“Many survivors may also fear that coming forward with any claim of abuse — which is already an underreported crime — could result in a defamation suit,” wrote Linley Beckbridge, director of communications and advocacy for Doorways — an Arlington, Va., nonprofit that provides housing and other supportive services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence — in an email to The Post. “Although the support shown to Johnny Depp could signal a positive shift towards believing male survivors of intimate partner violence, the net result will probably be increased silencing and isolation of survivors, especially women.” Continue reading.
All posts by Linley Beckbridge
Arlington Connection: The Best Way to Solve Violence Is to Get Ahead of It
Grants Awarded to Regional Nonprofits Totaling $613,725
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded $613,735 in grants to 50 local organizations through its 2022 Community Investment Funds, Environment Fund, and Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts, helping respond to need and seed innovative solutions to complex social problems across the region.
Funds are invested in organizations across Northern Virginia in the areas of Aging, Child and Youth Development, Education, Environment, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, Military Personnel and ther Families, and Safety Net to Support Basic Needs. This represents the largest ever discretionary grants cycle in the Community Foundation’s History.
“This generous grant from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia will help Doorways provide the services that empower individuals and families to transition from crisis to stability.” –Diana Ortiz, M.Ed., LPC, Doorways President and CEO
Letter in Support of the Violence Against Women Act of 2022
The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) is pleased to announce the release of this letter in support of S.3623, the Violence Against Women Act of 2022, signed by 740 local, state, territorial, tribal, and national organizations dedicated to ending domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, including Doorways.
Is A “Homeless Pandemic” Looming? – The Kojo Nnamdi Show
Wednesday, Feb 17th • 12 p.m. (ET)
Is A “Homeless Pandemic” Looming?
Hear how people who are experiencing homelessness are faring during these unprecedented times, and learn about ways you can help the shelters that are their lifeline, including Doorways. Guests include Doorways’ President and CEO, Diana Ortiz.
What it’s like to learn online from inside a homeless shelter – The Washington Post
“The shuttering of schools nationwide in March immediately shattered any semblance of stability for millions of homeless children who depend on schools for food, emotional support, or even just a warm, uncomplicated place to think,” wrote Hannah Natanson. “Trying to learn inside shelters for the past nine months, students have faced spotty WiFi, crowded rooms, high noise levels and harassment from some peers who deduce, over Zoom, that they lack a home.”
Read more in the Washington Post to learn what it’s like to attend school virtually while living at Doorways and other shelters.
The child in the photograph above is a model whose image has been used for illustrative purposes only.
What it’s like to learn online from inside a homeless shelter https://t.co/OTPt3v58B1
— Post Local (@postlocal) January 4, 2021
Yorktown Students Organize Doorways Toy Drive
“I didn’t realize what Doorways did until I started looking at it and now I feel a part of it,” says Lindsey Rosenthal, one of the Yorktown students conducting a toy drive for Doorways this holiday season. Read more (scroll to page 3).
Doorways Chief Program Officer provides survivors’ perspective on FOX 5 DC
New DNA information leads police to serial rape suspect in Virginia nearly 30 years later
By Evan Lambert and FOX 5 DC Digital Team │ Published December 2, 2020
“Knowing that the criminal justice system did its due diligence, (…) for a survivor, in particular, says that, ‘Someone believes me, and what happened to me mattered,’ and that’s incredibly validating for a survivor, especially a survivor of domestic violence or a survivor of sexual violence,” says Samantha Clarke, MSW, MPA, Chief Program Officer at Doorways. Hear more on Fox 5 DC with Evan Lambert FOX 5 DC.
If you a survivor in need of support, please contact Doorways any time at 703-237-0881. Advocates are available to speak with you 24/7. Whether you experienced something recently or years ago, you are not alone, and we are here to help. Learn more.
"Knowing that the criminal justice system did its due diligence, for a survivor, in particular, says that, 'Someone believes me, and what happened to me mattered,' and that's incredibly validating," says Sam Clarke of Doorways: https://t.co/ZA9bu01Dmy via @EvanLambertTV @fox5dc pic.twitter.com/alxcalQCOC
— Doorways (@DoorwaysVA) December 3, 2020
Your COVID Impact Report, from Doorways
Back in March, we asked for your support as we began to navigate this unprecedented time, to enable us to adapt and adjust Doorways’ work in unprecedented ways.
With your support, in just weeks, Doorways shifted our programs and service delivery to meet the needs of current clients while adhering to CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. We hope you enjoy learning more in Doorways’ COVID-19 Impact Report.
Thank You
Thanks to you, Doorways has remained open, continuing to serve current clients and welcoming new families into our care.
- In the four months since COVID-19 hit our community, we served 133 people in shelter and housing, 30 of whom we housed in hotels for their health due to the pandemic.
- Unable to provide therapy in person, we secured new technology which enabled our therapists to continue serving clients via nearly 600 telemental health sessions.
- Plus more! Download Doorways’ COVID-19 Impact Report to see more ways Doorways has continued to serve clients.
We are so grateful for all you’ve made possible these past four months. We thank you in advance for continuing to support families at Doorways as we face new challenges together, such as returning to school, virtually and/or in person.
➤ Learn how you can support kids at Doorways this back-to-school season. Stay tuned for more ways to help in our newsletter, This Week at Doorways! Subscribe now.
Triple Your Gift, for Hope
On a quiet, tree-lined street, Hope and Micah walk together in the sunshine. For the first time, in a very long time.
Because they are safe. Safe from a loved one who hurt them. Safe from angry words and threats. Safe to walk, and smile, and snuggle, and giggle — things that abuse took from them.
You helped get them here. Your gifts to Doorways gave Hope and Micah a home to call their own, counselors to help them heal, and the tools to start over and succeed. But even now, there are so many more who need you, just like Hope.
Today we are launching our Open Hearts, Open Doors match campaign, and I am asking you to be a part of it. From now until June 15th, 2020, every gift made to Doorways will be matched $2 to $1 by a generous coalition of Doorways Board Members, former Board Members, and Emeritus Board members.
Your gift of just $50 would mean $150. $100 would grow in impact to $300. $1,000 would triple to $3,000 — please, consider your gift for families just like Hope and Micah.
Just click this link to make your matched gift online: www.DoorwaysVA.org/donate.
Because you know that open hearts open doors to so many things — safety, security, serenity, and yes, hope.
Your gift will change lives. Thank you.
Give to Open Hearts, Open Doors today! This special $2 to $1 match won’t last long! We need you!