Maisie Tenorio speaks at the Rotary Club of Saipan meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.
AT a meeting of the Rotary Club of Saipan on Tuesday, Feb. 25, Maisie Tenorio, executive director of the NMI Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, spoke about how the private sector can empower employees to combat violence at home.
Tenorio was the guest speaker of the Rotary Club, whose theme for February is “Peace and Conflict Resolution.”
Citing the potential of private companies to effect “positive change in the world” through their influence over employees, Tenorio urged Rotarians to “create and enforce policies that support domestic violence survivors.”
She said the NMICADSV trains supervisors and managers to “identify [abuse] red flags.”
“We really encourage you to share info about domestic violence and express your commitment to…supporting victims and survivors,” she said. “It’s critical that leaders speak out on these issues. Learn what domestic violence is about.”
“Talk about respect, equity and consent,” she added. “Create an environment for all of these things to become normalized. It’s really important and critical for leaders in our community to set the tone.”
Tenorio spoke about “Donna” (real name withheld), a survivor of “extreme abuse at the hands of her husband.”
Tenorio said “Donna” was physically abused and threatened and was prevented from working so she wouldn’t have the means to leave the relationship.
“Donna’s” husband wanted to “control every aspect of her life.”
When “Donna” found a job and an apartment, she was able to run away from the abuse, Tenorio said, but she didn’t qualify for food stamps or Medicaid and her income was quickly spent on food. She didn’t have enough for rent.
“Her biggest fear was losing her job,” Tenorio said. “In her words, she said her job was the only thing keeping her from going back to her abusive husband. For ‘Donna’ and many survivors of domestic violence, having financial security or economic empowerment is key to leaving their abusive partners for good. When they have financial resources, it helps them leave for good. ‘Donna’s’ story is scary and is very sad but it’s not unique and it’s a very real story here in the CNMI.”
Tenorio said Rotarians could contribute to Flexible Funding, which provides money to pay for the immediate needs of victims and survivors of abuse.
“If we come together and pool resources — something I feel that Rotary is very good at — to help her and others meet their basic needs, we create space and opportunity for her and many other victims in the CNMI to build a fulfilling life free of violence,” Tenorio said.
