Pinwheel garden turns attention to abuse

Southwest Junior High School is drawing attention in the form of a pinwheel, marking child abuse prevention awareness.

The garden was planted by students attending a Wednesday ceremony hosted by Amberly’s Place Family Advocacy Center. It was to recognize April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Five hundred pinwheels were planted outside the Junior High, said Trevor Umphress, executive director for the center. The center’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect, and improve the quality of life for all families.

“The 500 pinwheels actually represent children who came through our center in 2017 and began their journey from victim to survivor,” said Umphress.

San Luis acting chief of police Richard Jessup addressed over a dozen students about the importance of speaking up.

“You may not be a victim of child abuse but you may know somebody who is and there is a way that you can reach out to do that,” Jessup said.

Among the 30 or so attending the event were Southwest Junior High School students, San Luis Vice Mayor Maria Ramos, representatives from Chicanos Por La Cause, and Amberly’s Place.

Go to www.amberlysplace.com for more information about the advocacy center.