GTA announces ALEE Shelter as newest ‘Empowered by GTA’ community partner

Tamuning, Guam, Friday, December 18, 2020 - As the island prepares to celebrate Christmas, the holidays can bring additional stress and challenges for some families, especially victims of sexual and family violence.

Victims often seek support and a source of safety to rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma in their own homes. The ALEE Shelter, a charity under Catholic Social Service, serves as a safe, stable housing program so women and children can recover from abuse and move forward in life.

By welcoming the ALEE Shelter as an 'Empowered by GTA' partner, advocates can continue to provide victims with the services needed to achieve their long-term safety and stability goals and cater to the needs of young children struggling to gain normalcy in their lives.

Laura Nelson Cepeda, Director of Public Relations and Corporate Citizenship, says, "The trauma that victims of abuse face is heartbreaking. They must feel so alone, unheard and helpless. As a company and as a community, we must do what's possible to put our best foot forward to aid these beautiful, strong survivors. ALEE Shelter provides a place of safety and hope for these individuals who otherwise would be stuck in darkness. We are honored to welcome ALEE Shelter as our 'Empowered by GTA' partner and help be a light for these courageous children."

Leinani Nahalowa'a, ALEE Shelter Program Manager, says, "Our community has survived violence in all forms and its lingering effects. It is in our nature as an island people to take care of one another, despite our experiences of cultural trauma. We must stand together to stop violence in our homes, in our community, and against our children. Thank you, GTA, for being ALEE's partner and bringing awareness to our community about our program and where people can receive support to hear from domestic violence and sexual assault."

'Empowered by GTA' provides essential telecommunication services and technology offerings to allow non-profit groups and organizations to thrive, further create a sense of connection to the community, and empower others.

Our 'Empowered by GTA' partners also include Duk Duk Goose, Inc. (Nihi), Heights Academy, HunterSpeaks Organization, Harvest House, and Sylvan Learning Center.