GCADV and Mary Kay Collaborate to Support Funding for Crucial Domestic Violence Services
Please join GCADV and Mary Kay as we meet at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 16th, to show our support for crucial funding for domestic violence services statewide. Starting at 8:00 AM at Central Presbyterian Church, participants will attend a legislative briefing and information session before they walk to the Capitol at 9:30 AM for a press conference, pictures with the famous Mary Kay Pink Cadillacs and meetings with Legislators to urge them to restore the $3.7 million in unrestricted, non-TANF MOE state funds in the budget.
GCADV would like to thank Mary Kay Inc. and all of the Mary Kay Independent Consultants for this opportunity to work together and grow our voice for women statewide. To learn more about this event or RSVP, please click here.
A Must See Film About Domestic Violence: Crime After Crime
Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station will be hosting an encore screening of the 2011 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature, Crime After Crime on Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 3:30 PM.
Crime After Crime is the exclusive documentary film on the legal battle to free Debbie Peagler, a woman imprisoned for over a quarter century due to her connection to the murder of the man who abused her. She finds her only hope for freedom when two rookie attorneys with no background in criminal law step forward to take her case. Director, Yoav Potash, will be in attendance for a post-film question and answer session.
GCADV Executive Director, Nicole Lesser, was present at the first Atlanta screening and thought it was incredible. “It beautifully illustrated how complicated the issues are surrounding domestic violence: the societal and situational forces that are at play that make it so she can’t just leave, what happens when she tries, and the injustices and re-victimizations that often await survivors on the other side.”
The Salt Lake Tribune reviewed the film as, “…a riveting examination of justice denied through political manipulation and prosecutorial callousness.”
Tickets are now on sale at www.ajff.org.
Save the Date: 2010 Fatality Review Annual Report Press Conference
GCADV is pleased to announce that, along with our collaborating partner the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, a press conference has been scheduled on Wednesday, March 23 from 8:30 AM until 9:30 AM, to share the results of the newly released 2010 Domestic Violence Fatality Review Annual Report.
Although the location is to-be-determined, the Attorney General is scheduled to speak and the Chief Justice is planned to be in attendance. Please visit www.gcadv.org/events for updated information on the location in the coming days.
One survivor that has reviewed the report exclaimed, "You created an incredible report - the whole thing is wonderful! Kudos to you and your team for this outstanding piece of work!! Thank you very much for all you do! I know this will have a ripple effect and many people will reap the benefit," she said.
GCADV's Fatality Review Coordinator Taylor Tabb explained, “We listen to your feedback each year and strive to make the Fatality Review Report a tool that inspires change in your community. We are excited to give you “tear out” resources in this year’s report to make your dissemination of this information even easier. We look forward to seeing you at the press conference."
GCADV on NewsTalk1160: Understanding Financial Abuse
GCADV Economic Justice Coordinator Allison Smith was recently invited to be the special guest on the local radio show “Your Retirement Matters,” hosted by Investment Advisor Arlene Brown.
The interview originally aired on March 5 and 6 on AM 1160 Atlanta News Talk Radio which typically reaches approximately 30,000 people.
During her interview, Allison explained to listeners what economic abuse is and how this set of tactics is used by abusers to control their victims and keep them financially dependent. For example, Allison explains that many abusers keep the victim from attending school or call their work repeatedly to get them fired, which has the effect of limiting the victim’s earning potential and, thus, keeps them trapped in the abusive relationship. Another aspect of economic abuse that Allison described is how abusers often purposefully exclude the victim when making important financial decisions, or hide their shared assets.
Allison urged listeners who suspect they might themselves be victims of economic abuse to call Georgia's 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.334.2836 and talk with an advocate who can guide them through the process of what they need to do to secure their finances when considering leaving an abusive relationship.
You can listen to the radio segment by going to http://www.newstalk1160.com/shows/weekend-hosts and scrolling down to “Your Retirement Matters” with Arlene Brown. The interview with Allison can be heard in the second segment of the show.
Pictures Available from Stop Violence Against Women Day!
GCADV is pleased to share the photos captured by Erin Ashford Photography that surrounded this year's memorable 2011 Stop Violence Against Women Day. GCADV and our partner agencies for Stop Violence Against Women Day would like to thank Erin for using her talent to showcase a truly important cause. To view the photo album, please click here.
Empowerment Based Training a Success
During GCADV's training, Moving Toward Safety and Healing: An Empowerment and Strengths-Based Approach to Case Planning with Survivors, Director of Training and Membership Christy Cardina and Associate Director Jan Christiansen encouraged advocates to take a closer look at how trauma impacts survivors and advocates who work with them. Although it is obvious that experiencing abuse at the hands of an intimate partner is traumatic, it can be difficult to view domestic violence through the lens of trauma during daily advocacy work.
The training, offered in Macon and Atlanta to 50 participants, placed specific emphasis on “case planning” with survivors and how it is best done through an empowerment approach.
This training received positive feedback from participants as they considered new ways in which to offer services.
“Everything helped me to see things from the survivor’s perspective and also helped me to gain insight on how I can become a better advocate," explained one participant.
Another participant mentioned that she realized that success for survivors is not always measured by uniform standards while another shared that she, "...learned how to empower a survivor to make her own decisions."
For updated information on training and events held across the state, visit www.gcadv.org/events.
National Network to End Domestic Violence Marks 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day
Washington, D.C. – The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day. It marked the 100th anniversary of this special day when the world over honors the political, economic and social achievements of women.
“International Women’s Day underscores the many accomplishments of women all over the world,” said Sue Else, president of NNEDV. “Women created the movement to end domestic and sexual violence decades ago and have worked to save so many lives ever since.”
USA Today commemorated the 100th International Women’s Day with a special insert. Included in it is a guest column by Else (page 22) on the critical importance of investing in services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
“While Congress is considering extreme budget cuts for many federal programs, victim advocates continue to make the case for an increased investment in lifesaving programs that help victims and hold perpetrators accountable,” Else wrote. “Any cuts would put lives in the balance and would be a recipe for disaster for women and children.”
The first International Women’s Day events were held in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland in 1911 and more than 1 million people participated...(MORE)
Source: http://www.nnedv.org/news/nnedv/808-nnedv-marks-100th-anniversary-of-international-womens-day.html
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