NoCo Event: Ex-Wife of D.C. Sniper Will Share Her Story of Survival

As the ex-wife of the D.C. sniper, Mildred Muhammad knows the horrors of domestic violence all too well.

But instead of dwelling in the past, she uses her voice to inspire other domestic violence victims to turn their stories into ones of survival.

She'll be sharing her wisdom with Northern Colorado at the 4th Annual Purple Ribbon Breakfast for Alternatives to Violence (ATV), an organization that provides shelter, advocacy, and more to victims of any kind of violence.

The event takes place from 7-8:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 2 at the Embassy Suites in Loveland. It is free to attend, but please register here beforehand.

The breakfast will not only feature the inspiring stories of Muhammad and others, but it will also provide an insight into what Alternatives to Violence does for the community.

"We do have a shelter...for people who are escaping abusive relationships. We also offer advocacy...they can come in and get help and resources that they need," said Kari Clark, the Executive Director of ATV, in our "Tuned In to NoCo" interview. "All those things, we're there for them."

The organization also offers education to the public, so that individuals can recognize if they or someone they love is in an abusive situation.

Clark noted that abuse is not just physical. It can occur in many forms, some of which include emotional, verbal, financial, sexual, and religious abuse.

Because abuse is not always easy to spot, it is important to be aware of the warning signs, and to know what to do in a violent situation.

"[Abuse] is about power and control. What's really hard for loved ones and friends [of a victim] is the person being abused can't accept it," said Clark. "The most important thing is to let them know that you're there for them. What they need from their support system is understanding."

To learn more about Alternatives to Violence, The Purple Ribbon Breakfast, and domestic violence in general, listen to the full "Tuned In to NoCo" interview with Kari Clark below.