This month on Voices of Taos, reporter and copy editor Emily Sender sits down for a conversation with Joella Ann Montoya, executive director of Community Against Violence (CAV).

CAV serves an area of 27,000 square miles across seven counties, and approximately 200 people per year engage with their services. Joella and Emily talk about different types of abuse, as well as Montoya’s hopes for how the organization can help lessen the stigma of seeking support and affect cultural changes around how people talk about and recognize abuse.

In addition to their emergency shelter and the CAV Thrift Store, the organization offers a wide array of services, including education for law enforcement, violence prevention and sexual education classes for students, legal and special population advocates, as well as an intervention program for offenders and a men’s program to help teach young men in the community about emotional intelligence. 

This episode discusses domestic violence. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, stalking or other forms of abuse, help is available: Call the Taos Community Against Violence HELPline at 575-758-9888, text 575-770-2706. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text “BEGIN” to 88788.