"To our past, current, and future crisis line volunteers—you are amazing humans. Without you, support, care, and kindness would not be available every hour, every day." - Peggy O'Neil, WISE Executive Director, 2021 Annual Meeting
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August is volunteer appreciation month
Every August, we celebrate the significant commitment and contribution our volunteers make to survivors and WISE. While we are still unable to gather together this year, we honor our volunteers and the many ways they show up for survivors and WISE.
This past year, we welcomed 17 new community members to the after-hours crisis line, bringing our volunteer advocate group to 47 people! 47 people who are available in the middle of the night to talk on the crisis line, or meet at local hospitals and police stations. 47 people who ensure that survivors are not alone when they feel most alone.
Volunteer advocates answered 734 after-hours calls, supported 540 survivors, and provided 9,860 hours of coverage on the crisis line. They supported survivors at local hospitals 83 times - first on phones and videochat, and when WISE was designated essential status, they supported survivors in-person with face shields.
We did not have many opportunities for WISE Ambassadors this year, but when we asked, they responded by helping us with our annual appeal in the winter, and with the few outdoor tabling events once outside temperatures warmed. As the Upper Valley continues to open up, we are once again tabling at community events with their presence.
The courts are still operating remotely, and our Court Observer program remains on pause. We look forward to re-activating this incredible group of people and welcoming our Court Observer friends back when they can safely enter court rooms once again.
To all of our incredible WISE volunteers, you have our heartfelt gratitude. We could not accomplish all the amazing things we do without you.
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As we celebrate our 50 years of WISE, we continue to explore the history of the organization through the decades. Click here to read last month's installation.
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Very WISE volunteers
For 50 years, volunteers have been an essential part of WISE from its very beginning as a grassroots organization. As WISE grew and became more focused on supporting survivors of gender-based violence, so did the amazing corps of volunteers.
Through the decades, volunteers have served many key roles supporting the our mission. By the early 1990's, there were over 50 highly-trained volunteers who supported survivors on the crisis line, who volunteered their private homes as emergency shelter, and who taught prevention strategies in local schools.
Today, our volunteer group consists of 87 people who serve on the crisis line, as ambassadors, and as court observers. We were able to provide seamless coverage over the past 17 months of Remote WISE because of the incredible commitment of our volunteers. They signed up to support survivors in-person at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center at the height of the COVID-19 crisis. They supported staff during the day and provided after-hours advocacy during the night and on weekends.
WISE continues to grow and evolve because of the strong community members who stand with us as we work together to end gender-based violence.
above: Kim, a volunteer in 1996; below left: Carnations fundraiser late 1990s; below right: 1997 Love of Chocolate event
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Have a story to share? Old pictures? Email us! We would love to include your experiences as part of our 50th oral history project.
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“What I've learned will inform how I think and talk about GBV and trauma and how I consume media. I will take this new learning and perspective into my friendships and social spheres, my posts at work and within the community and my dinner table conversations. Each conversation in which we share this information can make a dent in the culture.” - 2021 Foundations participant.
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Foundations of gender-based violence
Fall training for our highly popular Foundations of Gender-based Violence training begins the first week of October! In this training, we introduce the cultural foundations of gender-based violence. We reflect on our history, current norms, and explore the realities of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking. This training is recommended for all community members interested in understanding our work, becoming a Volunteer Advocate or Ambassador for WISE, or simply curious about how and why gender-based violence exists.
In keeping with social-distancing recommendations, the training will be virtual using our adaptive online curricula - a combination of Zoom and home study. To sign up or learn more, email us.
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The Vermont Network has formed a new statewide survivors group focused on social change and advocacy. This group will be co-led with survivors and the mission and agenda will be determined by its members. There will be regular personal and professional development opportunities to support survivors in their social change advocacy goals, including public speaking, legislative advocacy, and racial justice work. To learn more, click here.
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We are currently hiring two key positions within our core programs. Click below to access the full job descriptions.
These are both full time positions joining our team of dedicated and innovative staff committed to ending violence. To apply, please send cover letter and resume to Peggy O'Neil, Executive Director.
Please help us spread the word and feel free to share within your own networks.
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Leading the Upper Valley to end gender-based violence |
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Program Center · 38 Bank Street · Lebanon, NH 03766
every hour, every day · 866-348-WISE
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