A news update from the National Latin@ Network
Table of Contents

Blog
Women Who Stay: Perspectives of Latina Survivors on Staying or Leaving an Intimate Relationship

Many women, regardless of race or ethnicity, choose to continue to live with partners who have been (or continue to be) abusive. Traditional domestic violence intervention approaches have emphasized women leaving abusive relationships, but the applicability and acceptability of this
approach for women from culturally diverse backgrounds, including immigrant and Latina survivors of intimate partner violence, is not well understood. 

While few studies have focused specifically on Latina survivors' experience of staying, research to date has identified a number of reasons why women may decide to remain with male partners who have used violence against them, including higher relative levels of violence, emotional attachment, and children. The purpose of  this study  was to examine the contexts of Latina women currently living with their partners, and to inform recommendations for researchers and practitioners working with Latina survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).

Click here to read what the women surveyed had to say.
Seeking information from LGBT survivors on access to domestic and sexual assault services

Human Rights Watch works to investigate, expose, and end human rights violations around the world. In recent months the LGBT Rights Program has worked on several pressing issues in the US, releasing groundbreaking reports on abuses against transgender women in immigration detention, the rights of LGBT youth in schools, and medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children.

In 2013, Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with strengthened protections for LGBT people, immigrant communities, and Native women. In 2018, VAWA is up for reauthorization, and there are concerns that some of these protections are at risk of being repealed or altered. 
The LGBT Rights Program is interested in speaking with LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, dating violence and/or stalking who have used or come in contact with any victim services: including shelters, domestic and sexual assault programs, state resources (law enforcement, prosecutor's offices), etc. since 2013; and whether they have benefited from that access or continued to face discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The research will be used to illustrate why protections for LGBT people are important and how they can be strengthened in future versions of VAWA. Any stories that people are willing to share can be kept private, and we can anonymize any accounts that are used in our reporting. 

If you're interested or have questions about the project, you can contact our researcher, Ryan Thoreson at  thoresr@hrw.org or (212) 216-1209.
Join RISE for Hispanic Heritage Month

On September 15th, we're rising to action - will you join us? 

Hispanic Heritage Month falls annually between September 15th and October 15th, a month that celebrates Latinx culture and heritage. R.I.S.E. (Register. Ignite. Strive. Engage), formerly Hispanic Heritage Month of Action, is a one-of-a-kind, on-the-ground and digital voter registration campaign that seek to shift this cultural celebration to a month of action around voter registration and community organizing.

This year, with partners Mi Familia Vota and iAmerica, Voto Latino created a brand new initiative called #RISE. From September 15th to October 15th, we will rise for our immigrant youth, rise for our LGBTQ community, rise for our Afro-Latino community, and rise for our indigenous ancestors. 

On September 15, #WeMustRise

Click here for more information and to become a partner
Mijente releases bilingual books with know your rights information

These booklets were developed by Mijente with  Puente Human Rights Movement in Arizona and the  Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights and authored by Mijente's field director,  Jacinta Gonzalez, who shares years of experience doing deportation defense in New Orleans. They collaborated with Touch Touch Studios for the illustration. 

In the books, you'll find information on what to do if ICE comes to your home, your work, or stops you on the street or while driving. There's a checklist of helpful documents to compile and keep in a safe place ahead of time. And there are sheets you can tear out to put on the inside and outside of your door in case an agent comes knocking.

Thay also have graphics available for non-commercial use as a tool in your local organizing, on your fliers, and in your presentations.

Click here to download the know your rights books in English and Spanish
Muslim Women Activists in North America: Speaking for Ourselves

Edited by: Katherine Bullock

This book introduces 18 Muslim women activists from the United States and Canada who have worked in fields from social services, to marital counseling, to political advocacy in order to further social justice within the Muslim community and in the greater North American society.

Each of the activists has written an autobiographical narrative in which she discusses such issues as her personal motivation for doing activism work, her views on the relationship between Islam and women's activism, and the challenges she has faced and overcome, such as patriarchal cultural barriers within the Muslim community or racism and discrimination within the larger society. The women activists are a heterogeneous group, including North American converts to Islam, Muslim immigrants to the United States and Canada, and the daughters of immigrants. Young women at the beginning of their activist lives as well as older women who have achieved regional or national prominence are included. 
Description from GoodReads
NTF Immigration Committee asks for your feedback

The Co-Chairs of the Immigration Committee of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence seek your feedback on the top immigration-related issues you would like to see addressed as part of the 2018 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Your concerns, suggested "fixes," and recommendations can relate not only to immigration benefits for survivors, but also access to services, issues related to immigration enforcement and others. In addition, it is also critical to assess what existing benefits, processes, and protections you feel may be particularly at risk and need to be safeguarded in legislation. Please list your priority area(s) in the survey below, as well as indicate whether you are interested in outreach and advocacy activities. This survey is our initial step to seek your input, and there will be additional opportunities for feedback and discussion.
 
We want as many voices as possible, so multiple people at the same agency may respond to the survey, and we encourage those who work with survivors in a variety of disciplines to participate.  Please complete the survey by Friday, September 22, 2017.

Thank you for the important work you do and for taking the time to fill out this survey.  Your experience and input are very important to help shape VAWA advocacy efforts going forward.

Click here to access the survey.
WorkplacesRespond.org announces redesigned website

On the 23rd anniversary since the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was enacted (Sept. 13), Futures Without Violence is pleased to share with you the newly redesigned website for Workplaces Respond to Domestic and Sexual Violence: A National Resource Center. Authorized by VAWA and funded through DOJ's Office on Violence Against Women, this national online portal provides employers with tools, resources, model policies, and technical assistance to create safer and more productive workplaces, and improve outcomes for workers experiencing violence, whether at home or on the job.
 
They invite you to share this updated resource - the only national program of its kind - with employers and advocates to prevent and address domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking from impacting workers and the workplace. 

Click here to review the new website and its features
NRCDV releases #DVAM2017 materials

This October, join the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence each Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST for a special #DVAM2017 event, and every Thursday for a new NRCDV radio podcast episode. 

  The Awareness + Action = Social Change infographic explains how to make your awareness campaigns more impactful by incorporating proactive prevention strategies.

Awareness Social Media Campaigns
#ThisIsDV #DVAM2017 #ImAnAdvocate
Why are you an advocate? 
Follow @NationalDVAM and join the conversation on Twitter.

Awareness + Action = Social Change Twibbon
Create a Twibbon for your Facebook and Twitter profiles. 


#PurpleThursday on Thursday, October 19Wear purple -- the color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month -- as a way to tell others why ending domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence is important to you.

Subscribe to NRCDV for more DVAM resources
Webinar DVAM Countdown: Last Minute Tips and Ideas

Monday, Sept. 18, 2017
2 -3 p.m. EST

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) 2017 is just a few weeks away! For 30 years, October has been a time when advocates come together to connect, celebrate and mourn those lives lost to domestic violence. It is also is an opportunity to raise awareness, move people to action, develop new partnerships, and shine a light on the amazing work you do to impact change. Join us to learn how free online tools available from national partners NRCDV and NO MORE can support your efforts to develop successful events and campaigns. 

Presenters 
Casey Keene & Ivonne Ortiz from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence; 
Ali Safran from NO MORE 

Click here for more information and to register
Twitter Chat #MeaningfulCollaboration

October 3, 2017
1 - 2 p.m. EST

Join us as we engage partners from across social change movements and sectors in a conversation on engaging allies in meaningful collaboration to bring the margins to the center and advance transformation.

Follow @NationalDVAM and join the conversation on Twitter at #MeaningfulCollaboration #DVAM2017. RSVP to join the chat.

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Facebook Live Party Stories of Transformation: I'm an Advocate

Tuesday, Oct. 24 
3pm EST

Help us celebrate the value, strength and perseverance of advocates in the efforts to end gender-based violence.

We will highlight the advocates who shared their story in our NRCDV Radio podcast series and #ImAnAdvocate Twitter campaign, while reflecting on the invaluable role of advocates in supporting survivors as they move along their healing journey. RSVP to join the party.

Webinar From Margins to Center Listening Sessions

September 19, 2017
Call 1: 11 - 12:30 p.m. EST
Call 2: 2:30 - 4 p.m. EST

For attorneys who are people of color and/or aspiring allies sitting at unique sections of the law such as racial equity/justice, anti-poverty, domestic violence.

These calls are an opportunity to create dialogue across the field to inform survivor-driven systems advocacy and practice recommendations that enhance racial and economic equity for domestic and sexual violence survivors. The Listening Sessions will result in a detailed report to be shared back to the field to further our collective work toward economic safety and racial equity for survivors of color.

Click here to register for this listening session.
American Civil Liberties Union: Communications Strategist

Location: New York

The Communications Strategist is a member of a team of professionals in the ACLU's Communications Department in New York and Washington, DC.  The Communications Strategist will work to support the ACLU's important litigation and advocacy issues and the 53 ACLU affiliate offices.  The ideal candidate is an individual with a fine-tuned sense of "what sells" in the news media, is comfortable liaising with reporters affiliated with major news outlets, is a solid writer and has a firm understanding of social media. We are seeking a candidate who thrives in a fast-paced environment and who pursues a strategic approach to promoting issues and guiding prominent civil liberties experts on working with the media. The Communications Strategist will report directly to the Associate Director of Strategic Communications.

Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter: Executive Director

The Artisan Group, an executive search consultancy, has been engaged by the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter (LAWS), to identify an exceptional individual to perform in the role of Executive Director.

Founded in 1984, LAWS is a 501c3, non-profit organization that has earned an outstanding reputation for delivering safe-haven and a host of essential services to adults and children directly impacted by domestic and sexual violence. LAWS' mission is to serve adults and children who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; to empower, inform, and advocate for these individuals; to educate the community about domestic violence and sexual assault; and, to work towards the elimination of personal and societal violence. LAWS' strives to offer a framework of comprehensive support services to victims of domestic and sexual violence so that they may live free from fear, anxiety, and danger.

Kansas Coaltion Against Sexual and Domestic Violence: Immigration Project Attorney

Responsible to: 
Director of Legal and Policy

Primary Responsibilities:
Provide some direct representation and increase and improve the statewide capacity for appropriate advocacy services and competent legal representation in immigration and family law proceedings for immigrant survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sex trafficking across Kansas.

Now accepting submissions

We welcome submissions on a number of topics pertaining to domestic violence, family violence, and gender-based violence. These topics include, but are not limited to:
  • Gender-based violence intervention and prevention programs that are culturally specific
  • Working with Latin@ youth
  • Working with immigrant Latin@s
  • Health care and gender-based violence
  • LGBTQ Latin@ communities
  • Children and domestic violence
  • Building Latin@ leadership in Latin@ communities
  • Elder abuse
We also welcome photography, video, resources, and other digital material that organizations or people wish to share with our network.

If you're interested in submitting a blog post,  click here to email Rebecca De Leon, Communications and Marketing Manager

ABOUT THE NATIONAL LATIN@ NETWORK FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

The National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities is a network of individuals and organizations committed to improving the health and well-being of Latin@ communities. The National Latin@ Network is led by Casa de Esperanza, a national Latina organization whose mission is to mobilize Latinas and Latin@ communities to end domestic violence. The National Latin@Network for Healthy Families and Communities builds on Casa de Esperanza´s experience working in local communities to support families, end domestic violence, and increase meaningful access to services for Latina@s and incorporates a research center, public policy initiative, and training.

National Latin@ Network | http://www.nationallatinonetwork.org | 651.646.5553


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