Tommi Vincent Shares Personal Story of Survival at Niagara University’s “Living in Light: The Art of Healing'

For the past eight years, Niagara University has given the victims of domestic violence a voice through an exhibit of artworkreflecting their journeys, experiences, hopes, and dreams called "Living in Light: The Art of Healing."

This year's event, which was held Oct. 8 at the Castellani Art Museum on the university's campus and featured Tommi A. Vincent, an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and leader in the movement to end domestic violence, was both powerful and poignant.

Vincent, who shared her own personal experience as a thriving domestic violence survivor and her mission to transform her pain into purpose by normalizing the conversation, not the behavior, encouraged those in attendance to read the stories of the survivors who created the artwork that was displayed throughout the room.

"If we center survivors in the work that we do, we'll get it right," she said. "But if you remove the survivor from the story, if you remove the survivor from the narrative, we will get it wrong, because it's not about us and our expertise, it's not about us and our institutional knowledge. It is about the survivor and them being able to educate us about what they need, so that they can move beyond survival to thriving.

"I want to thank Niagara University for creating this type of atmosphere that gives us permission to freely talk about an important subject matter, because everyone has been impacted by this issue," she continued. "I still get triggered. But you know what? When you come into spaces like this, you recognize there's power in numbers."

Vincent is a respected voice and fierce advocate for survivors. She is passionate about developing curriculum and resources to help communities process and heal from intimate partner and intracommunal violence, and aims to help children, women, and families learn the warning signs to prevent it. As the immediate past chairwoman for the National Domestic Violence Hotline board of directors, Vincent has been recognized for her advocacy for lifesaving funding, crisis counseling, safety planning, and other supportive services to help survivors of domestic violence.

Vincent is on the board of directors for Survivor Justice Action and Womanspace and has served as a keynote speaker for fortune 100 companies. Her work has been featured in leading print and broadcast media including the New York Times, WayMaker Journal, Hallmark Home & Family, Savoy Magazine, The Undefeated, NewsOne, CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, and WGN.

In 2023, Vincent and her husband, Troy, executive vice president of the NFL, established The Vincent Commission in partnership with Niagara University. The commission includes research and education efforts centered on the perceptions, experiences, knowledge, perpetration, and victimization of gender-based violence among college students.

"Tommi Vincent exemplifies the strength and resiliency of the survivors of domestic violence, and we are honored that she is here to share her story with us," said the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., Niagara University president. "Through our shared work with the Vincent Commission and events like 'Living in Light,' we are fostering an educational environment that focuses on the dignity of all people in our community, continuing our commitment to finding solutions that address gender-based violence, and serving as a light for those who need our help."

Exhibits included "Harmony in Healing," a display of colorful beaded windchimes that use sound and art to foster emotional release and empowerment; "Found Healing," artwork created using objects typically considered worthless; "Voices of Survivors, Visions of Strength," which highlighted the courage of survivors who shared their stories; "Tree of Strength," symbolic trees that represented personal journeys, growth, and strength; and "Voices of the Brave, Strong and Resilient," featuring artwork created by those who experienced abuse during childhood.

Niagara University students also contributed to the exhibits with "Niagara's Light in the Darkness," a display of purple lights forming the letters "NU," each representing a student who pledged to stand in solidarity with victims of domestic abuse; and "Silhouettes of Strength," which incorporated motivational quotes and affirmations to reflect the inner strength of survivors. They also created the outdoor display of "The Clothesline Project," a collection of T-shirts with messages to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence, which was exhibited inside the museum, as well.

In addition to the artwork, the event featured an exhibit of ribbon skirts designed and created by members of the six nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in 2021 as a way of showing unity and sisterhood for missing and murdered Indigenous women; a 16-square quilt made by women in the Tuscarora community that represents what domestic violence means to them; and the "Silent Witness Project," a reconstruction of a national traveling memorial honoring the 27 individuals from Niagara County who were killed in acts of domestic violence-two more than were part of the exhibit last year.

The Office of Violence Prevention and Education, which presents this event each year with its community partners in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, also displayed red flags on the lawn in Gacioch Circle as part of the national Red Flag campaign, a public awareness initiative designed to encourage college students to intervene when they see a warning sign ("red flag") of partner violence.

"Niagara University is taking a proactive approach to encourage others to become active bystanders and allies in collaborative work on college campuses and in the local community. This event allows us not only to raise awareness about dating violence, but also to provide an opportunity for our community to learn more about the services and resources available in our area," said Emily Pike, director of the Office of Violence Prevention and Education.

The event was first held in 2016 and organized by Dr. Dana Radatz, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice and director of the graduate program in criminal justice administration, and Dr. Jennifer Beebe, professor of clinical mental health counseling. Both professors are still actively involved in its organization.

"The Living in Light event provides a unique opportunity for campus and community members to learn more about domestic violence through the lens of survivors and victims within Niagara County," said Dr. Radatz. "Furthermore, attendance at the event allows campus and community members to show their support and bear witness to the messages shared by survivors through their artwork."

"One of the most important things we, as a community, can do is promote awareness and education surrounding domestic violence, as well as encourage victims to come forward and feel supported, to make sure they have a voice, and to show we care and know that help is available," added Dr. Beebe. "This is especially important to a university campus, as individuals aged 18-24 are most at risk for domestic and dating violence victimization. We believe that in order to reduce domestic violence, we need to increase awareness and education and provide a voice for the often oppressed and silenced."

Several community organizations collaborated to host the event, including Pinnacle Community Services, the Castellani Art Museum, the Child Advocacy Center of Niagara, Niagara County Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance Unit and DV Intervention Program, the Seven Dancers Coalition, and the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier.

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