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Anti-Violence Advocate

Ways to Support Domestic Violence Awareness #5

Host an awareness event to support your local shelter. Examples:

  • Valentine’s Anytime Party:  February 14th only comes once a year, but Break the Cycle encourages you to celebrate healthy relationships all year round!  Valentine’s Anytime is a fun way for anyone and everyone to get involved in the movement to end domestic violence. Throw a party that’s just your style – cocktails or potluck, wine tasting or tea sandwiches – and help stop abuse.

What Can a Party Do?

A party is a great way to raise awareness and money for your local anti-violence agency programs to end dating violence.   Your local shelter will provide you with tips on how to talk about abuse and ask for donations.

For my Fredericksburg friends:  contact us at RCASA to host a party for teen violence prevention.

For my Richmond friends: contact the YWCA or Safe Harbor to support efforts in the Richmond region.

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Ways to Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month #4

Attend an event in your area that supports Domestic Violence Awareness.

Richmond, VA area events this week:

  • Participate in a Candlelight Vigil to honor LGBTQ victims of violence and hate crimes – Monday, October 4th, at 10 p.m. in the VCU Compass. Details about this vigil
  • Attend a video presentation:  “Telling Amy’s Story: A Virginia Currents’ Special” featuring a panel discussion on domestic violence prevention in our community Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2010, Time: 5:30-7:30 pm (reception at 5:30, live studio taping 6:30-7:30), Location: Studios of the Community Idea Stations 23 Sesame Street,  Richmond, VA 23235
    The taped panel discussion will follow the broadcast of the “Telling Amy’s Story” documentary on public television stations statewide Thursday, October 7 in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
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Ways to Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month #3

Wear a purple ribbon or pin all month to show your support to end interpersonal violence against women.  Tell anyone who asks what the purple ribbon stands for and how they can support efforts to end violence.

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Ways to Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month #2

Join the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance as a sustaining member.  Supporting the statewide coalition helps you support local efforts with training of professionals serving in the field, advocacy to change legislation to effect greater protections for our community, fund major campaigns to educate the general public, support primary prevention activities in all communities, and fund a state-wide hotline service for survivors and their partners and families.

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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The roots of the Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the “Day of Unity” established in 1981.  This day established by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence helped unify the efforts of advocates across the nation who worked to end violence against women.  The Day of Unity spread to a week of activities hosted by local, state, and national groups.  In 1987, the week grew to a month of dedicated observance.  While the range of activities has diversified, the common theme is to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrate those who survived and working to end violence together.  Each year, the Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

What is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence is best understood as a pattern of abusive behaviors — including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion — used by one intimate partner against another (adult or adolescent) to gain, maintain, or regain power and control in the relationship. Batterers use of a range of tactics to frighten, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, often injure, and sometimes kill a current or former intimate partner.

Domestic Violence in our Community:

During the 2008 fiscal year, the YWCA of Richmond provided 9,502 nights of shelter to 225 women and children.

  • Each year 1.5 million women  are raped or physically assaulted by an intimate partner. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2000)
  • In 2004, about 1 in 250 households included a member victimized by an intimate partner, such as a spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2004)
  • Intimate partner violence results in nearly 2 million injuries and 1,300 deaths nationwide every year.  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003)
  • Fifty to 70 percent of men who abuse women also abuse children. (National Coalition of Domestic Violence, 1999)
  • Children exposed to domestic violence at home have a significant risk of ever-increasing harm to their physical, emotional and social development and they tend not to do as well in school. (UNICEF and The Body Shop, 2006)

 

Where to get help

 The Richmond YWCA has a 24-hour hotline for free crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling and support   www.ywcarichmond.org 804-643-0888

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE [7233] or TTY 1-800-787-3224 help is available to callers 24 hours a day,

The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline www.loveisrespect.org, 1-866-331-9474 or TTY 1-866-331-8453 provides help and resources, including confidential online support, for teens who are concerned about what is going on in their relationships.

http://dvam.vawnet.org – provides more information.

 

 

During an attack (from the YWCA website)

  • Call the police as soon as your partner becomes abusive – dial 911. Tell the person who answers the phone that you are being beaten and that you need immediate help. Give them your name and address.
  • Try not to let the batterer trap you in the kitchen (too many potential weapons) or the bathroom (too many hard surfaces).
  • Do not threaten him with a weapon – it can easily be turned against you.
  • Try to proceed with your escape plan.

Upcoming events in Fredericksburg – Show your support and learn how to help

Check www.rcasa.org/events for more information

October 12 – Stop by RCDV’s candlelight vigil at St. Episcopal Church in King George and support DV awareness.  Visit RCASA’s table and see what services for survivors we have.

October 16 –  Visit RCASA’s booth at the Caroline County Harvest Festival.

October 27-29 – RCASA is collaborating with SAVE and RCDV on The Red Flag Campaign – a campus focused campaign implemented in Virginia by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance to highlight safety in interpersonal relationships.

October 27 – Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, in collaboration with the University of Mary Washington and Student Anti-Violence Educators (SAVE) is hosting a movie showing of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at the Dodd Auditorium.  6pm  Following the movie showing a discussion group will be led by Dr. Zukor, Chris Kilmartin, and Carol Olson

October 28 – SAVE is taking safety to your medical health as well, stop by the UMW Flu Shot Clinic and pick up information on safe dating and sexual assault prevention.

Upcoming events in Richmond – Show your support and learn how to help

October 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Community Chest Night at Capital Ale House. Sponsored by Capital Ale House at any Capital Ale House in Richmond Area any Thursday in October from 5pm-10pm. Bring this flier http://www.capitalalehouse.com/documents/SafeHarbor.pdf and the Capital Ale House will donate 25% of your food sales to Safe Harbor. Join us for a good time AND a good cause. Contact Mary Maupai for more information at 804-249-9470x 12.

Hosted by the Richmond Police Department Community Partnership for Domestic Violence Awareness, the Journey For Justice event is to help raise awareness about domestic violence.

The 3rd annual Journey For Justice event begins Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. at Byrd Park with a candle light vigil to mourn those who have died as a result of domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Forum will be held on Friday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. at Cedar Street Baptist Church, 2301 Cedar St.

The Journey For Justice 5k Walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Byrd Park Roundhouse, 2800 Trafford Rd., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information about these events, contact Richmond Police Sgt. Carol Adams at 804.646.4105.

October 9 1st Annual Empowerment Tour Sponsored by Lyrically Inspired, Inc. 7:30pm at Byrd Theatre, 2908 West Cary Street, Richmond. This show will be comprised of spoken word, fashion and theatre as an avenue to bring awareness to the epidemic of domestic violence. Nationally renowned spoken word artists will empower attendees with words while fashions from featured designers such as Michael Taylor Couture will grace the stage. An ongoing theatrical performance will tie both the words of empowerment and sophisticated style together in order to educate the audience about the epidemic of domestic violence and to empower them as well. This show will be hosted by Poet from Washington, D.C.’s radio station WPCG 95.5 accompanied by DJ Lonnie B of Power 92.1. For more information contact Stacie Vecchietti at 804-249-9470 15.

October 13 Henrico County DV Awareness Month Proclamation Sponsored by The Henrico Board of Supervisors 7pm Board Room within the Administration Building, Henrico County Government Center, 4301 East Parham Rd. Richmond. At the Henrico Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board will be presenting the county proclamation designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We want to PACK THE HOUSE to make sure our local representatives get the message that domestic violence is an issue that the community is deeply vested in, so bring your friends and family members. For more information contact Angela Verdery at 804-249-9470 16.

October 16, 2010 At the University of Richmond from 2pm-5pm a free workshop entitled “What Have We Learned? A Reality-Based Approach to Addressing Domestic Violence Through the Law.”  Professor Diane Rosenfeld, Lecturer at Harvard Law School, discusses with other experts progressive legal initiatives to better and more realistically address the persistent social problem of domestic violence. This program is sponsored by the University Of Richmond Journal Of Law and the Public Interest and the University of Richmond School of Law’s 16th Annual Austin Owen Lecture. For more information, see UR or call (804) 289-8740 (option 3).

October 17 Hands On Day, Sponsored by Hands On Greater Richmond. 10am at Safe Harbor. HandsOn Greater Richmond is sponsoring this impressive day-long effort that includes over 40 different service projects (of which Safe Harbor is one) and as many as 1000 community volunteers. Up to 15 of these volunteers will be working at the house to continue the painting, maintenance, and cleaning that have begun over the past few months. If you are interested in participating, you can sign up via the HandsOn Greater Richmond website. For more information contact Stacie Vecchietti at 804-249-9470 x15.

October 19th – 23rd Clothesline Project, Sponsored by Safe Harbor. Will be hanging in display throughout the week. The Clothesline Project is a visual display of shirts with graphic messages and illustrations that have been designed by women survivors of violence or by someone who love a woman who has been killed. The purpose of the Project is to increase awareness of the impact of violence against women, to celebrate a woman’s strength to survive and to provide another avenue for her to courageously break the silence that often surrounds her experience. For more information contact Stacie Vecchietti at 804-249-9470 x15.

October 23 Resource Event for Allied Professionals and Community Members Sponsored by The Henrico Police Division of Police and Safe Harbor. 9am-12pm Henrico Training Center, 7701 E. Parham Road, Richmond. The Henrico Police Division of Police and Safe Harbor are partnering to host a resource fair for all agencies, organizations, and individuals who interact with survivors of intimate partner violence and/or their children. Each participant will have an opportunity to share throughout the course of the morning about the resources that they provide to survivors and/or their children. For more information contact Stacie Vecchietti at 804-249-9470 x15.

October 29th The YWCA of Richmond is hosting the 14th annual Remember My Name Memorial to commemorate the lives of individuals in our community who have died from domestic violence. The memorial will be held on October 29th at 7 pm at the Monument Heights Baptist Church. This nondenominational service commemorates those in the Greater Richmond and surrounding areas who have lost their lives due to domestic violence. During the ceremony, families, friends and community leaders will have the opportunity to speak on behalf of the victims or give testimonies about how domestic violence has affected their lives. This event is free and open to the public. For information about submitting a name to the memorial or general information about Remember My Name, please contact Lauren Rosati at 804-643-6761, ext. 116 or lrosati@ywcarichmond.org.

Check out The Action Alliance (http://www.vadv.org/secProjects/DVAMcalendar.html) for more events in neighboring counties and cities.

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Ways to Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month #1

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To celebrate, here are 31 ways for you to make a difference:

1. Encourage a young person close to you to visit a local DV shelter to learn more about interpersonal violence.

In Richmond, VA:  The YWCA,  In Henrico County:  Safe Harbor,

A list of other shelters across the state:  Virginia Domestic Violence shelters

Domestic Violence shelters can provide you with information on how to get involved in advocacy, provide you with information on prevention and risk reduction to share, and may be able to bring a presentation to your agency.  Most shelters have volunteer programs that train you to answer hotlines and provide community outreach.

Help end violence against women, men, children, everyone by serving at your local anti-violence agency.

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Sexual and Domestic Violence – Intersecting with the Latino Population

Today starts Hispanic Heritage month and I thought I would put out some thoughts and facts toward serving the Latino community in regards to sexual and domestic violence.

The Latino population is growing across our nation.  By July 2050, the projected Latino population of the United States is expected to be 132.8 million, or 30% of the total population by that date. Nearly one in three US residents will be Latinos. (U.S. Census Bureau. “An Older and More Diverse Nation by Midcentury” 2008).

According to USDoJ, (2004 stats report) one in six females age 13 and older are victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assaults.  If we then look at the U.S. Census projections, along with Latina population projections, and the one-in-six victimization estimate, by the year 2050, the number of Latinas who have experienced some form of sexual violence could reach 10.8 million.

Considering:  the levels of underreporting generally and then, perhaps more so) within this population, the various types of crimes committed against Latinos and Latinas as people of color and immigrants in particular (with the idea that the current trends of violence will continue), and with the anticipated Latino population growth there will logically be more victims of (all kinds of) crime.

While the Latino population grows across the nation, there become a rapidly increasing number of underserved Latina/o victims of sexual and domestic violence in the United States. This is due in part to limited funds, the lack of bilingual staff, Spanish language resources, and effective outreach programs.  Many communities lack the resources and bilingual victim advocates who can address the needs of Spanish-speaking victims. Limited funds have kept many victim service agencies in a state of overextension, with the demand exceeding limited service capabilities.  The majority of staff and volunteers do their best with what resources are available to meet the immediate service and needs of victims. Without a consolidated national effort to support and upgrade the bilingual human resource and program effectiveness of sexual assault agencies, many more individuals, families, and communities across the nation will continue to suffer the devastating impact of ongoing sexual violence, and sexual assault trauma and re-victimization.

Issues and barriers that impact the Latino/Hispanic communities.

Some barriers specific to the Latino community living in rural areas:  poverty, lack of public transportation systems, shortages of health care providers, under-insurance or lack of health insurance, and decreased access to many resources (such as advanced education, job opportunities and adequate child care).  These barriers make it more difficult to escape abusive relationships.  In addition, rural health care providers may be acquainted with or related to their patients and their families, creating a barrier to disclosing abuse confidentially and thus further isolating these women. Geographical isolation and cultural values, including strong allegiance to the land, kinship ties and traditional gender roles also increase the challenges faced by rural women when they attempt to end the abuse in their live. The increased availability of weapons (such as firearms and knives) common in rural households also increases both the risks and lethality of sexual violence and domestic attacks upon rural women.

Additional barriers faced by the Latino community are:  language barriers (not all Latinos speak the same language, some speak Portuguese and there are many South American dialects in the Latino community), fear of deportation (if the survivor is not a legal resident), fear of the legal system, and cultural issues (emphasis is placed on virginity in many Hispanic/Latino communities meaning that a woman or girl who loses her virginity to rape, incest, or molestation is seen as a “promiscuous” woman).

The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance reports

  • 18% of Hispanic women/Latinas and nearly 23% of Hispanic men/Latinos in Virginia reported experiencing a sexual assault in their lifetimes. Prevalence of Sexual Assault in Virginia, Virginia Department of Health, April 2003.
  • Married Hispanics/Latinas are less likely than other women to immediately define their experiences of forced sex as rape and terminate their relationships; some view sex as a marital obligation. Bergen, R. K. 1996, Wife Rape.
  • 6% of victims served by Virginia’s Sexual and Domestic Violence Agencies in 2003 were Latino.
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Positive Results of Advocacy in Virginia!!!

Thanks and Congratulations to all who helped our advocacy to protect domestic violence funding.

Members of the General Assembly of Virginia passed a budget yesterday that restored funding for domestic violence services, homeless shelters (including domestic violence shelters), and child advocacy centers to the levels proposed in former Governor Kaine’s budget.
Your message was persistent, it was clear, and it was effective!   It is a direct result of everyone’s efforts that victims of domestic violence will still have access to safe shelter and life-saving services.
Thank you to the Members of the General Assembly, especially the Budget conferees, for protecting these programs!

Now, we await Governor McDonnell’s signature!
So, here’s what it all means in dollars and cents!
We started this session with a budget proposed by former Governor Kaine that included a 7.5% cut for domestic violence services through the Department of Social Services (VDSS), a 5% cut for Sexual Assault Crisis Centers through the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), an 8% cut for homeless intervention services through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DCHD), and a 10% cut to Child Advocacy Centers.
The Budget passed by the General Assembly includes these original cuts to funding, but no more!  The statewide reductions to domestic and sexual violence services will be:
  • DV Funding at VDSS:  $138,750 cut in 2011 & 2012;
  • SV Funding at DCJS:  $67,500 cut in 2011 & 2012;
  • Homeless Funding at DCHD:  $400,000 in 2011 & 2012;
  • Child Advocacy Centers: $100,000 in 2011 & 2012.
We also spent time advocating for a raise in marriage license fees.  What Happened to the Budget Amendment?

The General Assembly did not include the marriage license fee increase in the final budget.
  • This is GOOD news in that our requested fee increase which was intended to expand services was not used to restore a funding cut. Therefore the Action Alliance can still ask for an increase in the fee in the future to provide expanded services, such as those for children and youth.
  • The downside is that we don’t have dedicated funding for children and youth services.  It also means that domestic violence funding was not completely restored to its 2009 levels.

Holding the domestic violence and shelter funding cuts to below 10% is a significant feat in a budget year like this. Everyone of you who made a call, wrote a letter, had a visit, spread the news, or got media attention is a part of this success!  So thank you to everyone who responded to the action alerts put out by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and spoke up on behalf of Virginia’s domestic violence programs and the persons they serve.

Domestic violence services are important to everyone.  A special thank you to the following who engaged in grassroots organizing to spread the news of the domestic violence cuts and rally support for restoring funds:
  • NOW-Virginia
  • Virginia Interfaith Center
  • The Farm Team
  • Voices for Virginia’s Children
  • Virginia Organizing Project, which held a Bake Sale for the Budget.
Heartfelt thanks to Senator Mary Margaret Whipple and Delegate John O’Bannon for serving as our budget amendment patrons (and Delegate Kirk Cox for co-patroning) and to all of the Budget Conferees who supported restoring our funds.
Finally, a big thank you to the lobbyists, Gena Boyle and Claire Guthrie Gastañaga who worked tirelessly to get these funds restored (and Chris Spanos who helped explain the complicated and veiled budget process).
Now for the Next Steps and what you can do to help:

Governor: Now the budget is in the Governor’s hands – he can sign it or amend it.  Please call (804-786-2211) or e-mail via http://www.governor.virginia.gov/TheAdministration/contactGovernor.cfm and ask him to approve the budget as it includes no additional cuts to domestic violence and sexual assault programs.
Thanks again to all of our Local allies – your efforts were critical in getting this funding restored.
Re-posted (revised) from the The Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. http://www.vsdvalliance.org
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Stop Femicide Now! Human Rights Advocate Norma Cruz

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March 2- Event with distinguished Guatemalan speaker Norma Cruz visiting the Virginia Commonwealth University campus

Stop Femicide Now! Guatemalan human rights advocate Norma Cruz will be speaking at Virginia Commonwealth University on Violence Against Women in Guatemala.

The program will be held March 2, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:15 pm at the Pace Center, 700 W. Franklin St.

The event is free and open to all, no pre-registration is required.

Ms. Cruz is an internationally recognized advocate and activist for women who are victims of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and illegal adoptions. She is one of eight women worldwide to receive the “Women of Courage” award from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in March 2009. Her work was born out of her personal struggle and has grown to provide legal, psychosocial, physical and political support for women survivors in a country where violence against women is prevalent and tolerated.

Sponsors: VCU Institute for Women’s Health, La Milpa: Guatemala Interest Group, Highland Support Project Club, Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC), VCU School of Social Work, and the VCU Office of International Education.

The event is part of an east coast speaker’s tour hosted by the Guatemala Human Rights Commission with a goal of educating and informing a diverse audience in the U.S. on violence against women and impunity in Guatemala.

For more information visit: www.womenshealth.vcu.edu or http://www.stopfemicide.com or http://www.ghrc-usa.org Or call 827-1200 with questions

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