Domestic Violence: A Conversation and Panel with Author Dana Buckmir

Continuing the conversation about domestic violence, Darien Library, in partnership with the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, welcomes author Dana Buckmir, author of the memoir, Everything Will Be Okay.  Dana will be in conversation with  Ann Rodwell-Lawton, M.S.W., Associate Director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) and Kelly Thurston, Domestic Violence Liaison, Darien Police Department.  

About the Panelists

Dana Buckmir is the author of Everything Will Be Okay and Plenty of Laughs: One Woman's Journey Navigating the Online Dating Waters. She also contributes to a biweekly dating column called, Oh Dana that gives advice on relationship topics. Dana believes that storytelling not only entertains, but reminds us that we are sharing a collective experience that makes us a little more connected and a little less lonely. This philosophy and her teaching background inspired her to create a workshop and coaching program, Write your story: From Idea to Publication where she mentors aspiring authors.

Ann Rodwell-Lawton is the Associate Director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC). Ann oversees DVCC's community initiatives, direct services programs, and quality assurance efforts. She integrates victim-centered approaches and brings a trauma-informed lens to the work at DVCC. Ann has worked in the field of domestic and sexual violence for ten years and earned her Master's in Social Work from Hunter College with a concentration in community organization, planning and development. 

Kelly Thurston has been a police officer with the Darien Police Department since 2018.  She earned a Bachelors of Science degree in education from Central Connecticut State University and also worked as a physical education and health teacher in Naugatuck, Connecticut prior to joining the force. 

About the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC)

Since 1980, the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) has provided counseling and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence and their children. DVCC is the only state-certified agency recognized by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) providing direct services to victims in the communities of Norwalk, Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, Westport, Weston and Wilton.    

DVCC’s role is to help those experiencing any level of domestic violence and assist them in building a safer environment for the well-being of themselves and their families. Services include housing and financial advocacy, legal advocacy, trauma-informed individual and group counseling, and emergency safe housing.   All victim services are free and confidential, and all services offered are multicultural/multilingual.

About the Darien Police Department’s Domestic Violence Liaison Unit

The mission of the Darien Police Department’s Domestic Violence Liaison Unit is to protect, assist and empower victims of domestic violence and to hold batterers accountable through intervention, arrest, education of the community and department employees, and by working in partnership with domestic violence family support services.

The Darien Police Department's Domestic Violence Liaison unit was established in 2004. This unit assists victims of domestic abuse navigate their way through the justice system and identify appropriate resources for assistance. Currently, five Darien Police Officers act as Domestic Violence Liaisons: Lieutenant Alison Hudyma, Sergeant Keri Isaac, Sergeant Mauricio Vigil, Detective Elizabeth DiIorio and Officer Kelly Thurston. Victims can complete a form allowing a member of our Domestic Violence Liaison unit to contact him/her for further assistance.