Dela Cruz is recipient of 2016 Bridge of Light Award

Elaine Cabrera Dela Cruz, front row center, poses for a group photo with family members after the recent Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation signing ceremony where she was named the recipient of the 2016 Bridge of Light Award. (Contributed Photo)

The Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence recently named Elaine Cabrera Dela Cruz as the recipient of the 2016 Bridge of Light Award at the Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation signing ceremony hosted at Saipan World Resort.

The annual Bridge of Light Award is presented by NMCADSV to honor the accomplishments and sacrifices of one extraordinary individual who has worked diligently to provide safety for the community, to work to end domestic violence and sexual assault, and to be a “bridge of light” for victims and survivors in the CNMI.

This year’s BOLA recipient, Dela Cruz, is currently a counselor at Karidat Social Services, which is a nonprofit organization that serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. She is also a facilitator for the Division of Youth Service’s Parent Education Program and currently working to become a certified substance abuse counselor.

In addition, Dela Cruz has worked as a counselor at the Community Guidance Center’s Victims of Crime Advocacy program and the CNMI Public School System, where she also taught at the Head Start program and the first grade.

According to Dela Cruz’s nominator, who is a survivor of domestic violence, Dela Cruz was instrumental in helping them through the difficult process of separating from their abuser, achieving safety, and working toward healing.

The survivor wrote that they were nominating Dela Cruz “because of all the hope, truth and encouragement that she showed not just in my life but also in the lives of fellow victims and survivors.”

“Congratulations to Elaine for being this year’s BOLA recipient,” said Eulalia V. Arriola, NMCADSV board chair. “Thank you for your hard work, compassion, and dedication to help others.”

“Hearing stories like this from survivors makes us feel honored to be able to give back to someone who has made a difference in our community and the movement to end violence,” said Arriola. “We’re also very grateful to the Tan Siu Lin Foundation and Delta Air Lines for their continued support and generosity in sponsoring the Bridge of Light Award self-care treatment package.”

This year’s BOLA included a number of prizes from the Tan Siu Lin Foundation and a travel voucher from Delta Air Lines to attend either a self-care retreat, or a training/conference on domestic violence or sexual assault.

After being named the recipient of the 2016 Bridge of Light Award, Dela Cruz took time to thank other first responders. “I’m also grateful that I work with superheroes and these superheroes are the women and the men that we serve who find the courage to seek help.”

“And when we provide help we create hope and with hope we start to create the path to the bridge of light for them,” said Dela Cruz.

October is also federally and locally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For more information, contact the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence at 234-3878 or email info@endviolencenmi.org.