Welcome to the 2021 July 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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When I was a child, I learned a phrase in the Inca language: Ama Qella, Ama Suwa, Ama Llulla, and Ama Hap’a. Be of service, be honest, be fair, and be loyal. I knew what it meant and remembered it as a nice legacy from this ancient Andean culture during my early years. But it was not until my adult life that I began to incorporate these teachings into my daily routines, until I gradually began to see the positive effects on me and the people around me. I wanted to share this phrase with you because it tells a lot about helping and supporting the people in the community we live in through our work and interactions. What is remarkable about this set of principles is that the more we do it for others, the more it returns to us in gratifying feelings and a sense of accomplishment for the contributions made for healthier families in our county.
Being of service, honest, fair, and loyal to you and others is at the core of the volunteering spirit. My work with DFS started in 2012, when I joined Anger and Domestic Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) as an intern. Then, I worked alongside many volunteers assisting clients, both victims and batterers in different capacities. I participated in helping counselors in group therapy sessions in Spanish and English; other times, I would join outreach efforts in the community to increase awareness about domestic and sexual violence. Other instances were helping immigrant families dealing with family reunification challenges with their minors during their integration into the school system in our county. Inspired and motivated by these experiences, I returned to graduate school with hopes to later be able to be of service in multiple ways and new capacities.
I joined DSVS as a full-time counselor for the ADAPT program in March of this year. I have taken the new employee/volunteer training where I met many new volunteers. I am currently transitioning into case management and co-facilitating groups (including groups for Spanish-speaking clients) and working alongside volunteers. Some volunteers we are working with within ADAPT have been with us for many years; others are new. But all carry the spirit of Ama Qella, of being of service to the members of our community. Returning to DSVS, in some ways, felt like coming home, not only for the warm welcome received from peers I met during my internship year, but also from many people I never met. I am back at ADAPT, ready to blend back again to the compassionate and caring spirit of the DFS family, only with a few more gray hairs, hopefully a sign of more life experience. As a former intern and volunteer, I welcome you (if you are new or feeling new), wishing you an incredible journey at DSVS as we work together for a community where all families can thrive.
Ricardo Sanchez, Ph.D.
ADAPT Counselor
Rediscover Reading
Studies have found a correlation between reading and mental stimulation and brain function, lower heart rate, decreased blood pressure and stress reduction. In fact, just six minutes of a page-turner is more calming than other de-stressors, such as a cup of tea or listening to music. Learn ways to rediscover reading.
Breaking Down Critical Race Theory
Though most in our society acknowledge, and perhaps some even relish the existence of socioeconomic privilege, color privilege is highly debated. Critical Race Theory(CRT) recognizes systemic racism as societally embedded and endemic to our nation’s history.
Check out this article about CRT.
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands—one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
—Audrey Hepburn
Though Fairfax County’s office buildings currently are closed to the public, DSVS volunteers can still help answer the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline. We are also still providing hospital accompaniment via the phone. If you have questions about your role during the pandemic, contact Lynne Rowson or Ara Jo (Hotline) and Angela Acosta (Hospital Accompaniment).
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.
Inova Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team Department
The Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team, also known as the FACT Department, is a team within Inova Hospital System which provides 24-hour medical examinations, forensic evidence collection and expert interpretation for adult and child victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, strangulation and human trafficking in Northern Virginia. Learn more about how the FACT Department staff help patients who have experienced trauma.
"What the Constitution Means to Me"
Heidi Schreck wrote and stars in this semiautobiographical play, now available to view by recording, about the women in her family and the rights of women in the United States. Schreck performs as her current and 15-year-old self, who raised her college tuition through competitions where she memorized and gave speeches on the meaning behind the Constitution of the United States of America. Schreck tells the audience she wrote the play to reimagine those competitions today, and to discuss the gaps between the actual words written in the Constitution and the realities of violence and inequity that women face in the U.S.
The focus of the play is the Ninth Amendment, which is meant to guarantee that just because a right is not explicitly listed in the Constitution does not mean it does not exist. She makes the argument that while this amendment is important in concept, U.S. Supreme Court decisions throughout history have concluded it does not protect women’s rights to exist free from sexual and intimate partner violence, and thus cannot guarantee equal protection under the law. The true stories told in the show about the people in these court cases and the women in Schreck’s family display how the U.S. justice system excludes women, people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, and anyone who holds a marginalized identity from the rights meant to be guaranteed by this founding document.
At the end of every show, Schreck brings on a teenage debate champion to debate the question: “Should we keep or abolish the U.S. Constitution?” An audience member was selected after each live performance to make this choice, but the show challenges everyone in the audience, and now everyone watching at home, to think about who the justice system protects and who is left out of the “rights” the Constitution claims to afford all Americans.
—Abby Picard
Meet Bindi Mandava, Hotline Volunteer
“Having full time jobs and other busy stuff going around in our life, taking time to volunteer is challenging,” says Bindi Mandava, Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline volunteer. “With a strong determination to help the community, you can overcome this challenge.” Learn more about Bindi’s volunteer story.
Adrienne Williams, 4
Raya Redmond, 7
Karen Eye, 11
Abigail Wescott, 12
Montgomery Johnson, 14
Alli Somasundaram, 15
Anuradha Vutukuri, 19
Johanna Moore, 20
Julie Collins, 21
Katarina Kiseli, 21
Shiloah Kline, 21
Yixi Dong, 24
Emily Hendrickson, 24
Lauren Rainford, 24
Sasala Challa, 30
Training: Reproductive and Sexual Coercion
Friday, July 16, 2021
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Participants will learn about reproductive and sexual coercion using a reproductive justice framework, an intersectional approach created by SisterSong that treats reproductive health in a holistic way. The presenter will discuss how local partners can collaborate; how to improve providers’ procedures regarding clients’ sexual activity and sexual health; and how to better identify and support survivors The training is free but registration is required.
QUARTERLY TRAININGS
There are no quarterly trainings this month.
Please take a moment to log on to your Volunteer Management System (VMS) account and log your hours for the month of June. Please also log any time you spent on training under “volunteer training.” If you do not see this selection under your opportunities, please email Debra Ranf, and she will log on to add it to your account.
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Please enter your hours for each day you volunteered and not as a lump sum.
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If you need to log hours for a previous month, please send email Debra to let her know so she can be aware of the entry and expedite the approval process.
Check out past issues of Volunteer Voices.