[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 82 (Tuesday, May 16, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2372-H2373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF CANTON'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT

  (Mrs. SYKES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ohio's 13th 
District champions of the week: The founding mothers of the Canton 
Domestic Violence Project, Helen Syrios, Nancy Boylan, and the late 
Gertrude Kennedy. These three courageous women founded the Domestic 
Violence Project in 1978 when domestic violence was often met with 
silence, fear, and ignorance, yet they persevered. It was their 
pioneering acts of empathy, strength, and resilience that would change 
countless lives forever.
  After 45 years, the Domestic Violence Project has provided shelter to 
thousands of battered women and children in Stark County, becoming one 
of the largest shelters in Ohio.

[[Page H2373]]

  The Domestic Violence Project provides a lifeline to survivors, a 
place where they can feel empowered, find healing, and gain the tools 
necessary to break free from the cycle of abuse.
  The courageous service of Helen, Nancy, and Gertrude regularly forced 
them to risk their own safety to help women of all backgrounds escape 
from abusive homes, and their unrelenting dedication deserves 
recognition.
  The countless lives that have been saved and the increased safety can 
be traced back to the selflessness of Nancy, Helen, and Gertrude, who 
worked so tirelessly so that no one in Ohio's 13th District felt unsafe 
in their own home.
  We honor their legacy, and together we will continue to build a 
future where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered.

                          ____________________