CHAPEL HILL – The Compass Center, a family violence prevention organization, is holding an event to commemorate its one-year anniversary this Monday, July 8.

The Compass Center formed by merging the Orange County Women’s Center and Family Violence Prevention Center.

The event, called Martha’s Day, is meant to start a community conversation about domestic violence, not just in the local area, but around the state, according to Ann Gerhardt, executive director of the Compass Center.

“We’re fortunate in our community to have these resources available, but there have been 19 domestic violence related deaths in North Carolina since January 2013,” Gerhardt says.

The event will be taking place at Vimala’s Curry Blossom Café, from 6 to 9 p.m.

“We’ve had a flood, but there’s also an opportunity here to come out and support an event that is all around us in our community,” Gerhardt says.

Martha’s Day will include a performance by the Mahalo Jazz Trio and a raffle for an iPad.