“You could have heard a pin drop in the room as Lisette Johnson told the story of being shot by her husband of 21 years,” writes Eden Brown. “It wasn’t an easy story to tell. She tells it because she cannot believe Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed bills that would have prevented her husband from keeping that weapon after he threatened her.”

Read the complete story in The Connection.

It was a bright, sunny morning as we welcomed more than 60 guests into our new Community Services Center (CSC) on Friday, April 5th. Many Doorways staff were onsite to provide guided tours of the trauma-informed space and share about their work and backgrounds.

Michelle Sagatov, President of Doorways’ Board of Directors, welcomed everyone into the new Center and thanked our community for always being so supportive of our work and mission. As she introduced Diana Ortiz, President and CEO of Doorways since 2021, Michelle shared that Diana had first been with Doorways from 2009 to 2018, and that although she left to pursue other ventures for time, “once you have Doorways in your heart, it’s there forever.”

Diana Ortiz thanked everyone, and especially Amazon, Washington Workplace, and the Garrett Group for their support in making the Center a beautiful and functional reality. The space has been intentionally designed with features that help protect the safety and confidentiality of both clients and staff. Diana also reiterated that the need for Doorways has continued to grow over the past 5 years, and that is a leading reason for creating this new Center.

Kate Bates, President and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, also spoke, saying that nonprofits like Doorways are a valuable part of the Arlington community, helping to make Arlington a great place to live, work, and play.

Diana welcomed Michelle, along with Melissa Kenney (Doorways Chief Operations Officer) and Virginia Dominguez (Revive Counseling Manager), to officially cut the purple ribbon and mark the opening of our new Center.

Special thanks also to volunteers from Elevation Church who helped greet and guide our guests. We appreciate you!

Event Photos

As the need for our services escalates, and the cost to provide those services rises, we will need more support from our community in this pivotal time of year.

Arlington nonprofits achieve Giving Tuesday goals, but donor participation concerns linger
by James Jarvis

“Linley Beckbridge, director of Communications and Advocacy at Doorways, which provides shelter to survivors of domestic violence, says the number of adults and children they have checked into the shelter has doubled within the last five years.

‘Domestic violence is on the rise,’ Beckbridge said. ‘As Arlington’s only provider of safehousing — emergency shelter for survivors and their children in imminent danger due to domestic violence — it is critical that Doorways expands our capacity to meet the growing need.'”

Read more on ARLnow.

Arlington Magazine Guide to Giving 2023
November 10, 2023 Arlington Magazine

The following organizations are based in Northern Virginia and provide critical services to the immediate community. Many thanks to the Arlington Community Foundation for its help in compiling this resource.

Doorways 

Every day, thousands of adults, youth and children in Arlington suffer the impacts of domestic violence and sexual assault. Intimate partner violence is a leading cause of homelessness, especially among women and families. As Arlington’s only provider of emergency shelter, services and supportive housing for survivors and their families, Doorways has in recent years seen a dramatic increase in those requiring emergency shelter to escape harm. The nonprofit is expanding its capacity to meet this growing need while also maintaining a full spectrum response to domestic and sexual violence, from prevention programming for youth to community-based services and supportive housing.

What a donation can do:

❱❱ $250 provides a play- or art-based therapy session for a child healing from the impacts of domestic violence.

❱❱ $500 supports a family graduating from Doorways’ shelter to its HomeStart supportive housing program by funding essentials like a new bed and kitchen supplies.

❱❱ $1,000 provides one week of emergency shelter in safe housing for a survivor escaping domestic violence.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers 18 or older who have graduated from high school are needed to assist with shelter coverage, children’s activities, interpretation, administrative support and fundraising. Individuals working directly with clients must complete at least 40 hours of training and a background check. Community groups, including youth and children, can help by organizing collection drives and fundraisers.

See also Arlington Magazine’s complete November-December 2023 issue.

One of first females in country to achieve status

By Shirley Ruhe, Arlington Connection

Avery Park from Arlington is one of the first females in the country to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. She says usually it takes 7 years to achieve Eagle Scout status but she did it in four. She chose to organize the fifth floor storage space for Doorways and develop an online tracking system as her Eagle Scout project. “I knew I wanted to do something to support women and children.”

Continue reading in the Arlington Connection.