(Decatur, GA — 11/18/2025) The DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office continues its
commitment to empowering and protecting survivors of domestic violence, especially those
facing unique barriers in our diverse community.

This week, the Victim Advocate Unit, led by Brenda Puebla, Director of Victim-Witness
Services, hosted a powerful Lunch & Learn with New American Pathways, an organization
dedicated to serving and supporting immigrant families.

Puebla said the session “provided deeper insight into the complex challenges immigrant
survivors often encounter. These challenges are often compounded by language barriers,
cultural expectations, immigration fears, and limited access to resources.”

Supporting immigrant survivors requires a community-wide effort. “We’re thankful to partner
with the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office. In many cultures, like mine, for
instance, there is incredible shame when women leave their husbands. That cultural stigma,
combined with systemic barriers, puts many families at greater risk of not seeking help,”
said Bahishta Nadir, Victim Advocate with New American Pathways.

During the training, the Solicitor-General’s Victim Advocate team also heard from Family
Advocate Laja Tengi and Sarah McCormick, the organization’s Senior Manager of Health and
Wellbeing. Together, the advocates highlighted the ways abusers may misuse power and control,
leveraging cultural fears, immigration status, and social isolation, to keep immigrant women
trapped in dangerous situations.

These insights help advocates better recognize warning signs and provide more informed,
culturally responsive support. Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling thanked the New
American Pathways team for their partnership and for providing critical knowledge that
strengthens the county’s survivor-support efforts.

“Community partnerships like this make us stronger,” said Solicitor-General Coleman-
Stribling. “When we understand the unique experiences of every survivor, we can better
protect, support, and advocate for them.”

The Solicitor-General’s Office remains committed to ensuring that every survivor in DeKalb
County, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to safety, justice, and
compassionate support.