09/21/2025
Breaking the Silence: WE@IAPAC Hosts Powerful Conversation on Domestic Violence
Houston, TX — August 29, 2025 — The Indian American Public Affairs Council (IAPAC), through its WE@IAPAC women’s empowerment initiative, hosted a profoundly moving evening titled “From Silence to Strength: A Community Conversation on Domestic Violence and Legal Rights.” The event, held at the beautiful Raindrop Foundation facility, brought together community leaders, legal experts, nonprofit organizations, and survivors to confront one of society’s most pressing yet often hidden issues.
The evening began with a warm welcome from Jagruti Sarkar, IAPAC’s Director of Communications and Chair of WE@IAPAC, who set the tone by highlighting the importance of shining light on a problem that remains in the shadows of many communities. Dr. Roopa Gir, President of IAPAC, followed by explaining IAPAC’s broader mission of civic engagement, while noting that this year’s women’s empowerment focus on domestic violence was born out of urgency: “This issue is so prevalent and yet so often remains unspoken. Tonight, we break that silence.” An engaging question-and-answer session followed, where attendees pressed the panelists on how to bring these resources into their neighborhoods. Many voiced a common refrain: that more such forums are needed, and that the wealth of information and resources shared by nonprofits and the District Attorney’s office must be disseminated widely to empower vulnerable families before it is too late.
