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C H A M IN A DE MAGAZI NE
ALUMNA AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A DVO C AT E
Stresses Self-Care “[ My work] has allowed me to learn and heal as well as help other survivors learn and start their own healing journey.”
Luana Moreno ‘17 practices what she calls little “acts of self-care" every day. It’s how the Hawai'i Domestic Violence Action Center advocate ensures the difficult emotional and physical trauma she helps other people process doesn’t begin to impact her own mental health. It’s also how she makes certain she can continue to be there for them, week in and week out. When things get a little too heavy, she takes a walk. Treats herself to a coffee. Picks up her coloring pencils. Sometimes, all she needs is to go outside, take in a deep breath and enjoy the sunshine. “You can’t help other people become better if you are not helping yourself,” said Moreno, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in
Religious Studies with a minor in Psychology from Chaminade. Moreno, who is originally from San Diego, California, knew at an early age that she wanted to find a career that would allow her to help others—like she and her mother once needed help. “I was raised by my mom, who showed me that there are ways to leave and survive abusive relationships,” Moreno said. “My work goes hand in hand with my journey because it has allowed me to learn and heal as well as help other survivors learn and start their own healing journey.” When she was in high school, Moreno stumbled across Chaminade as she was looking online for potential universities to attend. She immediately felt a connection
