Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Victims of abuse in American Samoa, now have a special place for a tender loving care (TLC) and understanding. Located in downtown Fagatogo, on the ground floor of the Tedi of Samoa building, the resource center is called JESSICA’s Place.
JESSICA is where you can download your problems, relax and enjoy the company of someone with a caring ear and time to give you all the attention needed.
The new resource center was opened last week Friday, October 2, 2023 to perfect timing — it's Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Jessica’s Place is named after Jessica Fuimaono, a woman who was murdered by her estranged husband in March of 2020 leaving behind her five beautiful children.
With the blessing of her mother, according to a data sheet from Back on Track, a non-profit, volunteer-based community outreach organization, they decided to name their Resource Center after her, in memory of her and all victims of Domestic Violence to help the community “realize and remember the tragedy of domestic violence and the horrific nature of living as a victim of violence.”
Founder and Executive Director of JESSICA's Place, Ms Mona Uli has a message for everyone.
"No one should turn a blind eye and tell ourselves, ‘it’s not our business’. “
“Domestic Violence is everybody’s business.”
The Grand Opening or Open House for the downtown center was attended by concerned residents of American Samoa. The opening included Joseph Elisara with the soothing sounds of his guitar, and a member of the American Samoa Alliance for Strengthening Families, a local advocacy group of which Ms Uli is also a member, read the Governor's Proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Back on Track is a volunteer-based organization relying heavily on members of the community to assist as facilitators, youth mentors, tutors, leaders and advocates.
Derek Helsham, an ASCC instructor and co-chair of Back on Track’s Executive Board, led the opening with a moment of silence in honor of all victims of Domestic & Sexual violence, while Mary Anne Peck read a few select poems, and Rachel Tilo-Leiato offered the prayer/ blessing for Jessica's Place.
Ms Uli told Samoa News that ”we were honored to have DPS and the AG's office share a few words.
“I believe the message was that we all need to be at the table and to work together to partner, collaborate and to network together to end domestic and sexual violence here in American Samoa because we all have a part to play.
“The domestic special research center, is a place where victims can come and meet with advocates, get help, research, connect to legal services and use office computers and more.
“It's closed to the general public as we want to keep it a safe place for any victims’ survivors to know that they can come here.”
Victims can also meet with their attorneys or their advocates in this place.
Ms Uli, who is a victim advocate, spoke of her local experience.
Ms Mona Uli speaking at the opening ceremony of a new resource center, Jessica’s Place, located at the Tedi of Samoa building.The sponsor of the new center, not-for-profit agency Back on Track, is offering a safe place for victims of abuse (men, women and youth) while they seek help. Ms Uli is the founder of the non-profit organization that is a volunteer-based service provider. For details, read story in the Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 issue. [courtesy photo]
“There was no place to meet with them and I used to meet them at McDonald's or other places where it was not safe for victims.
“I also work at the Legal Aid office; I escorted victims to the High court for their protection order.
“When that's over we'd be standing by the road waiting for a ride … an open target.
“This is why it’s important to have a nearby saferplace like JESSICA now.”
Ms Uli has already met with victims at the new place, “and it’s so nice to walk them across the street, file a petition and walk back into the safety of our office.
“Why we named it JESSICA's Place, as a couple of years ago there was a victim of domestic violence where a husband set fire to his wife and she died the following day, leaving five children behind.
“It was a horrific case and a common problem when a woman tries to leave an abusive relationship.
“JESSICA was the actual victim, and we got her mom’s blessings to name this place after her.
Inside the new office there are pictures of different women, and men — who can be victims as well.
Ms Uli says, there is no available statistics for American Samoa but in the Pacific three in five women are victims of abuse.
“I have worked for five years, where the Alliance is doing awareness but not service provision, I wanted to do the service provision, I wanted to do advocacy and I started my own and called it Back on Track.
“We had the opportunity to go to Samoa and meet with other service providers there at the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) and police.
“While locally we are working with the Alliance to better understand our system and it helps by dealing directly with victims who want to do protection orders.
JESSICA’s Place is also working very closely with the DHSS Department of Human resources Services, through their program called Adult Protective Services, providing shelter for victims of domestic violence.
There is also the Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence, an organization that does transitional housing and offers workshops and other related aid.
JESSICA’s Place believes in the importance of partnerships with everyone bringing a piece to the table, and we all need to work together, Ms Uli exhorted.
Asked how to sustain JESSICA’s Place, Ms Uli said, ASG is helping via the ARPA grant, by paying for the lease and the rest is funded by donations.
Special thanks goes out to Neil’s ACE Home Center for all the furniture, as well as Mr. Toa Scanlan of Samu Gas Station, Ms. Ella Gurr of PPTCAS, Mr. Solip Hong of KS Mart, the Am. Samoa Community Cancer Coalition, the Am. Samoa Alliance Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, the Am. Samoa Government — CJPA / ARPA Funds, Mr. & Mrs. Andre & Faalagiga Glaude, Mr. & Mrs. Will & Sisi Spitzenberg, and the McConnell Dowell Group.
She also noted that she is working on a partnership with the local telephone companies to enable victims to access a free life line number, as the only way for a victim to reach out for help is through a paid phone call to 272 3213 and 633 2222.
The center is open from 8 am to 3 pm Monday –Thursday, while Friday is for groups, she said.
The center on Saturdays, is also offering “Sober Saturday” for substance abuse groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon for friends & family of Alcoholics, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, WRAP Groups, etc.
If you want to help to sustain the center — while cash gifts are welcomed, Jessica’s Place does have a Wish List: books & toys for kids, small filing cabinet, printer, (2) laptops, (2) flatscreen monitors, headsets, cell phones, basketballs & volleyballs, projector, and camera.
Also don’t forget — they are a volunteer-based non-profit organization — gifting your time is most welcome as well.
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