At the October 14 Washington Township council meeting — the only meeting of the month, as the second was rescheduled — Mayor Anthony DellaPia and the council proclaimed the month of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, both of which are nationally recognized.
In addition to the proclamations, council honored individual Washington Township survivors of breast cancer and domestic violence.
“When we give out proclamations, we love the idea of (giving it) out to (somebody or) organizations. We love (to have) somebody (come) to tell their story (at the meeting),” said Peter Del Borrello III, president of the council.
During the start of the council meeting, council first acknowledged Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Del Borrello invited Simone Herbin-Canty, a local resident and breast cancer survivor, to speak to the public. Her family stood beside her as she talked about being diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2024 (specifically stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast) and how she “did not look at it like a death sentence.”
“I look at it like it was a blessing, because getting cancer changed my life. It changed me for the better to be able to be a voice for those that did not make it. I’ve met many people along the way. One was a lady named Terry, who had metastatic breast cancer and succumbed to the cancer,” Herbin-Canty said. “So tonight, I stand here as a shining light to be able to say, breast cancer is not going to take anyone else away. We are going to fight and fight for a cure, and I dedicate this award to Terry. May her family know that she didn’t pass away in vain, that I am here for her every single day, holding the torch to say we are going to fight and find a cure.”
Councilman Joe Harris then presented the proclamation to Herbin-Canty, as well as “the individuals who face life’s greatest challenges, and transform their experiences into a source of hope, inspiration, and a service to others.”
After, Del Borrello introduced Amanda Esposito, a survivor of domestic violence, to honor her and proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Domestic violence survivor and advocate Amanda Esposito at the October 14 Washington Township council meeting.
Esposito is a local resident and the founder of the Washington Township-based organization The Compass Revival Project, which helps other victims and survivors of violence.
“This is not an award. This is a recognition of people that are too afraid to speak up, people that feel like they have to stay quiet, and I don’t mind putting my name on it,” Esposito said. “I have a mission to make sure that everybody is heard, no matter what seat they’re sitting in, no matter what side of the aisle of the room they’re in.”
“I am here, and even if God forgot about me, I’m still here. And it would be a waste if I didn’t make sure that I was helping in some way,” she continued.
She then played an audio recording of a motivational speech paired over an instrumental version of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” It was directed towards her perpetrator, made up of lines like, “I will never forgive you, but I forgive me for letting you steal what should have been the time of my life,” and “I will never forgive you, but I forgive me for the strength I spent finding a way to survive.”
Esposito’s child, Charlie, also presented an art piece that blended the colors red, white and blue make purple, which is the color used to represent domestic violence awareness and survivorship.
Councilwoman Dana Pasqualone then presented the official proclamation, where she honored “Esposito and the Compass Revival Project, whereas every woman deserves to live free from violence, fear, and abuse, with the opportunity to build a future around its safety, dignity, and hope, and whereas domestic violence affects individuals, families, and communities, and those experiencing abuse deserve compassion, support, and the reassurance that they do not have to face their circumstances alone.”
The next council meeting was held on Wednesday, November 4. Information on this meeting can be found in our December edition.
Breast cancer survivor and advocate Simone Herbin-Canty at the October 14 Washington Township council meeting.
