March 2017
Your monthly news & updates
DOVES staff works with community and attends state conference 

Several members of DOVES’ staff were honored to represent the organization at the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence’s (CPEDV) annual conference “Shifting the Lens” in San Diego. The two-day event included prestigious keynote speakers, informative workshops, and various networking opportunities. . 


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Client believes in herself after stay at Lorrie's House

My husband of twenty years had abused me for a good portion of our marriage. I finally left after being punched in the face and pushed into a wall.  Making that decision to leave in order to simply be safe was a difficult one. I felt that I was a bad person and a part of me also felt that I somehow deserved it. 

I made my way to a park and began making phone calls to shelters. It began to get dark and I feared that I would have to return home. Fortunately, DOVES answered my call and I got on a bus to hopefully restart my life. I was given such a warm and loving welcome by the staff, that I began to believe that I was not a bad person. I wanted to be a success story.

I was able to get a job and have already gotten a nice promotion. My past is still there, but I now look toward my future. I look forward to being productive and working hard.


Assistance Given in March
Individual Counseling Sessions - 116
Crisis Calls - 82
New Clients - 13
Temporary Restraining Orders Issued - 3
 
Looking Ahead

Denim Day is April 26th

Denim Day is an international sexual assault awareness campaign that began in Italy more than 20 years ago. The inspiration came from the 1992 case of a young girl who was raped by the driving instructor of a behind-the-wheel class. The perpetrator was arrested, tried and convicted, but he appealed his case and the Supreme Court overturned his conviction. The Chief Judge reasoned that, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans, it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

This ruling outraged women in the Italian Parliament, who all came to work the following day wearing jeans to show their solidarity with the victim. The protest spread and the first Denim Day was born, and it is now observed in the United States as a way to raise awareness about sexual violence and correct the misconceptions that surround it. There is never an excuse for rape, and sexual assault is never acceptable.

On Wed., April 26, DOVES is honoring the spirit of Denim Day and we ask you to do the same. We invite you to wear denim to work to bring awareness to sexual assault, and share with others why it’s important to support survivors. Share your photos of wearing denim with DOVES on social media and we will repost them. On this day, let’s join together and make a statement!


DOVES 40 Hour Volunteer Training starts on April 21st. See the schedule here.
DOVES of Big Bear Valley, Inc. | 909-866-1546 | [email protected] | www.doves4help.org