Through the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center, students mentor kids who witness domestic violence. By providing a safe space for personal expression, mentors model healthy relationships.

Faced with cuts to domestic abuse programs statewide, the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center works to remain steady on its own two feet. Agave Agape, a tequila-tasting fundraiser, provides an opportunity for the Santa Cruz community to give back to an organization that has helped countless women and families.

Throughout the month of October, domestic violence centers in Santa Cruz County have been celebrating Domestic Violence Awareness Month. But the celebration has been, at best, bittersweet.