Staff Spotlight: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Sonia Corrales

The Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) has been at the forefront of providing services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking since 1977. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA), a federal law that has been a game-changer in our fight against violence. VAWA is more than legislation; it’s a shield that protects survivors’ safety and privacy.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Deputy CEO, Sonia Corrales, a key member of our HAWC team who has dedicated over 32 years to advocating for survivors. As a proud Latina, Sonia recently represented HAWC at the White House for VAWA’s anniversary celebration! Her dedication reflects the strength and resilience of our community. VAWA enhances protections for immigrant survivors including self-petitioning relief.

For over three decades, Sonia has dedicated her career to ending domestic and sexual abuse. Serving on numerous local, state, and national boards, committees, and task forces, her unwavering dedication and longstanding commitment to our mission exemplifies the spirit of our organization.

“I came to Houston from the vibrant borderland community of El Paso, Texas in 1992 to begin my journey as a bilingual counselor at Houston Area Women’s Center. As a young Latina, I was eager to immerse myself in the city’s Hispanic population and found a community that embraced diversity, shared heritage, and the complexities of identity. I am deeply grateful to this community for nurturing my two daughters, Gina and Veronica, who now advocate as Native American and Latina feminists. Our story has become an integral part of the Houston Hispanic community’s narrative of survival, resilience, and triumph.” – Sonia Corrales, Deputy CEO

Domestic violence is a widespread public health crisis that crosses all socioeconomic, religious, and cultural lines, disproportionately affecting women, particularly women of color from historically marginalized communities. Hispanic survivors often face additional barriers to seeking help, including fears of deportation and language barriers.

According to the National Latin@ Network, about 1 in 3 Latinas (34.4%) will experience intimate partner violence in her lifetime, and 1 in 12 Latinas have experienced IPV in the past 12 months.

Since 1991, HAWC has developed education programs specifically for the Hispanic community, integrating advocacy efforts into our core work.

As our city’s Hispanic population has grown and diversified, so too has HAWC’s client base, which is now 45% Hispanic. Our staff, 48% Hispanic and 43% bilingual, is dedicated to understanding and addressing each survivor’s unique cultural challenges.