Beyer Presents Award To Arlington Crime Survivors Advocate Candice Lopez

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today presented the bipartisan Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus' Allied Professional Award to his constituent, Candice Lopez, of Arlington. The award recognizes the efforts of individuals, organizations, and/or coalitions that directly benefit crime victims.

Candice Lopez, MPA, is an employee of Arlington County and Coordinator for Project PEACE, a county-wide effort to prevent, identify and respond to domestic and sexual violence. She is a Partner/SHIFT (Shaping Healthy Interactions For Tomorrow, a Virginia State Certified Batterers Intervention Program) and co-chair of Continuum of Care's Unlocking Doors - Domestic Violence (DV) Survivors and Housing subcommittee. She previously worked at Doorways for nearly a decade.

"I believe that survivors deserve the support and the resources that they need when they need them," said Candice Lopez. "Domestic and sexual violence is preventable - that is why I do this work. I want to thank my husband, my daughter, my family, and all those who have supported me in this work for my amazing community of Arlington which I am proud to call home."

"Candice Lopez is a strong advocate for victims and survivors in Arlington County, where her work is a cornerstone of community-wide efforts to respond to and prevent domestic and sexual violence," said Rep. Beyer, who nominated Lopez for the award. "Candice has dedicated the better part of her life to supporting survivors and victims of violence, the prevention of violence, and engaging a wide range of partners required to make this work successful. I thank her for her inspirational example, and Representatives Jim Costa and Anthony D'Esposito for recognizing Candice and those like her who are working to make a positive difference in this important area."

The bipartisan Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus was founded by Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA) and Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY).