Welcome to the 2022 November issue of Volunteer Voices, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) volunteers.
In this Issue:
| Table of Contents | |
|---|---|
|
|
Hello, DSVS Volunteers!
I am Lydia Guirguis, the Advocacy Services Supervisor. I have been working with Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ (DSVS) Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC) since April of this year. I’m still in the process of getting adjusted and learning new things about DSVS every day. Prior to working with Fairfax County, I worked for the City of Alexandria, supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Volunteerism has an extra special place in my heart. I started my career as a volunteer providing emotional support to survivors of sexual violence and human sex trafficking at the hospital 14 years ago. That volunteer opportunity was so impactful and life-changing that it became a career. Words cannot express how grateful we are for your commitment to volunteering.
When I am not working, I love to travel and try new cuisines. I was born in Alexandria, Egypt and am fluent in Egyptian Arabic. I am a movie junkie. I am so grateful Netflix has new international movies to expand my collection.
Lydia Guirguis
Advocacy Supervisor
The Sanctity of Mental Health Days
If you’re so overwhelmed you can’t stop crying and a power nap just isn’t cutting it, you probably need more than a 15-minute walking break. It might be time for a mental health day. Learn more about the importance of adding mental health days to your self-care routine.
TED Talk: The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Love
In a TED talk about understanding and practicing the art of healthy relationships, Katie Hood, CEO of the One Love Foundation, reveals the five signs you might be in an unhealthy relationship -- with a romantic partner, a friend, a family member -- and shares the things you can do every day to love with respect, kindness, and joy. "While love is an instinct and an emotion, the ability to love better is a skill we can all build and improve on over time," she says.
“The broadest, and maybe the most meaningful definition of volunteering: Doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good.”— Ivan Scheier
The Korean Community Service Center, founded in 1974 by a pastor and his congregation to help new immigrants from Korea acclimate to this country, has grown into the largest bilingual and bicultural Korean social service agency in the D.C.-metro area. KCSC has expanded from its original mission of providing the basics--transportation and translation--to prevention, victim services, counseling and more. Learn all about how this organization promotes the well-being and quality of life for Asian Americans.
As you might imagine, DSVS Division Director Toni Zollicoffer’s days are anything but ordinary. Check out this slideshow for a brief glimpse into a “typical” day in her life.
"Unbelievable"
Kelly Kramer, 5
