Welcome to the 2023 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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Hi, Volunteers:
April is National Volunteer Month. The month of recognition was established in 1974 but only became global in 1990. During the month of April, agencies acknowledge volunteers for donating their time and talent to impacting the lives of others in their communities.
DSVS has over 100 volunteers who are rock stars and intricate parts of the DSVS team. You support our Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline and accompany victims/survivors to the hospital after an assault and to court when seeking protective orders. You conduct outreach in the community to share our resources and provide administrative support at our offices. You co-facilitate treatment groups with individuals who have caused harm and help us analyze changes in legislation each year.
DSVS serves about 400 clients on average each month. We hope to give individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and stalking hope for the present and future. Our collective work demonstrates to the community that change, growth, and a better life are possible, albeit sometimes in the future. We appreciate you dedicating your time and talent to be a part of this meaningful work. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for all you do! With immense gratitude,
Tanisha Cox (and your team at DSVS)
Volunteer Manager
Need a quick way to center yourself and your self-care in the midst of a stressful day? Take a moment to breathe. In fact, experts say, deep breathing is a form of meditation that shifts the effects of trauma in our bodies from nervous system overload to less anxiety and stress, and studies show it comes with a host of health benefits, too. It can help you get better night sleep, regulate blood sugar levels, ease depression, increase focus, maybe drop a few pounds, and so much more. Find out how to incorporate breathing techniques into your day.
Everyone is affected by sexual assault. This is borne out by the statistics: 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men in the U.S. have reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime.
In many cases, sexual violence is a result of a culture that does not properly educate people on how to prevent crimes like this. But ending sexual violence will take the community, which is why it is important to raise awareness and give community members the necessary tools to have these conversations with their families and with each other. Learn more about Sexual Assault Awareness Month and what you can do to raise awareness about this important issue.
Young Radiance
Landed upon a tree,
So gracefully,
But brought on a monstrous storm,
Even darker than its feathered form.
And even though it seemed,
That the storm devastated everything in its path,
It could not destroy the lights which gleamed,
At the heart of its wrath.
And as those lights shined,
With the luster of youth,
The shadows withdrew terrified,
Leaving the light to reclaim its truth.
By Samiksha (daughter of Aparna Krishnan, Legislative Volunteer)
Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month
Seen somewhere: “Great volunteers are hard to find, difficult to part with, and impossible to forget.” Fortunately, we currently have about 100 amazingly great volunteers who easily fit that quote. 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 appreciates you for who you are and all you do.
We’ve been fortunate to have several volunteers who have served with us for the past 5 to 30 years. Please join us in celebrating them:
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| 10 Years of Service | |
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| 25+ Years of Service | |
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We need a more considered approach to using social media for social justice, says writer and activist Ione Wells. After she was the victim of an assault in London, Wells published a letter to her attacker in a student newspaper that went viral and sparked the #NotGuilty campaign against sexual violence and victim-blaming. In this moving TED Talk, she describes how sharing her personal story gave hope to others and delivers a powerful message against the culture of online shaming.
You can live a happier, healthier life after an assault. Kathryn Harlow, a domestic and sexual violence counselor with Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, tells us how on this edition of the County Conversation Podcast with host Jim Person.
“Devote yourself to your community around you. Devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” –Mitch Albom
Step Up 4 Kids began when county officials realized seeing domestic violence at any age can affect a child for the rest of their lives. Children may not have the words to tell adults how the violence in their house explains their behavior. This initiative understands the importance of county services, schools, and nonprofits working together to meet the needs of children impacted by domestic violence. 
“I was particularly interested in volunteering with domestic and sexual assault survivors after listening to countless podcasts and watching different documentaries where survivors were revictimized or victim blamed when recounting their stories to others,” says DSVS volunteer Kendal Cristaudo. “I wanted to join an organization that does the exact opposite and instead empowers, supports, and uplifts survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.” 
In 1970, Eric Cox and Gina Richards met in calculus class at Herndon High School. In 1972, Eric and Steven Cox founded 
