KILLEEN, Texas — During the month of October, Texas A&M University Central Texas is bringing awareness to domestic violence with art installations around campus.
Every week a new story is showcased on wooden silhouettes, stories of real people who've been in a domestic violence situation and ended up being murdered in Texas.
On each instillation there are written messages of inspiration and strength.
The project is a collaboration with Aware Central Texas, an organization that helps those who may need to seek refuge from a domestic violence situation, or those who may know someone going through it.
The organization and the university said they've already had positive results from these installations, noting that students have come to them saying they felt seen.
The project highlights stories that are not normally told. Many people go through some kind of domestic violence situation and never speak up.
Aware Central Texas and the University want to change that.
Executive Director of the Aware Central Texas, Jessica Gresham, said these silhouettes can start so many important conversations.
"We're here to help give these individuals a voice," Gresham said.
The project has made its way to campus for many years. The goal is to reach anyone who may be in a rough spot and get them out of it safely.
"We provide support to our faculty and staff and anyone who comes on campus," Title IX Coordinator at A&M Central Texas Jacqueline Orellana said.
Understanding the impact:
Every year, men, women, brothers, sisters and loved ones find themselves in a situation they never thought they'd be in.
They didn't get there because they chose it, they ended up in a tragic situation because someone else decided their life was not meaningful enough to love them the right way.
Every minute that passes by in the U.S., around 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner. This is more than ten-million men and women every year.
The list of statistics goes on and they impact everyone, no matter your gender, race, sexuality or religion.
The abuse is there, and Aware Central Texas is one resource across Central Texas that can help you if you or a friend are in danger.
Other resources: