Welcome to the 2026 May 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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May is a wonderful time of year, DSVS Volunteers! We will see the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer. Hopefully you will have an opportunity to engage in some of your favorite well-being activities like walking outdoors, gardening, or enjoying some spring fruits and vegetables! May is also an important month as it is Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month. See more about Mental Health Awareness Month in our TED Talk below!
AAPI Heritage Month is a great opportunity to think about how Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have made a huge impact on our society and in our movement. Check out DSVS resources about AAPI leaders in the domestic and sexual violence movements. We are especially lucky at DSVS to cooperate with several culturally responsive organizations like the Korean Community Services Center of Greater Washington, Ashiyanaa, and the API Domestic Violence Resource Project to ensure people of all backgrounds can receive support from advocates that understand their background. At DSVS, we are wishing each of you a meaningful and enjoyable May–and a wonderful spring ahead!
Caroline Croghan
Volunteer Manager
The Giving Tree
Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.
But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree
and the tree said, 'Come, Boy, come and
climb up my trunk and swing from my
branches and eat apples and play in my
shade and be happy.'
'I am too big to climb and play' said
the boy.
'I want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?'
'I'm sorry,' said the tree, 'but I
have no money.
I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
the city. Then you will have money and
you will be happy.'
And so the boy climbed up the
tree and gathered her apples
and carried them away.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time....
and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the tree shook with joy
and she said, 'Come, Boy, climb up my trunk
and swing from my branches and be happy.'
'I am too busy to climb trees,' said the boy.
'I want a house to keep me warm,' he said.
'I want a wife and I want children,
and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house?'
' I have no house,' said the tree.
'The forest is my house,
but you may cut off
my branches and build a
house. Then you will be happy.'
And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
'Come, Boy,' she whispered,
'come and play.'
'I am too old and sad to play,'
said the boy.
'I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?'
'Cut down my trunk
and make a boat,' said the tree.
'Then you can sail away...
and be happy.'
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
... but not really.
And after a long time
the boy came back again.
'I am sorry, Boy,'
said the tree,' but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone.'
'My teeth are too weak
for apples,' said the boy.
'My branches are gone,'
said the tree. ' You
cannot swing on them - '
'I am too old to swing
on branches,' said the boy.
'My trunk is gone, ' said the tree.
'You cannot climb - '
'I am too tired to climb' said the boy.
'I am sorry,' sighed the tree.
'I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry....'
'I don't need very much now,' said the boy.
'just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired.'
'Well,' said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
'well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.'
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.
–Shel Silverstein
Technology-facilitated abuse is a form of abuse where someone uses digital tools—think: phones, apps, social media, or smart devices—to control, harass, monitor, or harm another person. It often shows up in relationships where there is already a pattern of power and control, but it can also happen in other contexts (such as stalking or harassment). Learn what it looks like.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month is a great opportunity to learn about mental health, share resources, and bring awareness to an issue that affects millions of Americans every year. For a deeper dive into this topic, watch this short TED Talk, Stop the Stigma: Why It’s Important to Talk about Mental Health by Heather Sarkis. This is related to our work at DSVS because mental health can be a barrier to accessing support. Sarkis shares why it is so important to stop the stigma around mental health and how we can de-stigmatize mental illness in our communities.
Whenever a high-profile incident of domestic violence occurs—one that makes a large splash in the media, particularly social media--we often jump to the conclusion that the person who committed the violent act must be suffering from depression or be otherwise mentally ill. But this leap in logic does a disservice to everybody in the community, says Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Counseling Supervisor Kathryn Harlow. This is how we should frame these conversations.
“I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others, and this is especially true when those others are desperately poor or in need.” –Jimmy Carter
Meet Xavier Arana – Hospital Accompaniment Support Advocate Volunteer
“The best part of volunteering with DSVS is feeling I have made a difference,” says HASA volunteer Xavier Arana, who is an audio engineer in his non-volunteer life. “I enjoy putting on concerts for people, but my job doesn’t often provide the spiritual fulfillment volunteering brings me. Read more.
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.
You may not have heard about the Restorative Community Justice initiative yet. This collaborative effort of Neighborhood and Community Services, the Department of Family Services, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is exploring a community-based pathway to accountability, healing, and repair that complements the traditional legal system.
Emphasis on yet.
The initiative builds on Fairfax County's longstanding restorative justice work, including court-based diversion efforts, school- and community-based restorative practices, and recommendations from the Council to End Domestic Violence’s Accountability Workgroup. Recently, Volunteer Voices sat down with Keith Grupposo, community reconciliation coordinator, to talk about what restorative community justice is and what we can expect from this initiative when it’s up and running. This is an excerpt of that conversation.
Satyam Singh, management analyst II on the Data Team, has been with DSVS more than a year and a half, but he has already become an integral part of the division. “My typical day starts with a nice hot cup of coffee to get me going before diving into data reporting and dashboard updates,” he says.
“Most mornings, I check that all our Power BI data dashboards are working as they should. That means looking at data sources, fixing any hiccups, and making things run smoother so our programs always have accurate numbers,” he explains. “A big part of my job is helping teams report data for state and federal grants, which is a key part of keeping our programs moving forward.”
No day is a repeat of another. “Each day brings a mix of meetings and collaboration, I meet with program teams, our data team, and external partners to talk through ongoing projects and new ideas,” Satyam says. “I’m also part of the DVAC Advisory meetings with partners across Northern Virginia who support survivors. My role is to look at how referrals move across our network and find ways to make the process stronger for clients. I also attend trainings throughout the year to learn new tools and stay up to date with evolving data practices.
“I have learned so much about the amazing work my teammates do every day. It’s fulfilling to know that, in a small way, my work helps support the larger mission of DSVS and the incredible impact our teams make every day."
