On Thursday, Oct. 26, victims of domestic violence and their supporters will meet on the steps of the Bad Axe County Courthouse for a candlelight vigil to support Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Speaking at the vigil will be 2000 Oxford grad Jill Collins Brown, who’s dedicated her life to helping victims of domestic violence.
The 24-year-old will be speaking about topics relavant to domestic violence and reading powerful poems from victims nationwide who were effected by this heinous crime.
Collins Brown, a resident of Sandusky, Michigan, serves as a Services Training Officer in Prosecution (STOP) worker in conjunction with the Bad Axe prosecutor’s office and law enforcement.
When a domestic violence case gets authorized, Collins Brown interviews the victim(s), arranges for the victim’s items to be safely removed from the home, helps in working on Personal Protection Orders (PPO) and helps in custody arrangements.
She’s also a victim advocate of Huron County’s Human Development Commission in partnership with SafePlace, a shelter in Bad Axe that organizes the annual vigil.
Also speaking at the vigil will be Amy Kain, manager of SafePlace and the assistant prosecutor of Bad Axe.
A harpist will play soothing music during the vigil.
Collins Brown said she always wanted to help people and believes the problem of domestic violence needs more attention.
‘I want to do everything possible to help (victims) have a voice and guide them through the court system,? she said.
Collins Brown has her associates degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oakland University.