Center for Domestic Peace, Inc.

06/24/2026

Congratulations to three members of the Center for Domestic Peace team on earning their North Carolina Victim Service Practitioner Certification through the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network (NCVAN)!

The NCVAN Victim Service Practitioner Certification Academy provides professionals serving victims of crime with more than 40 hours of intensive training designed to strengthen their knowledge, skills, and expertise. Participants earn a prestigious state-recognized certification that reflects their commitment to excellence in victim services.

These three dedicated staff members have successfully completed the certification process and will now take the next step by applying for their national credentials.

At Center for Domestic Peace, we are committed to providing the highest quality advocacy and support to survivors. We will continue working toward certifying all of our advocacy staff to ensure our team remains equipped with the latest knowledge, best practices, and professional standards in victim services.

Please join us in celebrating this accomplishment and their ongoing dedication to serving survivors and our community.

Pictured left to right:

Robert Ziegler, Director of Intervention Services
NCVAN Academy Class of Spring 2024

Rebecca Stevens, Director of Prevention, Outreach, and Shelter Services
NCVAN Academy Class of Spring 2026

Kara James, Prevention, Outreach, and Shelter Advocate
NCVAN Academy Class of Spring 2026

06/23/2026

Thank you to our Director of Intervention, Robert Ziegler, for initiating the Lethality Assessment Protocol for 3 WNC law enforcement agencies. Robert worked with the NC Department of Justice to bring this protocol and training to Sylva Police Department and WCU Police Department in Jackson County and Franklin Police Department in Macon County. We are very proud of Robert and all of the hard work he does for CDP and our community!

AG Jeff Jackson announced that three additional NC law enforcement agencies have started implementing the Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP), a life-saving approach to responding to domestic violence incidents.
Officers from Franklin PD, Sylva PD, and Western Carolina University PD will now be trained to use the LAP assessment when responding to domestic violence calls. NCDOJ administers LAP statewide and supports agencies as they implement the program.
https://mailchi.mp/ncdoj/three-law-enforcement-agencies-join-ncdojs-life-saving-domestic-violence-program?e=5d90772118

06/23/2026

🎉 Save the Date for Blue Ridge Peace Fest 2026! 🎉

Join us on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Bridge Park in Sylva for an afternoon and evening of music, food, fun, and community. Best of all, admission is FREE!

🎶 Live Music
🍔 Food Trucks
🍻 Beverages
🛍️ Vendors
🎉 Activities and More!

Blue Ridge Peace Fest is more than just a festival; it's a celebration of community and an opportunity to connect with the Center for Domestic Peace in a fun, welcoming environment.

We know conversations about interpersonal violence can be difficult, and many people are unsure where to turn for help. That's why events like this matter. We want our community to know that we are approachable, compassionate, and here to help. Whether you need support yourself, know someone who does, or simply want to learn more about our mission, we invite you to come meet us.

Together, we're working to change the narrative around interpersonal violence, promote healthy relationships, support survivors, and build a safer, stronger community for everyone.

Bring your family, friends, neighbors, and your dancing shoes. Enjoy great music, delicious food, local vendors, and an incredible day in the park while learning more about the resources available right here in our community.

Come have a party with us, get to know your Center for Domestic Peace team, and help us build a community where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered.

📢 Calling all community partners and vendors! Interested in being part of Blue Ridge Peace Fest? We currently have 10 community partner tabling spaces and 5 vendor spaces available. Click the link below to reserve your spot today!

https://forms.gle/yPrDteLLrGbfa3C8A

06/22/2026

Happy Men's Mental Health Awareness Month!

In 2024, there were 48,824 su***de related deaths. 38,977 of them were men.
https://afsp.org/su***de-statistics/

Thats just over 100 men dying by su***de every single day.

Men are hurting, plain and simple. We know that its hard to reach out for help, but to the men who are going through Domestic Violence, you can always reach out to us.

We're here for you, and we care about you.

We would also like to quickly recognize Jason Wilson for his work in the field of Men's Mental Health. Men like him truly make a difference.

06/20/2026

At Center for Domestic Peace, we spend every day caring for survivors, supporting our community, and working to create safer futures. But just as important as taking care of those we serve is taking care of each other.

Like many workplaces, we can get absolutely inundated with emails, messages, and constant communication. So, in an effort to add a little fun, connection, and laughter to the workday, our Director of Prevention, Outreach, and Shelter Services, Rebecca, has started hiding a secret code word in one work email each week.
This past week's code word was: DiscoPlatypus 🪩🦆

The first staff member to spot the code word hidden in the email and text it to Rebecca wins a prize!

Congratulations to our most recent winner, Jess!

Jess was the first to find "DiscoPlatypus" and won a gift card from Blue Ridge Bootleg Coffee. ☕

Because while the work we do is serious, building a supportive, connected, and joyful workplace matters too. Sometimes a little friendly competition and a surprise coffee can go a long way toward helping us recharge so we can continue showing up for our clients, our community, and one another.

06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth from all of us here at the Center For Domestic Peace!

We would like the African-American community to know that we see you and we appreciate you.

To the women mentioned here: , Aishah Shahidah Simmons Cultural Worker, and , each of you are an inspiration, and we couldn't do this without people like you.

Thank you for everything!!

06/16/2026

Want to do something good today?

We've got an entire emergency shelter to furnish and stock, and only so many "some assembly required" adventures left in us. Help the Center for Domestic Peace create a warm, welcoming home for families seeking refuge from interpersonal violence.

Every donation—whether it's furniture, household items, linens, kitchen supplies, toys and game, or other essentials—helps turn empty rooms into a place where survivors and their children can feel safe, comfortable, and supported as they begin their next chapter.

06/16/2026

A very big thank you to everyone who showed up yesterday to the Open House for our new Shelter!

It has been a long road to get here, and it meant the world to have all of you here with us as we cross the finish line. This shelter will be addressing a need that Jackson County has had for over a decade, and it is an honor for us to step in and fill that role. We did not do this alone, so we also have to give several shout outs to the other pieces of the puzzle who helped make all of this happen!

First, we would like to thank Center For Domestic Peace's own Board Members for their vision and consistency in making this dream a reality. Second, we would like to thank the Jackson County Local Government and Dogwood Health Trust for their considerable monetary contributions to the building process. Third we would like to thank Mountain Projects for their help in securing the land that the shelter was built upon. Fourth we would like to thank the Cannon Foundation for the generous furnishings that they provided, and Fifth we would like to thank the Evergreen Foundation and The Community Foundation of North Carolina for their generous donations as well.

Thank you all so very very much. We couldn't have done it without you. 💙💜

Photos by

06/12/2026

Just a reminder...

The Center For Domestic Peace is always here for you.

Even after office hours, and even on the weekend.

A trained Advocate is available through our hotline 24/7.

06/10/2026

Its always hard to talk about.

It's always hard to know who to tell.

You can always tell us.