2023 off to a roaring start...
Greetings!

We wrote the headline above before the recent killing of Tyre Nichols in Tennessee, the attacks on Lunar New Year in California, and other tragedies. This is not the way we had hoped 2023 would begin. Tomorrow, we will share our reflections with all of you on these recent episodes of interpersonal, societal, and racial violence.

As we have done time and again, we honor those lives lost by continuing our work towards safety, justice, and equity for all.

In today's newsletter from JDI, you will read how we have hit the ground running with membership convenings, webinars, and more. Next week, you'll receive an update on our legislative priorities for the new session. We also have big news about a staffing change.

And we want to Thank You for the incredible support we received through our year-end appeal. If you missed the chance to give before December 31, please consider making a donation now to help us reach our goal. We'd appreciate your support to keep the momentum going.

With gratitude,
The JDI Team
Staff Transition: Diana Mancera making a move

After seven jam-packed years as JDI's Director of Membership & Programs, Diana Mancera will be leaving us on February 3rd to assume her new role as President and CEO of New Hope, Inc.

"We cannot say enough positive things about Diana: she's bold, creative, compassionate, and someone who leads with hope and vision. Her impact for survivors and the entire Commonwealth has been immeasurable," said Debra Robbin, JDI's Executive Director.

Diana reimagined our work around financial literacy and the needs of both survivors and advocates. She figured out how to make technology safety and program evaluation less intimidating. She designed trainings and conferences that uplifted the local expertise of preventionists and providers and brought in national experts to advance conversations around trauma, healthy masculinities, racism and more. She has been a valued mentor to young women of color in the movement and has helped shape the work of JDI to address anti-Blackness, transphobia and other vestiges of white supremacy culture within the movement and in society at large.

Diana shared, "Seven-years, definitely one of my longest relationships, hahaha! I’ve enjoyed working with my JDI colleagues and all of you. You can’t imagine, or maybe you can, how sad I am to leave my JDI peeps but at the same time, I am so happy to venture into this new role at New Hope, Inc. I am looking forward to collaborating with the coalition in a different capacity in my new role. Thank you JDI peeps for your support, guidance, encouragement and for the opportunity you offered me to be part of fantastic projects and initiatives at JDI – thank you!”

While we will miss Diana as part of the JDI staff, we are thrilled she will remain a part of the coalition. New Hope serves 41 communities throughout South-Central and Southeastern Massachusetts, and addresses domestic and sexual violence at the individual, family, and community level.

To help celebrate Diana, last week, the JDI staff visited "The Embrace" statue on the Boston Commons followed by lunch and indoor miniature golf excursion. She won, of course!

Please join us in wishing Diana all the best as she embarks on this new chapter!
Awareness and Action
Fact sheets, reports, policy and legislative resources, and action steps
List of stalking victim fears
SPARC - Stalking Prevention, Awareness & Resource Center - Materials available in English and Spanish
You are deserving of a healthy loving relationship TDVAM
Action guides, information and resources
Black History Month
Meet The Emancipator: Reframing the conversation on racial justice and equity
In January we marked Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Stalking Awareness Month, and we recognize Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Black History Month in February. There is an abundance of resources available online, at your public libraries, and through community organizations. We're sharing a few to help jumpstart the conversation.

The intersections of human trafficking, stalking, and sexual assault and domestic violence for people across the lifespan are well documented. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals, Black, Brown and Indigenous women, youth, and people with disabilities experience these forms of abuse at higher rates than the general population. Our work to combat these various forms of violence require diligence, education, and prevention along with meaningful accountability measures.

Take 5 minutes to learn more about these issues and what you can do to make a difference.
White Ribbon Day Logo and JDI Logo with multicolored heads
Save the date!

JDI's 2023 Massachusetts White Ribbon Day

Thursday, March 2 from 12 noon to 2pm

Virtually via Zoom



In 2007 JDI launched the Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign and joined an international human rights effort, the White Ribbon Campaign, to invite men and boys to be part of the solution in ending violence against women and all forms of gender-based violence.

We want to know what you're doing! The essence of MWRD has been the multitude of ways that men and boys throughout Massachusetts engage one another in this work.

Please share White Ribbon Day events your organization is hosting so that we can let our audience know.

Send any information and flyers to Nanee Sajeev via [email protected].
Addressing Sexual Assault on College Campuses Webinar

JDI recently hosted the first in a two-part webinar series with presenter Lindy Aldrich, Esq. on foundational understandings of both Title IX and the Clery Act (including the most recent 2021 Title IX regulation changes), reporting requirements, and requests for accommodations.
The second webinar in April will take this knowledge and apply it to several common higher education conduct process structures. Stay tuned for exact date/time and registration.
 
Click above or here to access the recording: https://youtu.be/Ot2GZaNLKmk

Note that ASL interpretation was recorded on screen and closed captioning is available via YouTube.
Enter raffle to win Taylor Swift The Eras Tour photos of her throughout the years
Taylor Swift Concert Raffle Tickets

The response so far has been swift (couldn't resist!). Thanks again to the Mildred's Dream Foundation for this opportunity to raise funds for JDI and make someone's dream come true.

Enter today for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" at Gillette Stadium on May 21, 2023.

Get your raffle tickets there: https://tinyurl.com/jdiTaylorSwift2023
Image description: maroon banner on top and orang banner on the bottom. Text: Introducing the Abortion Legal Hotline. (See below for rest of text)
Image description: maroon banner on top and orang banner on the bottom. Here's how you can use the Abortion Legal Hotline. (See below for rest of text).
Share this resource far and wide.

The Abortion Legal Hotline is a confidential resource that offers free legal advice to both patients residing in or looking to travel to Massachusetts if seeking care in Massachusetts and Massachusetts-based reproductive health care providers and helpers.

Here's how the #MAAbortionHotline works:

  1. Visit ReproEquityNow.org/hotline to read more
  2. Call or Signal message the Hotline at (833)309-6301
  3. Hotline staff will call or message you back and connect you with a pro bono attorney who can offer legal advice.

Kudos to our elected officials, including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, our colleagues at Reproductive Equity Now, ACLU of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Women's Bar Foundation, and the many law firms including Mintz, Foley Hoag LLP, Ropes & Gray, and others who have signed on to help.
Visit reproequitynow.org/hotline to learn more about this new legal resource in Massachusetts.
If you have any questions or want to find out what you can do to support these efforts, don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].