Welcome to the 2025 April issue of Volunteer Voices, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) volunteers.
In this Issue:
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Hello everyone! My name is Satyam Singh, and I am a management analyst II with the Fairfax County Government. My journey in data analytics has taken me across different industries, allowing me to blend technology with impactful decision-making.
Previously, I interned with Arlington County Government as a data scientist, where I spearheaded the Fire Department Audit Review, leading cost reduction and revenue enhancement. These experiences, combined with my Master of Science in Data Analytics Engineering from George Mason University, have fueled my passion for uncovering insights through data at DSVS.
At DSVS, I’ve seen how volunteers bring a unique and essential energy to the work we do. Their dedication and compassion make a real difference in our community, and I’m grateful to be part of an organization that thrives on their contributions.
Beyond work, I’m a huge soccer fan. You’ll often find me playing over the weekends. My favorite team? Chelsea! If anyone at DSVS watches or plays soccer, feel free to hit me up. We can plan something fun! When I’m not on the field, I love playing the guitar, a hobby I picked up during my bachelor’s studies.
At home, I have a miniature Pomeranian named Genie, whose tiny size is no match for her big personality. She keeps life interesting and full of joy!
Looking forward to continuing this journey with all of you and celebrating the incredible work our volunteers do every day!
Satyam Singh
Management Analyst II
Ever feel like you need a vacation to recover from your vacation? You might want to give wellness tourism a try. Traditional vacations are often busy but wellness trips exist to relieve stress and promote health so you can return to your everyday life feeling grounded and rejuvenated. This is why wellness tourism is a growth industry.
The world would be a much lonelier place if it wasn’t filled with the likes of caring people like you. Our volunteers prove the accuracy of this statement every day! We hope each paper you file, each hotline call you take, each ADAPT group you facilitate, each policy you review, each resource fair you attend, and each hospital or court accompaniment you make, you feel the impact you’ve had on the lives of someone else. Thank you! The team at DSVS always appreciates you for who you are and all you do; we're doing this special shout out during Volunteer Appreciation Week April 20-26.
Sexual violence is a major public health, human rights and social justice issue that impacts every person in Fairfax County. The purpose of Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to raise public awareness about sexual violence, educate our community on how to prevent it and share resources available to those impacted by sexual assault. Learn more about sexual violence. Stay on top of the ways Fairfax County is observing SAAM. And help do your part by sharing awareness-raising messages on social media from our Sexual Assault Awareness Month Community Engagement Toolkit.
Campus violence is a legitimate worry for the roughly 72 million students enrolled in colleges and universities in this country. That violence includes sexual violence. Studies show if you're a college student or college-age adult, you're at particularly high risk of being sexually assaulted, likely by someone you know. You can reduce your risk for all forms of violence, include sexual violence. Learn how.
April is Arab American Heritage Month. Research shows Arab Americans impacted by sexual and domestic violence often face barriers accessing culturally specific services or find only support that amplifies stereotypes or adds to the history of hate crimes and surveillance of their communities—all of which can lead to a lack of trust of the systems that provide resources. Learn more about the intersection between gender-based violence and Arab American communities.
As part of our observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we ask you to watch these four short videos about consent from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s “I Ask” video series.
“Volunteering is the one addiction that’s good for you!”–Anonymous
The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance Is a Powerful Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Teammate
The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance is the state’s anti-violence coalition operating on behalf of Virginia’s 71 sexual and domestic violence agencies. The coalition connects communities to policy work, training needs, and best practices, serving as a resource hub and a statewide systems navigator. Jonathan Yglesias, the Action Alliance’s director of mission advancement, shared thoughts with Volunteer Voices about the collaboration between his organization and DSVS. Hint: It’s a win-win situation!
Each newsletter will include this section to help share reviews, spotlight the people who support Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, recognize birthdays and list upcoming trainings and meetings.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ podcast, Unscripted: Conversations about Sexual and Domestic Violence, is real talk on tough topics! Stay in the know with these biweekly discussions. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to hear addressed on Unscripted, email them to DSVS’ communications specialist Kendra Lee.
Nora Nieto, youth prevention specialist on the Prevention, Education, and Coordination Team in Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, hasn’t been on the team long—almost 18 months—but it’s been an eventful year and a half. Nora’s position was created to fill a gap in DSVS’ teen-facing services: talking about healthy relationships, setting boundaries, and dating violence to teens who speak Spanish. As you can imagine, her days are busy designing a curriculum to meet the needs of this population. “A day in my life looks like getting into work and checking my emails. Then I meet with my co-worker and counterpart to divide up any tasks that need to be done for our joint group, The Teen Advocates Program,” she says. “From there, I will work on PILAS para padres workshop to have it ready to share with the Hispanic community before this summer. Finally, I end my day with planning out what tasks are time-sensitive and need to be prioritized for the next day.”
“American Murder: Gabby Petito”
In FY2024, there were 36 SANE exams at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Some of those exams were combination SANE/strangulation. HASA volunteers completed 18 out of the 36.
Outreach volunteers like Katrina Hush help keep in-person trainings on track by being part of the setup crew.