IN THIS ISSUE:
Protecting teens from abuse through iPledge, how we can reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act before it expires in December, a way to help survivors seeking asylum, and putting those Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to good use for survivors and their families!
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Dear Friends and Advocates,
On Election Day, voters came out in record numbers to deliver a powerful rebuke to the politics of hatred and fear. While we're optimistic about the future, we also know that there is still much work to be done. Many survivors are still suffering in silence, unable to tell anyone that they fear for their lives yet are also afraid of the limited options that lie ahead if they leave their abusers. The situation is even more dire for survivors with undocumented legal statuses, who fear being separated from their children and deported if they try to get help.
Our nation, in spite of its own complicated history of violence, has the potential to change course and expand protections to help ALL survivors of abuse. Our Fall 2018 newsletter shares some ideas for this change that can be enacted at the national and local level, including the reauthorization of the
Violence Against Women Act
(due to expire in early December, so call your representatives today!), a way to help survivors whose legal status is uncertain, a look at our
iPledge
campaign and its impact, and information for giving back
through our
Holiday Gift Drive
.
In Solidarity,
Jeannine L. Lisitski
Executive Director and President
Women Against Abuse
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The landmark legislation protecting individuals from relational violence will expire soon! The
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
will only remain funded until December 7
th
.
VAWA has been instrumental in the progress made to support victims with the goal of ending domestic violence. VAWA directly impacts the services that organizations like Women Against Abuse are able to provide for survivors of domestic violence, including but not limited to: legal support in protection from abuse cases, telephone outreach for high-risk victims of abuse, coordinated efforts across the criminal justice system to support survivors, rental assistance, community-based housing support, and prevention education with high-risk youth in Philadelphia.
The VAWA 2018 Reauthorization Act would continue to support agencies like Women Against Abuse, expand the definition of domestic violence and technological abuse, make it easier to work with Native courts on domestic violence cases, increase vital funding, and make it harder for dangerous abusers to keep their firearms.
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This year has posed a lot of uncertainties for immigrant families living in the United States, especially asylum seekers trying to find safety while they navigate a confusing immigration process. When Jenna* arrived at Women Against Abuse's emergency safe haven, she feared for the safety of her three children and did not know where to turn to for help with her legal status as an undocumented immigrant. Thanks to the support of advocates like you, Jenna was granted asylum. Her asylum status paved the way for her to find a job and a good school for her eldest child.
Jenna and her family are thriving, but there are many more survivors looking for a safe place to turn.
*
Name changed to protect client confidentiality.
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The Port Richmond-based
True Hand Society
, specializing in tattoo design, recently held Philadelphia's first
Still Not Asking For It
fundraiser. This event - which raised more than $3,300 for Women Against Abuse's life-saving services - offers
"flash tattoos, with all proceeds going to organizations which aid in prevention, healing & justice" for survivors of rape and sexual assault.
Still Not Asking For It
began in Salt Lake City in 2015, and has grown to become a worldwide movement.
1) What was True Hand's first
Still Not Asking For It
event like?
We weren’t sure if people would be interested, but the turn-out was amazing. We each did at least 20 tattoos. It was just packed with people...Some people didn’t come to get a tattoo, but just came to give money. They just wanted to be a part of this….It was amazing to see the outcome and see how people were so selfless and giving as much as they could. It was amazing to be a part of it.
2) What type of impact do you hope to make by supporting Women Against Abuse?
We just hope to create a trend in giving to organizations like this and creating awareness. And more importantly, to let survivors know we’re there for them and thinking about them. We want to help, and we see you.
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Use those Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping deals to create a happier holiday season for families healing after abuse through our
Holiday Gift Drive
! Between now and
December 14th
, bring new, unwrapped gifts to Women Against Abuse's main office in Philadelphia. Take a peek at our Holiday Gift Drive wish list, or get involved in our Adopt-A-Family Program.
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On October 3rd, hundreds of educators, lawmakers, survivors, and community members came together for the launch of the 2018 iPledge® Campaign - “
Students for Safer Relationships
.” Now in its 11th year, iPledge continues to inspire concerned citizens to become vocal advocates against domestic violence.
Our 2018 campaign focused on the epidemic of teen dating violence that is afflicting students today. Our
Executive Director & President Jeannine L. Lisitski
described the scope of the problem, explaining that
"1 in 3 teens in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner."
When it came to honoring advocates who stand with teen survivors of abuse, we chose
Sara Schwartz
,
Director of Social Services
at
CB Community School
, and
Stephanie Contreras
,
Resilience Specialist
at
El Centro de Estudiantes
as
our
2018 Pat Fox Trailblazer Award
honorees.
The most moving moment came from
Trevor Schmanek
, a survivor now in college who shared his story of growing up in a violent home.
"I turned 6 at midnight on September 1, 2004 in a police station with the detectives of the South district singing happy birthday to me while taking pictures of the bruises on my mother’s face," he said. Later, he explained:
"My childhood experience is the reason that I have kept a heightened awareness during my teenage years to the prevalence of domestic violence, since I have witnessed first-hand the results of an abusive relationship."
We are grateful to Trevor for sharing his story with the Philadelphia community. We are also very grateful to
Douglas Smith, Vice President - State Government Affairs for Verizon
, for Verizon's commitment to supporting iPledge since it began, to
Dr. Argie Allen Wilson
for serving as our MC, and to
Mayor Jim Kenney
for serving as our keynote and for his unyielding commitment to making Philadelphia safer for everyone.
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