History, Mission & Goals

History:

In 1998, the Longmont community had a series of violent domestic violence incidents in which victims were not receiving the services and support they needed to leave abusive relationships. Five women and their children were murdered as a result. These assaults significantly impacted our community.

As a direct result, a coordinated community-wide awareness and response to domestic violence was developed. The response was named LEVI (Longmont Ending Violence Initiative), a collaborative group of over 30 agencies that provide resources to combat domestic violence.

Mission, Vision & Goals

MISSION STATEMENT: To establish a coordinated community-wide awareness and response to domestic violence within the boundaries of the St. Vrain School District, which primarily includes the City of Longmont.

VISION: LEVI acknowledges domestic violence is a serious and prevalent social problem affecting the quality of life in the City of Longmont. We desire to provide our residents with easy access to quality services as well as the tools to aid friends, family, and co-workers when signs of domestic violence exist. We firmly believe that by working in unison, we can effectively bring attention to domestic violence in our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. 

GOALS:
• PREVENTION/EDUCATION. Empower the community to end domestic violence through educational and informative presentations, trainings, and public events. 
• ACCESS/REFERRALS. Identify resources and respond to gaps to provide access to services for those seeking assistance.
• PUBLIC INFORMATION. Heighten community awareness and action, as well as change public opinion and social behavior toward domestic violence by raising awareness and providing public information.

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Longmont Research:

After a series of extremely violent domestic assaults that took place between 1998 and 1999 in Longmont, LEVI began a comprehensive study in order to address the issue of domestic violence. The information gathered by this study and the report, formulated the direction LEVI was to take in our community: 

Information gathered by the study:

  • Over half of the Longmont community has had some personal experience that impacted their attitude about domestic violence. 
  • The community believes the police can’t solve the problem alone nor should they. 
  • One-third of the Longmont community has witnessed a domestic violence incident. 
  • People don’t help because they believe it is someone else’s responsibility. 

LEVI wants you as a friend, family, or co-worker to know how to effectively intervene early on and direct a victim, survivor, or abuser to the resources that can help stop this behavioral pattern. LEVI currently provides the Longmont community with several resources: 1) a one-stop referral point for non-emergency access to domestic violence resources, 2) prevention/education materials for friends, family, and co-workers to assist a victim, survivor, or abuser to seek help and 3) public information to heighten community awareness and change public opinion and social behavior toward domestic violence. Through our combined efforts, LEVI can help anyone find a path to effective resources and adequate services for themselves or those they care about.