The Quarterly

OUR YOUNGER CLIENTS RECEIVED GIFTS FROM SANTA AT THE HOLIDAY DINNER PARTY IN THIS ISSUE

Happy New Year! From all of us at Safe Passage, we hope you had a wonderful holiday season surrounded by the love and warmth of your community. We are so grateful for the many volunteers, staff, and community members who gave of their time and resources to make this holiday season a special one for all our clients. From gifts and cards to holiday parties and special donations, we had so many reasons to celebrate and be thankful. As we look forward to 2018, we look ahead to a year full of possibilities. 2017 was filled with many challenges and struggles, but also filled with opportunities, victories, and courageous voices. 2017 brought us the #MeToo movement. We saw powerful perpetrators brought down by the brave voices of the survivors they had harmed. We saw women and men stand for the right to live without fear of abuse, assault, and harassment. We are always in awe of the strength of survivors, whether they speak publicly about their experiences or not. We continue to be motivated to offer support, counseling, and advocacy for survivors. As we move into 2018, we are committed to ensuring that #MeToo is not just a moment, but becomes a movement. Consider how you can partner with us in 2018 to make our community safe for all. Make a donation to Safe Passage! Reach out to our new Volunteer Coordinator, Pam, to learn how you can get involved! Contact our prevention team to learn about hosting a presentation or an “In Their Shoes” experience for your church, community group, or team! Commit with us this year to make 2018 the year we end domestic and sexual violence.

A Message from the Executive Director Mary Ellen Schaid

HOLIDAY EVENTS

SEE HOW OUR CLIENTS AND STAFF CELEBRATED THE HOLIDAYS!

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THANKS TO DONORS!

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE VERY GENEROUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!

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NEW AT SAFE PASSAGE LEARN ABOUT OUR BLOG AND UPDATES TO OUR FACILITY. MEET OUR NEW VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR!

PAGE 4 UPCOMING EVENTS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

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On December 6, Safe Passage clients celebrated the holidays with our annual winter party. Over 50 clients and their children enjoyed a holiday meal, desserts, and music. Children were able to decorate ornaments, color holiday masks, and create winter crafts with their friends and parents. Later in the evening, Santa made an appearance. Children were thrilled to talk to Santa, take a picture, and receive a goodie bag! Santa told us the majority of children and adults that spoke with him hoped for “happiness and peace.”

We also want to recognize the generosity and kind hearts of Kyler Photography who took family pictures for our clients. These were framed beautifully and given to each parent as their gift. Clients were overjoyed by the opportunity. This night wasn’t possible without the help and dedication of our board members, staff and community volunteers. Stay tuned with upcoming events and volunteer opportunities at www.safepassagedv.org/events.

On Wednesday December 20th Safe Passage staff members came together to celebrate the holidays. Staff were treated to homemade appetizers, dips and desserts as well as a full meal catered by Portillo’s of Sycamore. Many laughs were exchanged during the white elephant gift swap. A few of the favorite and funniest gifts included a two pound bag of gummy bears, fuzzy pink bunny slippers, a chia pet and a denture shaped iced tray.

As an agency we value getting to know our co-workers. We believe our staff events strengthen our relationships with each other leading to effective communication and success for our agency.

On December 6, Safe Passage clients celebrate d the holi days with our annual winter party. Over 50 clients and their children enj oye d a holiday meal, de sserts a nd music.

Children were able to decorate or naments, color holiday masks, and c reate winter crafts with their friends and parents. Later in the evening, Sa nta made an appearance. Childre n were thrilled to talk to Santa about

On December 6, Safe Passage clients celebrate d the holi days with our annual winter party. Over 50 clients and their children enj oye d a holiday meal, de sserts a nd music.

Children were able to decorate or naments, color holiday masks, and create winter crafts with their friends and parents. Later in the evening, Sa nta made an appearance. Childre n were thrilled to talk to Santa about

Annual Holiday Party

Staff Celebration

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Annual Appeal We are so grateful to the generous community members and businesses who donated in light of our annual giving campaign! This year’s annual appeal featured an update on Sally, a previous client. Sally explained her time at Safe Passage helped her become a better person, parent and friend. “I’ve learned true love for myself and boundaries to make my life better and more positive,” she said. Sally trained to become a nursing assistant and is living a healthy and happy life with her children.

This year’s appeal also featured a beautiful handdrawn snowman, pictured left. The image was particularly speacial this year because it was designed by a current client.

Interesting in donating? Visit www.safepassagedv.org.

Holiday Giving

For most of us, the holidays are filled with love, happiness and joy. Unfortunately though, spending a holiday in a domestic violence shelter isn’t always filled with what we love about the season. This year, community members helped make the holiday season special for our clients. On December 14th, we received a trailer full of children’s toys and clothing (pictured top left). The delivery filled our basement with dolls, cars, art supplies, books, games, blankets, winter accessories and much more. Four days later, Tapa La Luna of DeKalb, filled our van with more gifts specific to each child we serve (pictured bottom left). Additionally, the Voluntary Action Center of DeKalb dropped off a large donation of purses filled with gifts for our clients (pictured top right). Finally, The Egyptian Theatre organized a sock drive benefiting our clients (pictured bottom right). We also owe gratitude to several community members who bought gifts for clients, donated money and organized giving drives. Our clients were so grateful! To learn more ways to give, visit www.safepassagedv.org.

New at Safe Passage

We are excited to announce the launch of our blog! This is a safe space that allows survivors to share their stories, staff to speak on recent and global events and a place for readers to learn.

“We know we must break the stigma around domestic and sexual violence. We must speak boldly and bravely about the issues that cause

and perpetuate violence in our homes and our communities. We must amplify survivor voices and provide a space to speak and to listen. This

is our space.”

Visit our page and join the conversation: www.safepassagedv.com.

In December, a local contractor remodeled our existing children’s building. Three new offices were added and a play room was updated. The new space allows for more privacy and well organized play therapy.

Hello everyone I am very excited to be Safe Passage’s Volunteer Coordinator! I have big goals for the New Year in terms of recruiting, retaining and recognizing our new volunteer and interns. We are redesigning our volunteer program with the goal of targeting more members of our community. Along with posting flyers and posting positions online, our recruitment plan will include hosting information nights throughout the community to provide resources to those interested in volunteering with us.

Currently, Becky, our Director of Operations and I are working on revamping our existing volunteer program by developing specific job positions for each department’s needs. The positions we have created so far are: Children’s Group Facilitator, Crisis Hotline Advocate, Donation Organizer, Event Ambassador, Legal Advocate, Medical On-Call Advocate and PAIP Co-Facilitator. These

positions enable volunteers to explore our agency and use their skills and interests to serve our mission. Whether the individual is a stay-at-home mother, a nurse or even a night owl, these specified positions allow people from all backgrounds to volunteer with their unique talents!

I want to thank all of the Directors who took their time out of their busy day to discuss their program and volunteer needs with me. You all have given me invaluable insight on your department’s volunteer needs, and I plan to connect your needs with Safe Passage’s mission to our new batch of volunteers this summer. I am thrilled to be a part of Safe Passage’s team, and I am excited to find like-minded volunteers in helping us achieve our mission in preventing and reducing domestic violence and sexual assault in DeKalb County.

Meet Pam: Safe Passage’s Volunteer Coordinator

Mark Your Calendars!

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and Safe Passage has big things planned! On April 14th, we will once again be hosting “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes!” An opportunity for our community to stand against sexual violence by putting yourself in the shoes of a sexual assault survivor for a mile walk in high heels.

Walk a Mile is a great opportunity for everyone, but especially men in our community to stand together and say that we will end our rape culture that allows sexual harassment and abuse to persist.

We are also planning to host a Take Back the Night march and a survivor speak out on April 24.

More details on both events will be posted on our website, www.safepassagedv.org, and Facebook, Safe Passage, INC.

Stay Updated!

Are you interested in learning more about domestic violence and sexual assault? Do you want to become involved in our events? Are you curious how to help Safe Passage? Stay tuned by following us on Facebook (Safe Passage, INC.), Instagram (safe_passage_dekalb) and Twitter (Safe_PassageDV). As you read, we also have a new blog. In order to learn when new posts are available, visit www.safepassagedv.com and enter your email. You will receive an email when we create a new post.

We understand society lacks education on domestic violence and sexual violence. By joining the conversation and sharing our posts you can help us educate and reach individuals in our community.

Aside from our quarterly newsletter, we also provide electronic monthly newsletters. If you are interested in being added to our mailing list, please visit our website, www.safepassagedv.org, and sign up on our home page.