Welcome to the 2021 December issue of Volunteer Voices, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) volunteers.
In this Issue:
| Table of Contents | |
|---|---|
|
|
Hey DSVS Volunteers!
My name is John Crownover and I just recently joined DSVS as the Prevention and Education Coordinator in August 2021! I am very happy to join the division and am looking forward to engaging with all our wonderful volunteers.
My career started many years ago (don’t ask me how many) with Fairfax County working with both the Community Services Board (Northwest Center for Community Mental Health) where I worked as a Residential Therapist for a group home for young adolescents experiencing family challenges who needed more structured support than foster care. I then moved to the Department for Family Services when the Office for Children was based their before it moved to Neighborhood and Community Services. This gave me an opportunity to work 10 months a year with my summers off, of which I spent overseas doing volunteer work.
I then transitioned from Fairfax County to international development and humanitarian work moving to the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina as it was about to transition to peace after a long conflict. In the beginning I worked for a small non-profit from Vermont called Conflict Resolution Catalysts working on programs for refugees and displaced persons, particularly youth. I eventually moved to a large international organization called CARE International where I was involved in programs addressing human trafficking and gender-based violence across Eastern Europe. One of the main program areas I developed with our local partners, was prevention programs that focused on engaging men and boys on issues of gender transformation, positive masculinities and to be champions in their community against gender inequalities. I am a strong believer in the importance of community education, social norms change and personal activism as important elements of primary prevention. When it comes to domestic and sexual violence; human trafficking and stalking, everyone in the community has a role to play in addressing the root causes, as you our DSVS volunteers demonstrate every day.
Having grown up in Fairfax County and just recently moved back, with my personal time I am enjoying reconnecting with friends and rediscovering a region that has grown a lot since I have been gone. I am someone who loves to travel and am really looking forward to a time when that’s less challenging. For now, I am doing short trips, such as seeing Bruce Springsteen on Broadway recently. During the pandemic I started to cook more and really enjoyed it. I am big into movies, all types, subtitles don’t scare me, and I do enjoy the big screen experience.
As a big believer in the importance and impact of volunteering, I thank you for all you do within DSVS. I hope to connect with many of you as possible, especially as we slowly return to some in person activities. Please feel free to reach out anytime.
John Crownover
Prevention and Education Coordinator
10 Simple Ways to Treat Yourself
Life’s too short not to pamper yourself. These 10 simple treat-yourself tricks don’t cost a thing because luxury shouldn’t have to require money.
Check out these tips for treating yourself.
2021 Topics
It's been 12 months since Cultivating Seeds of Equity and Justice has been featured in Volunteer Voices. Check out all of the 2021 topics.
As the year draws to a close, please provide feedback for future topics. Complete a brief five-question survey by Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
“Be the sun in someone’s dark sky.”
—Matshona Dhliwayo
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.
JCADA: 21 Years of Serving the Greater Washington Area
The Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA) moves into its twenty-first year doing what the organization has always done: providing a wide array of services to end power-based violence, empower survivors, and ensure safe communities. Learn more about JCADA.
“Athlete A”
“Athlete A” is a documentary film that delves into the USA Gymnastics, Larry Nassar abuse story. The documentary looks at the investigation that began due to allegations from the 2016 Olympic team, but it also discusses abuse all the way back to 1976. The documentary includes interviews and testimonials from past elite gymnasts and Olympic athletes who take the incredibly brave steps to stand up for themselves and seek justice for the abuse they suffered.
After further investigation, it’s discovered that hundreds of athletes suffered the same experiences as Athlete A, and eventually, many of them come together to seek justice. The film depicts years upon years of abuse that occurred under the care of USA Gymnastics, the dysfunction and failures of law enforcement to take appropriate action, and the ways in which abuse can occur – physically and sexually, mentally and emotionally.
The documentary highlights the ways in which abusers lure their victims through grooming, “treat” tactics, manipulation, and secrecy. In this case, Nassar uses all these tactics, along with his title of “doctor” to manipulate and lure his victims. Also examined in the documentary is the level of dysfunction that occurred when abuse was reported and ways victim blaming was used – both within USA Gymnastics and within law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.
Instead of proper investigation and support for the victims when they came forward, they were made to believe what they were reporting was normal behavior and that they were the only one who had issues – a common tactic among abusers and abuse cover-ups. In addition, it exposes the common occurrence of “reputation” and “perceived importance” of abusers being used as a tactic for failing to properly report and failing to hold abusers accountable, especially those in power or those who are well-known and respected within communities.
This story began with one athlete who chose to speak out and push the limits of what USA Gymnastics and law enforcement were doing to support her. It shows how one person coming forward can influence others to do the same. Most importantly, the strength of these women is shown throughout the entire film, and it shows that seeking justice, while difficult and scary, can lead to newfound strength and healing. Overall, the film is a tragic story with an outstanding message - that one person can enact incredible change.
This article is by Katherine Bartz.
Maggie Baxter, Hospital Accompaniment Support Advocate Volunteer
“A couple of years ago, I realized that I did not feel equipped to support people in my life who had or were currently experiencing domestic/sexual violence,” says Maggie Baxter, HASA volunteer, of her experience volunteering for DSVS. “Initially, I was just looking for resources to educate myself, but I ended up finding this program and decided to volunteer to learn more.”
Learn more about Maggie's volunteer journey.
Shannon Lyle, 9
Margaret Collins, 17
Aimee Baldillo, 23
Mary Shoukat, 29
Catherine Day, 30
Leanne Myers, 30
DECEMBER
Grief & Loss
Monday, Dec. 6, 2021
5-7 p.m.
This training is in two parts: Part one will focus on the general definitions of grief and loss and the stages of grief. It will include examples and invite participants to share related experiences. Part two will focus on the relationship between grief and domestic violence, allowing the conversation to be more profound about the effects and the impact of experiencing grief in domestic violence situations and the exacerbation of anger symptoms while grieving. The training will end with a mediation and reflection exercise. This training is free but registration is required.
JANUARY
When Abuse Goes Digital: Addressing Modern Gender-Based Violence
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022
2-3:30 p.m.
Abuse has gone digital. Today, we are spending more time online and on our devices than ever before, which has created new safety risks for victims of gender-based and family violence. This prevalence of technology-enabled abuse necessitates that we now must be able to prioritize the physical, emotional and digital safety of victims and their children. This training will explore practical approaches that anyone working with victims can implement to recognize, address and prevent the ways people are harmed online and via their devices. This training is free but registration is required.
Strangulation and Sexual Violence
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022
2-3:30 p.m.
The presenters will share their expertise on strangulation, and describe the general dangers and signs of strangulation, how to identify and support strangulation victims, and overall Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team (FACT) services. This 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 November. Please also log any time you spent on training under “volunteer training.” If you do not see this selection under your opportunities, please email Tanisha Cox, and she will log on to add it to your account.
-
Please enter your hours for each day you volunteered and not as a lump sum.
-
If you need to log hours for a previous month, please email Tanisha to let her know so she can be aware of the entry and expedite the approval process.
Check out past issues of Volunteer Voices.