NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Two friends are taking on a mission assist families that have been affected by domestic violence homicides.
Dr. Cheryl Chavers and Marquita Moring Westray have a heart for providing assistance for those impacted by childhood trauma with backgrounds in social work.
The duo launched the Luca Project in partnership with the Newport News Police Department Domestic Violence Team.
The Luca Project is inspired by Lucinda Moring Hicks, combining the first three letters of her name and the word Luca, which means “bringer of light.”
“I know that my mother’s always shining down on me,” said Moring Westray.
Lucinda is described as a loving mother that was an active member of Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, and an employee at the naval base.
“I was very much impacted by [a] domestic violence homicide when I was a young child, age eight years old,” said Moring Westray, who is now a Norfolk State University staff member of the Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work.
“My stepfather killed my mother… pretty much in the presence of me. She died six days later.”
Moring Westray remembers the January 1981 attack that changed her life forever.
“We were coming home. It was late in the evening. My mother and my stepfather had already been legally separated,” said Moring Westray. “He had basically stalked us that evening. He surprised us [while] getting out of the car. He attacked my mother, and that was the last night that I saw my mother.”
At just, 8 years old, Moring Westray recalls trying to help her mom.
“I was injured during the course of the attack. Little ole’ me at the age of eight years old, [I] thought that I could take him out. I tried to get him off of my mother. He turned around and he hit me with the object that was part of a carjack… [that] is what he was hitting her with. From that point on, I have to say that my community… they showed up,” said Moring Westray. “I ran to my neighbor’s house. They were able to contact my maternal grandparents, who I did end up going to live with.”
The clergy at Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Raymond Dean, along with her family and my community, stepped up to help raise her.
“We were so wrapped with love and support from all of those individuals and entities that just showed up,” said Moring Westray. “I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for such an overwhelming love of individuals.”
The Luca Project
The Luca Project provides support for families that have been affected by domestic violence homicides by connecting them to resources, advocacy, and support. The initiative has a focus on caretakers caring for the children who’ve lost a parent due to domestic violence homicide.
Over the years, Dr. Chavers, the Domestic Violence Specialist with the Newport News Police Department, noticed a gap in resources for those impacted by deadly abuse.
“Dr. Chavers and I know how important it is for that village to be strong when families have suffered through tragedies and traumas,” said Moring Westray. “We want our families out here to know that they’re not alone.”
“We’re so elated that the Newport News Police Department has seen the vision to implement this community effort. We want to break the cycle of domestic violence, and the Luca Project is one of those initiatives that will help to break that cycle,” said Chavers. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to provide support to this very unique population, and we’re hoping that the community can come alongside us to provide some donations. We’re looking for clinical support for the families. They’ve experienced so much tragedy… that they shouldn’t have to want for anything. Our community should step up to the plate to be able to help these families.”
Many caregivers must move into a larger home to help children in mourning.
“They have to get them into therapy, clothes, [and] shoes,” said Chavers. “There are needs that extend for a very long time. If the community can help us in that regard, that would be wonderful.”
Reflection Reception
In Oct. 2024, the Luca Project welcomed children and caregivers to a Reflection Reception.
“It was a lot of mixed emotions. I was so glad that they did show up because you just don’t know when grief affects individuals,” said Moring Westray. “Sometimes some people go into a shell. We had extended the invitation. We were honored that they did show up. The kids were allowed to go into groups to help process their trauma.”
Moring Westray shared her story in front of the participants.
“It gives them hope for their children, that they too, can rise. They will be okay,” Moring Westray said.
The families were given resources and gifts from a community member donations.
“We wanted our community members who’ve been impacted by domestic violence homicides to know that we love them, that we care about them beyond the initial loss,” said Chavers. “What happens oftentimes is that after a tragedy, people come together, but then after that, they kind of fade away. We want people to know that beyond their initial loss, that we are here for you, that we care for you, and that we want to provide support for you!”
As of Oct. 2024, Newport News Police has reported at least five domestic-related homicides. A NNPD spokesperson confirms to 10 On Your Side Investigations Team during our Break the Cycle series, five domestic homicides for the 2023.
“It’s unfortunate that our community even is impacted by domestic homicides. It should not be. That is our hope to have some type of prevention. Those families who are eligible for this program, we want them to know that there are resources here to be able to help them,” said Dr. Chavers. “We are looking for donations. We’re looking for services to be provided to these families. We definitely want to build up that piece.”
Illumination Advocacy
In the New Year, Dr. Chavers and Moring Westray plan to accept more partners to support children and caregivers.
“It is forever going to be with you. You can’t unsee. You can’t unhear, the issues and the trauma that you’ve gone through, but at least that will you have some love to lean on that can be there to provide support. It’s definitely what we want to spread out into our communities,” said Moring Westray. “Not only does the Luca Project provide services, support and resources for the families affected by domestic violence homicide, but another fold of the program is to to bring in advocates who have suffered or who have been in the position of losing a parent to domestic violence homicide.”
The Office on Women’s Health reports that children who are exposed to domestic violence have a greater risk of being violent in their future relationships. The Luca partnership hopes to change that, with Moring Westray serving at the first illumination advocate.
“Sometimes the cycle will repeat itself later on. That’s why it’s so important for us to pull support around this very unique population so that the cycle will not repeat itself, whether they become a perpetrator or become a victim themselves,” said Chavers. “That peer support especially will help to aid in that.”
“They can come into the program, provide advocacy to these families and hopefully, to be able to pay it forward to them in efforts that maybe when these children age into adulthood, they would be able to come back and do the same [thing],” said Moring Westray.
The project is starting on the Peninsula with the hopes to expand nationwide.
“The illumination advocacy piece is someone who’s had a lived experience who can provide peer support. There’s nothing like knowing that there’s someone else who has been through what you went through and you’ve experienced that similar loss. Now, this person has decided to come alongside you and say, ‘I’ve been there, I’m here to support you, and I made it, and you can make it too!’ That’s why I’m so grateful for Marquita who is partnering with us to share her story, to bring hope and light to our community,” said Chavers.
“I do believe that the Luca Project is something that can go nationally because unfortunately there are so many children who have been impacted by domestic violence homicides, and they’ve lost their parents. Now these caregivers, these caregivers who are also mourning are now taking care of these children, who are also mourning and they need our support,” said Chavers.
If you would like to serve as an Illumination Advocate or sign your family please email the nnpddvteam@nnva.gov or leave a message at 757-928-4646.
If you or you know someone who may be a victim of domestic violence or child abuse, click here for a list of local and national resources.
