The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

October 2024

Monthly Newsletter

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WHAT'S NEW

Summer RAPP Sit-In

ENDGBV's Community Initiatives Team visited Day One's Summer Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (RAPP) in Manhattan to sit in with the students and learn more about healthy relationships. This summer program allows high school students enrolled in RAPP to continue learning about healthy relationships and community building with the goal of becoming peer leaders. Students discuss challenging and engaging subject matter like "how do we address abuse in school environments and support friends who are experiencing abuse?" and "how do we know when consent is freely given?" with expert instructors. The complete summer program includes lessons from social workers, community organizers, and other DV/GBV professionals as well as group enrichment trips such as kayaking. The RAPP program is currently operating in over 150 high schools in New York City, with evidence-based curriculums built to address the challenges our youth face in identifying and building out healthy relationships.

RAPP's sibling program, ERAPP, which operates in middle schools, also holds a summer program that invites students from all over New York City to take part in a summer camp where the learning is balanced with ample play time, art projects, and field trips for extra fun! Every day both programs provide free breakfast and lunch for their students, allows them to connect with other abuse-conscious peers across the city, gives parents a new option for childcare over the summer months, and helps providers gather information to improve RAPP and ERAPP for the upcoming school year. Our curriculum is designed by DV/GBV professionals and clinicians to teach students in middle school and high school about identifying unhealthy behavior in relationships and prevent them from forming patterns of abuse, that curriculum needs to evolve to address the problems our youth face every day.

National Night Out

ENDGBV joined our fellow City Offices and Agencies for NYPD's National Night Out! Despite temperatures flaring around 90 degrees leading to a downpour later that night, ENDGBV and community organizations were there talking with locals about public safety. Our own Marleni Crisostomo, Client Services Coordinator of the Bronx Family Justice Center, braved the elements to share what we do and make connections with the community members of Police Service Area 7.

Anti-Bullying Fair

Program coordinators from our Community Initiatives Team, Kimara Lucius and Jenny Proaño, represented ENDGBV at New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center's Anti-Bullying Fair in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Bullying and other forms of interpersonal abuse during childhood can adversely impact how young adults cope with, intervene in, and recognize abusive patterns. ENDGBV believes that support for our children is needed to effectively change how we as a community deal with DV/GBV.

Kimara also helps facilitate ENDGBV's Youth Leadership Council, which works with 14- to 19-year-olds to learn more about our office and work on our youth programming. Jenny helps manage our Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (RAPP), and Early Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (ERAPP)

"We Need To Talk" – International Community High School Students Release Project Studying Domestic Violence in the Bronx

Students at International Community High School in the Bronx have released "We Need To Talk", a youth guide to healthy relationships and addressing the challenges of domestic violence in the Bronx. The project is part of an initiative run by the Center of Urban Pedagogy (CUP) through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in which students explore relevant community issues that matter to them with the guidance of educators. Teacher Nick Deming and CUP Artist Shifa Quareshi guided students through the research and artistic components that went into this guide. The project consists of information gathering through interviews with professionals in the DV field, community engagement surveys about domestic violence in the Bronx, and discussions about how to support those experiencing violence and building communities that address domestic violence. All of the content is produced by young people for other young people to read and learn from.

Our Acting Commissioner, Saloni Sethi was proud to meet with the students, answer their questions about domestic violence and deepen their understanding of this issue. During this project, students also worked heavily with the school's RAPP coordinator, Erika Miller, a counselor that students are able to go to as a resource to learn more about abuse and healthy relationships. ENDGBV is proud to see a coordinator play an important role in this project, as we oversee the RAPP program it shows the importance of having resources for domestic violence available to teens across NYC.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) 2024

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is upon us, and that means ENDGBV and domestic violence organizations all across the country are making preparations to show up in community and raise awareness for this issue that impacts 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men.

ENDGBV will be in community all throughout October to raising awareness about our FJC services, announcing initiatives and programs, and having important conversations with DV/GBV experts about how our work is evolving. We are also excited to continue uplifting the voices of survivors on our social media with our #LetterstoMyFormerSelf campaign, sharing personal stories from the incredible domestic violence advocates from our VOICES Survivor Advisory Committee. Don't forget to follow us @nycendgbv.

Save these dates and check out the annual DVAM calendar of citywide events at www.nyc.gov/ENDGBV

9/26: Annual Bride's March - ENDGBV joins the 24th annual Bride's March to pay respects to women who have died as a result of domestic violence. The memorial began as a way to honor the life and memory of Gladys Ricart, a New Yorker who was murdered in 1999 by her former boyfriend on the day of her wedding. After this tragedy, the latine communty of NYC came together to share resources and hold this event to continue to discuss and raise awareness for domestic abuse. The kickoff and opening ceremony will be held at Holyrood Episcopal Church (715 W 175th St.) and the march will begin at 10:30. Participants will march in wedding attire from Washington Heights into the Bronx, and end at the Julia De Burgos Cultural Center (1680 Lexington Avenue). At the end of the march there will be a meal, and a closing ceremony. Participants are encouraged to bring photos of loved ones lost to Domestic Violence as several memorials will be set along the route. The Bride's March steering committee, which is a coalition of DV CBOs, hopes to have at least 100 men join the march to send the message that this is not just a women's issue and takes all of us to end it. See the poster with more information and Register Here: English -- Spanish

10/05: Richmond County District Attorney (RCDA) Domestic Violence (DV) Walk – The RCDA invites you to walk in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island to raise awareness for Domestic Violence in the local community. Participants are encouraged to wear purple, make connections, and learn more about Domestic Violence from the community organizations and government agencies who will be available during the event. Register Here

10/08: Save the date! Tech Abuse Today: Responses and Strategies (in-person event): – This panel, featuring ENDGBV, CUNY, Cornell's Clinic to End Tech Abuse (CETA), Day One, and the New York State Office to Prevent Domestic Violence (OPDV), brings together leading gender-based violence agencies and experts in New York to discuss the current state of technology-facilitated abuse, following the 2019 criminalization of the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images. Panelists will explore how this law has impacted survivors and what challenges remain in addressing digital forms of abuse. The discussion will also look ahead to the future, examining the evolving nature of digital violence as technology advances, and what steps can be taken to protect individuals moving forward. Light refreshments provided. Register Here

10/17: GO Purple Day! - Put on your favorite purple outfit and put your support for survivors of DV on your sleeve – literally! Every year we see how impactful it can be for everyday members of the public to stand firm in their commitment to support and protect victims of abuse. Post a picture of your outfit with #DVAM2024 #AwarenessHelpHope #GoPurple #NYCGoPurpleon Instagram or X, and follow us on social media on

@nycendgbv

for all things DVAM and more info about how you can get involved.

And as the sun sets, check out the city lights! NYC's most iconic buildings, including One World Trade, and City Hall will be lighting up the skyline in stunning purple to signal the City's commitment to survivors. You can help spread the word by taking a picture and posting on Instagram with the hashtags #GoPurpleDayNYC #GoPurpleDay #DVAM2024 and #AwarenessHelpHope, and share the ways you support survivors in your community! We will feature our favorite photos on our page, stay tuned for more information and follow our accounts to see a full list of buildings and icons that will light up the night!

10/26: Bronx District Attorney (BXDA) Walk, Run, Roll 5K – Join ENDGBV at the BXDA's community 5k to raise awareness for Domestic Violence across the Bronx. Spend the morning on a relaxing at-your-own-pace 5k through the scenic Bronx, connecting with organizations and domestic violence conscious community members! Register Here

City Commission on Human Rights' "Understanding New Yorkers Experiences with Discrimination" Survey

The NYC Commission on Human Rights invites you to take their new "Understanding New Yorkers' Experiences with Discrimination" survey. This comprehensive citywide survey explores New Yorkers' experiences and perceptions of discrimination in their daily lives. The survey covers several key themes around the perceptions of where and why discrimination occurs, contributors to discrimination, willingness to report discrimination, and familiarity with the Commission. All responses will inform the Commission's impact, outreach efforts, and collaborations with other local government agencies.

Available in over 10 languages, this survey is part of the Commission's new TogetherNYC campaign, which aims to unite New Yorkers against bias and hate. The campaign also encourages all New Yorkers to take actions to reduce and prevent discrimination, including taking the survey, and pledging their commitment to foster an inclusive city. For more information about the Commission on Human Rights, please visit this link. To learn more about ways to get involved, please check out the Commission's latest "Together NYC" campaign.

Healing Connections

Our partners at the Center for Justice Innovation have developed a 16-week group accountability program for anyone who has caused harm in an intimate relationship called Healing Connections. This mixed gender program accepts referrals from criminal and family court and voluntary participation from individuals interested in increasing self-awareness and developing healthier relationships. The curriculum will focus on accountability, mindfulness practices, trauma healing, and create a space for those seeking to be accountable for their behaviors to work on themselves with the guidance of a clinician.

The cohort meets virtually on Zoom every Tuesday starting late October, message agwaksberg@nycourts.gov or call 646-707-4218 to sign up.

In this Policy and Legislative Corner, we will highlight some legislative updates that may be of interest to DV/GBV providers. We will also share information about a Supreme Court ruling that could impact survivors facing homelessness.

City:

New Bills Introduced

Int 0993-2024: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating lock change procedures in response to illegal lockouts

This bill would require the Police Department (NYPD) to create a procedure under which NYPD officers can change the locks on the dwellings of people who have been illegally locked out of those dwellings to allow those who have been illegally locked out to return to their dwellings. The NYPD would be required to add such a procedure to its Patrol Guide. When NYPD officers change locks pursuant to such procedure, they would be required to provide new keys that open the new lock to all the dwelling occupants and to the landlord.

Int 0514-2024: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to interest to be paid on late contract payments to non-profit contractors

This bill would require interest to be paid on late payments under city contracts with non-profit organizations. The non-profit contractor would not be eligible to receive the interest if the non-profit contractor has received a no-interest and no-service-fee loan issued or authorized by a city agency to cover its expenses in relation to the subject contract.

State:

City of New York Letter of Support Sent to the Governor

The City of New York submitted a letter in support of Bill S15A/A2583A, which passed both houses. This bill has been sent to the Governor, for signature.

S15A/A2583A: AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to authorizing certain shelters to be reimbursed for housing a single individual in a room intended for double occupancy.

Federal:

SCOTUS Ruling

City of Grants Pass Oregon v. Johnson

Ruling: In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court upheld local ordinances that ban people from sleeping outside in public spaces. The ordinances in question impose fines followed by imprisonment for repeat offenders. The Court held that a ban on "public camping" does not violate the 8th Amendment's Cruel and Inhuman treatment clause. The Court also held that the ordinance does not target anyone based on their status as unhoused because it applies to everyone regardless of status. The dissenting opinion pointed to the complex and intersecting reasons individuals might be sleeping in public places, including domestic violence and sexual abuse.

ENDGBV Spotlight

Doreen Jones - VOICES at ENDGBV

Written by: Cole Dempsey, Civil Service Pathways Fellow -- ENDGBV Communications Specialist

As a follow up to our segment in the July 2024 issue: VOICES at ENDGBV, we wanted to share more about how our VOICES members get involved with the committees and working groups we chair. I got the opportunity to sit down with Doreen Jones, a VOICES member and DV advocate, to discuss her time with VOICES and her membership on these committees, why she decided to enter the DV advocacy space, and any wisdom she would like to share for those who would like to get involved.

Doreen has been a VOICES member since 2019, and she served as a Survivor Advocate on the Fatality Review Committee for two terms. Doreen is also a member of the Non-Fatal Strangulation Working Group and is a new member of a Strangulation Round Table. Spending time getting to know Doreen, it is apparent to me she is a gentle facilitator with a wealth of knowledge. This made sense with her previous career as a Caseworker that worked at a Domestic Violence shelter. There, she helped Clients adjust to life after leaving their situation by assisting them; with the completion of applications for housing vouchers to get safe permanent housing in a safe location, cash assistance and SNAP, new jobs and school placement for their children, and working in foster services for vulnerable populations. We shared a light-hearted moment that this detail can be ironic and shocking to some, but Doreen finds her professional experience to be a cornerstone of her DV advocacy work. "Having a career as a case worker while undergoing domestic violence in your personal life... there can be a stigma there, of being a helper and then needing help yourself. But that simply is not true, and me sharing my story is an important key to tearing that stigma down". Doreen went on to explain that you aren't necessarily encouraged to ask for help when your profession is to be the helper, that it's easy to internalize asking for help as a weakness, "You don't necessarily feel this way in the moment, but it is a form of strength to ask for help." and she is glad that she did.

Regarding Doreen's role as an appointed Survivor Advocate in these working groups and what she brings to the table for policymakers and city officials, she says "There needs to be a practical knowledge, someone who has engaged with these systems from the other side, those who are building the systems want to know where members of the public are experiencing difficulties, especially as some of these people are going through one of the most difficult periods of their life".

In her work with the Fatality Review Committee, families who just lost a loved one to domestic violence are looking for quick, efficient, and most of all compassionate care when navigating city resources. In her view, "All professionals can benefit from the practical and experiential knowledge that survivors have in dealing with these systems firsthand. Not only for them to see what is not working as intended, but also what is potentially causing victims further harm in the DV care process." This was especially true during COVID, as the city navigated a unique crisis and survivors encountered difficult barriers during lockdown, the perspective of advocates was crucial. Doreen went on to mention the need of survivor advocates when reviewing the cases of victims who were killed by their abusers. It can be a dark topic but a very necessary one for survivors, as they explain the potential difficulties one could experience trying to get help, and these survivors can now help to work on practical ways in which the system could be improved to prevent another tragedy.

One of the most important things I asked Doreen was if she had advice for survivors who are looking to make a difference advocating for this issue. Her first reaction to the question was to just do it, to advocate, to be an active community member in your neighborhood, reminding people that asking for help is a strength and not a weakness. She then paused and measured for a moment before adding "Professionals don't always see the issues that survivors experience. For example, policymakers don't see that some survivors will treat injuries from their abuse themselves instead of going to see a medical professional. Sometimes abusers will help treat their victim, have a first aid kit, and its important to discuss those experiences." and Doreen likes to be in the room to discuss these nuances with policymakers. To do this work, she added the most impactful advice she ever received was learning how to talk about her story. "Releasing yourself from the judgement and stigma, while also learning to share your experiences so that your audience hears you can be powerful when you advocate, for yourself and for others"

Learn more about Doreen and our other VOICES Committee members on our Instagram throughout Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

To learn more about the Fatality Review Committee, check out ENDGBV's website for the Fatality Review Committee Statistics and Reports here.

Upcoming Events

Trainings

The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence invites you to register for our July Open Provider Trainings. These sessions are completely free, virtual, and aimed at service providers in NYC:

Digital Privacy and Safety for Survivors of DV/GBV

October 9th , 2pm – 3pm

Register Here

Human Trafficking: What it is and How to Address It

October 29th 10am – 12pm

Register Here

Host a Training:

Go to our website to request training with our Training Team. The form to request a training is below:

Online Training Request Form

JOIN THE ENDGBV TEAM

Now Accepting Applications

Full-time positions are now open with our ENDGBV team. To learn how you can apply online or share our openings with your networks, visit New York City's job bank at: https://www.nyc.gov/jobs/index.page and search by Job ID number.

JOB OPENINGS

ID. NO.

Chief of Staff

43892

Deputy Director, Staten Island Family Justice Center

625463

Contract Analyst

631343

IN THE NEWS

Check out ENDGBV's recent media coverage on our website, listed here under Press Releases - ENDGBV (nyc.gov). Below you will also see what we are reading!

Mayor's Management Report (MMR) 2024 Mayor's Management Report (MMR) - Mayor's Office of Operation (nyc.gov)

7/11/24- Report: Dual Tragedies Domestic Homicide Suicides with a Firearm https://everytownresearch.org/report/dual-tragedies-domestic-homicide-suicides-with-a-firearm/

RESOURCES

Help is Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or gender-based violence, help is available:

Find resources and support in NYC by searching NYC HOPE Resource Directory online at www.nyc.gov/NYCHOPE.

NYC Family Justice Centers offer immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, mental health support, and other resources. Services are available over the phone or in-person, Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM. Call 311 to connect or visit the FJC in your borough or the one where you feel safest.

Call NYC’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) for immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, and other resources, TTY: 866-604-5350.

In an emergency, you can call 911. Please note this will lead to a response by the New York Police Department (NYPD)

Disclaimer: We believe in the principles of open dialogue and considering varying perspectives. Viewpoints or opinions expressed in the content of this communication or in articles linked do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, or the City of New York.

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The Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) is now the Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. Find out more at www.nyc.gov/ENDGBV

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