Did you know that one in three women and one in four men in the United States will be in violent relationship in their lifetime? What about the fact that families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, now approaching 40 to 50% nationally? Or that every 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted.
The truth is that most people don’t know these alarming facts — and, if they do, many don’t realize that it’s happening in their community. That’s right, Arlington: These issues are affecting the women, men and children of our very own county.
For the past 39 years, Doorways for Women and Families has been Arlington’s go-to resource for this escalating need. According to Doorways’ President and CEO, Caroline Jones, “Over the years, our response has grown and developed as we learned more and more about the lasting impacts of trauma and what it takes to not only help women and families escape crisis, but be empowered and achieve stability. Today, our comprehensive response to homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault in our community includes an immediate, safe response to our neighbors in crisis, including Arlington County’s only 24-Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline (703-237-0881); safe housing options, from emergency shelter through long-term housing, including Arlington’s only Domestic Violence Safe House, Safe Apartments and Safe Kennel; and comprehensive support services that help our clients achieve and maintain stability.”
What’s surprising though is that “there are still many people who do not know the pervasiveness and impact that homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault have on the member of our community,” Jones says. In response, Doorways is launching a public service awareness campaign to inform people of these startling issues, motivate them to get involved in the cause and even, perhaps, shift the paradigm.
There are still many people who do not know the pervasiveness and impact that homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault have on the members of our community.
Enter: #Knowthe5, a social media campaign for change.
Says Heather O’Malley, Director of Development and Communications: “Through #Knowthe5, we hope to raise critical awareness of the issues facing too many of our neighbors. Once people are aware, they can make a difference; we know that when our community comes together, we can create real and lasting change.”
Supporters are asked to post selfies with their hand held up, palm facing the camera, fingers outstretched, to bring attention to five must-know facts, which will be updated each month to tell the comprehensive story. This strong and recognizable visual will urge our friends, fans and followers alike to stop the vicious cycle of violence, sexual assault and family homelessness and, ultimately, remind us all that change is in our hands.
“Our goal is twofold—first, we hope our community understands that homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault impact thousands of women, men, youth and children here in Arlington, and second, we hope that we empower them to do something about it. From gaining more support for our efforts to serve our neighbors in crisis, to changing conversations around the dinner table, we aim to create real change in our community in many ways, big and small,” O’Malley says.
To find out what the five must-know facts are and to be a part of the change, go to www.DoorwaysVA.org/knowthe5.
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Leadership Center for Excellence is honored to announce the recipients of the 2017 Leadership Legacy Awards, recognizing outstanding community leaders. The event honoring these leaders will be held on May 24, 2017 from 6:00pm until 9:30pm at Army Navy Country Club. Additionally, the Leadership Legacy Awards will celebrate the graduation of the Leadership Arlington Class of 2017.
Caroline Jones, Doorways’ President and CEO, and Christa Carlton, Director of Doorways’ Domestic & Sexual Violence Program, speak with Laura Weimer from the Arlington Church of the Brethren about our response to those experiencing abuse and homelessness in our community.
“Hundreds of thousands of people traveled to the nation’s capital last month for the inauguration and the Women’s March on Washington. In the weeks since they’ve left, more than 10,000 visitors have donated to local charities Metro SmarTrip cards that might have otherwise been discarded.”
The Campaign for Brighter Futures, which began with a quiet phase in 2015 followed by a public launch last fall, will conclude in 2018, marking Doorways’ 40th anniversary. The campaign is part of Doorways’ strategic plan to address the increasing demand for safety, the growing complexity in the needs of survivors and families seeking self-sufficiency, and the uncertain, restrictive funding climate that threatens the ability to deliver lasting change in their client’s well-being. By engaging the Arlington community and increasing private, philanthropic investment in the areas of safety, stability and sustainability, Doorways seeks to interrupt cycles of poverty and violence that keep many generations of families locked in struggle, unlocking the potential of the thousands of women, men and children they serve each year.