As the night turned dark and the temperature dropped a few degrees, a crowd of people gathered in Centennial Park in downtown Porterville to do what has been done for a quarter of a century — hold light against the presence of darkness. The Central California Family Crisis Center’s 25th annual Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil wasn't just a ceremony, but a collective act of remembrance, resilience, and love.

A display of colored t-shirts swayed in the slight breeze, each telling a story of survival, of loss, or of the unbreakable spirit from those who refused to be defined by the violence they witnessed or endured firsthand.

Resource booths lined the perimeter of the park, offering a helping hand to those who may be seeking help from abuse of any type. Booths from the Tulare County She

See Full Page