Merna says 54% of domestic-related homicides nationally involve a firearm. Jose Alvarez allegedly shot and killed his wife, Karina Gonzalez, and her daughter in July 2023, just weeks after she filed an order of protection against him Alvarez also allegedly shot their son, but he survived and voiced to have his mother remembered through this bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
