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Vivian Sablan is 2019 Bridge of Light awardee
2019 Bridge of Light awardee Vivian Sablan, seated center, with her staff at the Division of Youth Services of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs. (Iva Maurin)
Vivian Sablan is this year’s Bridge of Light awardee.
The award, presented by the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, honors Sablan’s work to end domestic violence and sexual assault in the Commonwealth.
Sablan, who is administrator for the Division of Youth Services of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, was honored as the recipient of the Bridge of Light award during the signing ceremony for the proclamation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month last Tuesday at the Saipan World Resort.
Sablan was chosen for her diligence to providing safety for the community, to working to end domestic violence and sexual assault, and to being a “Bridge of Light” for victims and survivors in the CNMI.
For the past 15 years, she has worked at the DCCA where she initiated the DDYS’ volunteer program, foster care program, and emergency shelter program, among many others.
In her speech to accept the award, Sablan gave credit to the collective efforts of the DYS staff at the Saipan, Tinian, and Rota and their colleagues at DCCA.
“I firmly believe that the commitment and dedication to ending and preventing domestic violence lies in the power of engaging community agencies and community members at all levels,” Sablan said. “As we empower families and connect them to vital services, we continue to [enable] strong and happy families at the CNMI.”
At one point during her speech, Sablan asked everyone to look to the person to their right and say “To be survivor strong, we need to be community strong.”
The Bridge of Light award honors the accomplishments and sacrifices of one individual who exemplifies the mission to promote, nourish and sustain a collective movement to end domestic violence in the CNMI.
