Talking Up Peace with Patricia Castillo

Patricia Castillo has worked for 40 years to end violence against women and within families. She is the co-founder of the P.E.A.C.E. Initiative based in San Antonio, Texas. PEACE stands for Putting an End to Abuse through Community Efforts. Using collaboration and community organizing she has served as an advocate, educator, and technical assistance resource to communities and organizations across San Antonio and around the world.

San Antonio has the highest rate of intimate partner violence compared to every other large metropolitan area in Texas. Thirty-five people died of domestic violence in San Antonio in 2018. From 2012 to 2017, the number of women killed by male intimate partners tripled in Bexar County. And yet, too often we avoid talking about it. It’s shameful. It’s private. It’s something kept behind closed doors. But not talking about it isn’t working. For the last year the Martinez Street Women’s Center has partnered with the PEACE Initiative, working on abuse prevention through education. We talk with women, families, couples. We explore behavior and underlying beliefs that contribute to violence as well as what healthy relationship looks like. This show is a new piece of that work. Together we’ll take a deep look at domestic violence, beliefs, causes, history, and what we can do to put an end to it. I’m Jenny Castro, and in each episode, I’ll interview Patricia Castillo, as we dig into the work and explore how we carry it forward together.

Episode 2. Recognizing Different Types of Abuse: Family Stories and Values

In this episode, Patricia and Jenny discuss various types of abuse and how they are not limited to physical abuse. The conversation delves into how emotional and psychological abuse can be just as damaging and insidious. We discuss the ways in which perpetrators use verbal abuse and manipulation to make their victims question their self-worth and decision-making abilities. We also

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Episode 4. Patriarchy and Its Impact on Domestic Violence

In this episode, Jenny and Patricia delve into the topic of patriarchy and its contribution to systems of oppression. We discuss how men can become trapped in the system and the root causes of their behavior, including a sense of entitlement and need for control. The impact of patriarchy on abusive situations and male privilege is also explored, as well

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Episode 5. Safety Plans in Abusive Situations

In this episode, we talk about the importance of safety plans for people in abusive situations. Leaving is the most dangerous time for a survivor of domestic violence as the perpetrator of abuse makes sure leaving is not an option. Survivors are afraid to leave as it puts their family members and other loved ones in danger. Building a support

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Episode 6. San Antonio’s Domestic Violence Collaborative Commission

In this episode, the Jenny and Patricia discusses the formation of the San Antonio Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence. The commission was formed after a town hall meeting was held on domestic violence, which was originally organized by Congressman Joaquin Castro. The meeting was based on a report commissioned by the mayor’s commission on the status of women, which found

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Episode 7. Understanding Protective Orders

In this episode, we talk about protective orders which they haven’t discussed in their previous shows. Patricia explains that protective orders are tools created many years ago legislated on behalf of people dealing with issues of family violence. They are created to keep people apart when it’s not safe. She also explains the types of protective orders available, including the

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