Women’s Shelters

Fall Semester 2020

Standard

I’m not sure how it’s possible, but I think I worked *more* during this weird, COVID-laden, socially-distanced semester than I ever have before – and not just in front of audiences! Once my loved ones finally convinced me that I did – in fact – need to purchase a ring light, I had to figure out how to use it :/ I also FINALLY understand how to unmute myself *and* how to “Join Video” 😉 I also started on the second draft of the sequel to Leaving Dorian , re-dedicated my novel, Sunrise and the Seven One Six , walked a socially-distanced 5K and joined yet another social media platform 🙂 Last, but certainly not least, I was happy to be reminded that a local women’s shelter (PASSAGE in Niagara County) requires all of their interns to read Leaving Dorian as a part of their training.

This was also my first semester back since trudging through some very serious life changes. Though I’ve never been happier {my life – wholly and completely – has never felt so “right”} even good stress is stress! As it turned out, I shouldn’t have given it a second thought; I’m giving this semester a 10/10: Highly Recommend 🙂

August 26 – Erie County Domestic Violence High Risk Team – Buffalo PD

28 – ECDVHRT – Horizon Health Services

September 8 – Niagara University – Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy – 74th class

15 – University at Buffalo School of Law – Family Violence Women’s Law Clinic

16 – Niagara University – Dr. Dana Radatz 590 Domestic Violence class

23 – ECDVHRT – BPD Police & Parole

24 – University at Buffalo School of Law – Dr. Michael Boucai – Family Law class

October – 14 – University at Buffalo Gender Institute Gender Matters podcast

16 – ECDVHRT – Legal Aid Bureau

21 – Trocaire College – Dating Violence Presentation for Community Coordination Response Team

22 – ECHRT (x2!)

29 – Speaker Series, It Takes A Community: A Survivor’s Story for Haven House/Erie County CFS

30 – ECDVHRT

November – 16 – University at Buffalo School of Law podcast

24 – University at Buffalo – Dr. Rob Keefe, Human Behavior class

December – Hamburg Middle & High Schools, Dating Violence Awareness Presentations

    Gerard Place, February 2, 2016

    Standard

    Presented “Beyond Leaving Dorian: A Discussion on Domestic Violence” to the women of Gerard Place, a transitional housing shelter for battered/recovering women and their children.

    gp3

    Domestic violence isn’t a feeling, it’s a fact; talking statistics and mortality rates from domesticabuseshelter dot org

    gp1

    Many women attended, though only a few agreed to be photographed. The stigma and shame attached to being a victim of DV is part of what keeps women from stepping forward and asking for help. I was happy to allow each woman her privacy, depending on her individual comfort level. Each and every woman in that room has my utmost respect and I was grateful to each for choosing to attend.

    gp7

    Plenty of good questions, some of which I’d never been asked before. These ladies came prepared!

    gp9

    The woman of Gerard Place are provided day care services so that they can attend presentations like mine as well as educational/employment/vocational training, life skills classes and counseling.

    gpkaitlinprice

    Kaitlin Price, Case Manager & Life Skills Coordinator, who put our afternoon together. Bright, organized and always ready with a smile, Kaitlin’s positive attitude is infectious.

    gplogo

    Gerard Place first opened its doors in 2000, the culmination of the work of 12 congregations of Women Religious in the Diocese of Buffalo who created and sponsored the agency on the grounds of the former St. Gerard Parish. Located in the heart of one of Buffalo’s poorest communities (the Bailey-Delevan neighborhood, where the unemployment rate is a staggering 55% among those aged 19-39 and 40% of children live below the poverty line) Gerard Place has assisted hundreds of families by giving them the tools that they need to help themselves and break the poverty cycle.

    In 2009, the Junior League of Buffalo/Buffalo News Education Building was opened, providing GED and computer classes, job readiness training, like skills support and health and nutrition education to both families in residence at Gerard Place as well as the community at large.  In any given year, nearly 40 different collaborative partners utilize the facility and share their expertise with those in need. Four years later, in 2013, agency leadership announced a campaign to renovate the former St. Gerard Parish Hall building and turn it into a multi-purpose community center.  The result of this ambitious project will be a vocational training program (coordinated by partner Allied Health), a gymnasium, an expanded computer lab and day care center, an additional wing of classrooms and an industrial kitchen.

    Residents are not given a “hand out,” they are earning a “hand up.”

    Please visit   http://www.gerardplace.org   for information on the many fundraising opportunities that you can take part in to support Gerard Place.

    **Information on Gerard Place was excerpted from their website.