In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Wurzweiler’s Care Café, in partnership with Drip Sweat Fitness Studio and Long Live Our Butterfly, Inc. (LLOB), held the third event in its Community Safety Series on Oct. 13 in Washington Heights.

Drip Sweat Fitness Studio, a community gym owned and operated by Janice Rodriguez, graciously hosted the event. With a mission to promote strength, fitness, and nutrition for all, Drip Sweat Fitness Studio serves as an accessible health and wellness hub in Washington Heights. The studio’s atmosphere of empowerment and safety made it an ideal setting for a day focused on healing, learning, and self-expression.

The event drew a full house, with activities ranging from hands-on self-defense training to informative presentations. Suzana “Suki” Komonaj, CEO of Hit Like A Gurl, an organization that provides tactical skills training for women, led self-defense sessions. Suki and her team emphasized the role of health and fitness in the healing process and taught practical self-defense skills to help community members feel prepared and resilient. Participants left with exercises to practice at home and techniques to use in emergencies.

Frances Montas, MSW and a Care Café supporter, facilitated an important presentation on domestic violence, highlighting key statistics, definitions, signs of abuse, and resources. Her talk provided valuable insights into navigating the support systems available to survivors and their families.
Wurzweiler doctoral students Oyindanola Jemilawon, LMSW, and Chanette Bovell, MSW, managed the resource table, offering one-on-one consultations throughout the event.

Through the Community Safety Series, we are reminded that the fight to overcome domestic violence is one we share together. The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a renewed sense of empowerment and responsibility to advocate for themselves and others.

Care Café extends its thanks to Janice Rodriguez of Drip Sweat Fitness Studio for providing a welcoming space, as well as to Suki Komonaj and her team at Hit Like A Gurl for their engaging sessions. Special thanks go to Care Café supporters Frances Montas, Oyindamola Jemilawon, and Chanette Bovell for their vital contributions to this successful event.

To connect with Care Café, email Kimberly Moore at kimberly.moore@yu.edu.