Michael Campion This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. MNSUN - News

   www.mnsun.com/story.asp?city=B - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/27/2005   Last Visited: 1/27/2005

   The luncheon at Brackett's Crossing, sponsored by the Community Action Council, the Lakeville Police Department and Manley Land Development, drew Michael Campion, Minnesota commissioner of public safety, as its keynote speaker this year.
   
   Campion said the luncheon serves a number of important functions in domestic abuse prevention.
   
   "Anytime you recognize people in a field doing good work, it's positive," said Campion. "Also, when you get practitioners and advocates together, communication is enhanced and those people have the opportunity to compare notes on what's working and collaborate to do their jobs better."
   
   During the 20 years since the luncheon began, Campion said there have been significant improvements in the numbers of domestic abuse and in domestic abuse prevention.
   
   Campion said the high attendance is a testimony to the number of people who care about crime prevention, and that passion is why prevention programs work.
   
   "Human nature is such that some behavior may never be stopped," he said. "Awareness and education about victims' services, collaboration between practitioners and sharing best practices are all helpful. Although abuse is far from eliminated, there is a definite reduction in occurrences of many categories."
   
   Specifically, Campion said trends show reported domestic assault cases, deaths resulting from domestic abuse and requested orders for protection have decreased in Minnesota in recent years.
   
   Campion said despite budget shortfalls, progress is still being made to prevent domestic abuse.
   
   "Resources aren't now and probably won't be as they were five, six or seven years ago," Campion said. "But abuse prevention doesn't rely simply on money. To stop this, we need dedicated people."
   
   Campion presented a challenge to practitioners and advocates at the luncheon to continue sharing good ideas and collaborating with their colleagues.
   ...
   Campion ended his speech with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
   ...
   "Those in advocacy," Campion said, "provide a measure of justice to us all."