DC SAFE

In case you missed it! Support DC SAFE through the Target Circle ⭕ program! Your vote can help us continue our work serving survivors and fighting domestic violence. Visit Target Circle to cast your vote and support our mission: target.com/circle.

OUT NOW! 📬 Systems advocacy is central to our mission and plays a pivotal role in our everyday work with survivors. Stay updated on our latest initiatives by reading our quarterly Systems Advocacy Newsletter at www.dcsafe.org/newsletters.

We had an amazing time this weekend at , despite the heat! 🌞 Hosted by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Unit, this back-to-school event brought together over 30 community orgs to provide resources to District families. Kids received free backpacks filled with school supplies, and attendees enjoyed raffles with prizes like gift cards, supplies, and a laptop! 🎒💻

We were deeply honored to welcome an extraordinary group of Guinean women from the USAID-Gender Equity Program Gender Equity Program, who are working to shape policies that empower women and girls globally. Thank you for the thought-provoking conversations and for allowing us to share about our SAFE Space Shelter and our approach to combating gender-based violence.

We are thrilled to announce that we’ve received a generous contribution from Uber! 🚗 With $5,000 in Uber credits, we can now help more survivors and their families travel safely, whether it be to one of the city’s Domestic Violence Intake Centers or our SAFE Space Shelter. Thank you, Uber, for supporting our mission and helping our community!

Mark your calendars! 📣 is coming around the corner, and that means it’s time to gear up for our Annual Keep DC SAFE Event! Join us as we raise awareness, support survivors, and celebrate our community partners. Here’s everything you need to know:

🌟 Event: Keep DC SAFE
📆 Date: October 10th, 2024
📍 Location: Room & Board on 14th St. NW
🎟️ Tickets: Early-bird prices available until September 10th!
🔗 Link: Get your tickets at https://bit.ly/KeepDCSAFE24

Introducing Sierra, our newest addition to the Support Advocacy Services (SAS) Team! Based at the DC Superior Court and equipped to assist remotely, the SAS team is dedicated to providing comprehensive court-based services. We're thrilled to welcome Sierra aboard! 🌟

Say hello to Saloni, the newest member of our Support Advocacy Team! This dedicated team offers services both at the DC Superior Court and remotely, offering an array of court-based services. We’re so excited to have her with us!

🎉 Happy Disability Pride Month! 🎉

At DC SAFE, we are proud to support and advocate for our clients with disabilities. In FY23, we served:

-95 clients with general disabilities
-33 clients with learning disabilities
-444 clients with mental health disabilities
-71 clients with physical disabilities

We honor the strength and resilience of our community and continue to fight for accessibility, inclusion, and equal rights for all.

We’re participating in the Target Circle ⭕️ program! You can vote for us and help direct Target’s giving to benefit DC SAFE. For full program details, visit Target Circle by clicking here: target.com/circle

Today, as we celebrate our nation's independence, we reflect on the rights and liberties we fight for every day alongside our community. In honor of the holiday, our administrative offices will be closed, but our crisis services remain available. Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday!

On Tuesday, June 25th, our colleague (and amazing Shelter Advocate!) Tomeka lost her apartment and all her belongings in a devastating fire. She and her four children need help to rebuild and get back on their feet.

DC SAFE is contributing to Tomeka's GoFundMe, and we invite you to join us in supporting her family during this difficult time. Any donation—big of small—would be greatly appreciated.

🔗 https://www.gofundme.com/f/d4987x-family-who-lost-everything

Thank you for your support! Tomeka is 85% of the way to her goal! ❤️

In honor of the final days of Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈, we’re spotlighting the Violence Prevention & Response Team, which we joined this year! 🎉 This initiative unites community orgs and gov't agencies, like MPD's LGBTQ Liaison Unit and the Office of Human Rights, to tackle hate-bias crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.

VPART regularly reviews incident reports and connects our community to vital services. Special shout out to the other community service providers: The DC Center, Latin American Youth Center, and Empowerment Legal Services . We are proud to expand our LGBTQ+ services! 🌟

💚 Today is PTSD Awareness Day, a crucial time to talk about and learn more about this complex disorder. Did you know that exposure to domestic violence can increase the risk of PTSD and other mental health issues? At our organization, we're dedicated to supporting the whole person, including the mental health needs of survivors.

Huge thanks to Executive Director Shawn Ashworth and Food 4 Thought Community Outreach Services, Inc. for the amazing in-kind food donation! This is perfect for our summer family activities at SAFE Space. Our fridge is stocked and ready!

🚨 Big Announcement! 🚨 We are thrilled to welcome Jenae as our new Crisis Response Team Director at DC SAFE! With a longstanding career in the field, including many years with the National Center for Victims of Crime, we are very excited to have her on board!

As CRT Director, Jenae will oversee our crisis intervention team, manage key partner relationships, implement program policies, and work on high-risk cases. Her role is crucial in ensuring seamless service delivery. Welcome, Jenae!

Happy Juneteenth!! In honor of the holiday, our administrative offices will be closed today, but our crisis services are still available. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Shop the Giving Store all year long! Support survivors and their families staying at our SAFE Space Crisis Shelter by visiting https://www.dcsafe.org/thegivingstore today!

In honor of Pride Month, we are resharing our SAFE Talk on "Domestic Violence and LGBTQ+ Unique Risks." Everyone deserves a safe relationship! 🏳️‍🌈

Meet Stevie! She is the newest member of our Crisis Response Team ☎️ , which operates our 24/7 bilingual Response Line. We are thrilled to have her join the team! Welcome, Stevie! 🎉

Join our friends at Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA) for a special one-night movie screening and discussion event of the abuse prevention film "The Last Drop," tomorrow at 7pm EST! 🎬 The film will be followed by a dynamic discussion with the film’s writer and director, Adam Joel, and JCADA Executive Director Amanda Katz.

🎟️ Get your tickets here: edcjcc.org/jxj/show/the-last-drop/

🌈 Happy Pride! We are honored to support our LGBTQ+ community. Everyone deserves a healthy relationship, and ensuring safety for all is at the core of our mission, no matter your s*xual orientation, gender expression, anatomical s*x, or any other identifying characteristic. 💖

P.S. Everyone is welcome to kick off month at the city’s LGBTQIA+ Flag Raising Ceremony later this afternoon at the John A. Wilson Building at 4:30pm EST. 🏳️‍🌈

In honor of the holiday, our administrative offices will be closed today, but our crisis services are still available. We wish everyone a safe Memorial Day!

Welcome to the team, Juanika! 👏 We are so grateful to have her join our Crisis Response Team. Our overnight positions ensure that we remain available to survivors and their families 24/7, providing immediate response when needed. Thank you for coming aboard!

Thank you DomesticShelters.org for honoring us with a Purple Ribbon Award! 🏆 We are deeply grateful to be chosen for Building/Construction Project of the Year! The opening of the SAFE Space Crisis Shelter, a dream set in motion over ten years ago, is a shared achievement made possible by our amazing community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this milestone! 💜

🌍 Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day! Last year, more than 500 of our clients identified themselves as having mental health, learning, and/or physical disabilities. We are committed to breaking down barriers and championing accessibility for survivors and their families every day. Check out https://accessibility.day/ to learn more.

🌈 DC SAFE proudly serves LGBTQ+ survivors in Washington, DC. Today, we’re highlighting this year’s theme: “No one left behind: equality, freedom, and justice for all.” Let’s celebrate and advocate for inclusivity together. Learn more here: www.may17.org

🌟 Join us this Summer 2024 and make a impact with DC SAFE! We're excited to welcome volunteers who can lead engaging group activities like arts & crafts, journaling sessions, and guided conversations at our new building. You can also lend a hand by decorating our communal shelter space for upcoming holidays, big or small. This is a great opportunity to get involved with your local community! Visit https://www.dcsafe.org/get-involved!