Join us for an important community symposium!

Ambassador Banquet | Erie, PA | May 7, 2026

Uniting Voices. Empowering Action. Ending Domestic Violence.

This symposium offers a critical full-day training symposium dedicated to combating domestic violence by empowering communities to Recognize, Respond, and Refer.

This event is hosted by PurpleOne in collaboration with PurpleOne Partner Safe Journey and Looped Solutions.

Our Partners

Safe Journey

Safe Journey is the local PurpleOne Partner providing free and confidential direct services and outreach to adult and child survivors of domestic violence in rural Erie County, where services are not easily accessible.

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Looped Solutions

Looped Solutions provides cutting-edge technology solutions, including the Looped Fusion Purple™ SafePlace QR platform, to enhance communication and safety for domestic violence victims and service providers.

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Gabby Petito Foundation

The Gabby Petito Foundation is dedicated to keeping the memory of Gabby Petito alive by addressing the root causes of domestic violence and providing aid to victims through education, awareness, and prevention strategies.

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Event Details

Attendees

This important event is design for a variety of attendees.

  • - First Responders
    - Domestic Violence Advocates
    - Healthcare/Mental Health Professionals
    - Organizations/Businesses
    - Legal Professionals
    - Educators
    - Community Leaders
    - Anyone interested in making a difference in the fight against DV

Keynote

Speaker: Nichole Schmidt, Gabby Petito’s Mother, Foundation President & Co-Founder'

  • Nichole Schmidt, mother of Gabby Petito, will share an unforgettable keynote address—Gabby’s story. Through her personal journey of unimaginable loss, Nichole will illuminate the urgent reality of domestic violence, transforming grief into action. Her message will inspire attendees to turn awareness into advocacy, education into prevention, and community into change. By honoring Gabby’s memory, Nichole’s work ensures that no one else should have to lose their life to domestic violence. Her keynote will set the tone for a day of collaboration, empowerment, and the unwavering belief that together, we can save lives.

Training

Presenter: Jim Schmidt, Gabby Petito’s Stepfather, Foundation Secretary

  • This symposium’s centerpiece is a specialized, in-depth training session designed to elevate the role of first responders in domestic violence incidents. Recognizing that police, firefighters, EMS, and other emergency personnel are often the first point of contact for victims, this training will equip them with the enhanced knowledge and practical skills needed to save lives. The session will go beyond standard protocols, focusing on trauma-informed practices to understand the victim's perspective, effective de-escalation strategies, and methods for ensuring immediate and long-term victim safety. Participants will also receive critical training on securely connecting survivors to essential resources, including the Looped Solutions' SafePlace QR platform. This targeted education ensures that every first contact is not only protective but also empowering, creating a crucial link in the chain of support that saves lives.

Support the Mission

Together, we are creating communities united against domestic violence!

Your sponsorship commitment will help to support the mission to drive change to end domestic violence.

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