In a town council meeting at the end of September, Miami Mayor Sammy Gonzales proclaimed October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“During this month, we reaffirm our commitment to support breast cancer research and to educate all citizens about its risk factors, detection and treatment,” Gonzalez’s declaration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month read in part.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign held every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into itscause, prevention, diagnosis,

treatment and cure.

“The Town of Miami seeks to improve services for victim survivors of domestic violence and prevent future acts of domestic violence through public awareness . . . We hold forth a vision of a community free from domestic violence,” read parts of the second proclamation.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first observed in October 1987, evolving from a 1981 “Day of Unity” conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In 1989 Congress officially designated October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and has done so every year since.