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Spring symbolizes growth, resilience, and new beginnings—exactly what you make possible every day at My Sister’s Place (MSP). This month, we’ve celebrated inspiring housing victories, felt the joyful energy of community events, and deepened our commitment to survivors and their infants and children. With our Spring Appeal nearly at the finish line, we invite you to continue nurturing this growth alongside us.
Every donation, like, share, and act of support helps us create lasting change, building safer futures for generations to come. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
| | Community, Connection, and Cause: A Successful Night Celebrating the launch of our Spring Campaign and Denim Day Eve | | | |
On April 29th, My Sister’s Place partnered with Dacha Beer Garden in Shaw for a special Cause Tuesday fundraiser—and we’re thrilled to share that it was a huge success!
Held on the eve of Denim Day, this event marked the close of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and brought together a powerful crowd of supporters. 62 attendees signed up via Eventbrite, and countless others connected with us onsite, many learning about MSP for the first time.
| | Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $1,200 to support survivors across the DMV. From trivia buffs (shoutout to trivia winner Marissa!), to board members, donors, family members, and those exploring volunteer opportunities, this gathering proved how deeply our community cares. | | | | | More than a fundraiser, this evening kicked off our Spring Campaign and the relaunch of our volunteer program, with new signups and long-time supporters joining forces to help survivors access the safety, resources, and community support they deserve. | | |
Here’s what attendees had to say:
“The Dacha fundraiser was a great, engaging way to convene the MSP community to share critical information. It was awesome to see how far-reaching MSP is and have everyone come together and show up for survivors.”
— Josh
“No one should have to fight alone, and My Sisters Place does a great job at making that message clear to survivors in and out of DC. The turnout for the Dacha fundraiser was so inspiring, and it gives me hope that one day there will be a future in which people are no longer afraid to speak up about intimate partner violence, as they know the entire community is there, believes them, and wants to help.”
— Vanessa
“The environment was full of great energy...creating events and spaces to connect with people on a topic that isn’t easy to talk about, but still makes it warm and able to connect was amazing. Creating these environments can build a future for more people to become aware of support.”
— Sagarika
A huge thank you to Dacha Beer Garden, to all who donated, and to our supporters who continue to show up, especially in uncertain times.
Whether through a donation, sharing our mission, or signing up to volunteer, every action helps build a future where survivors are believed, supported, and safe.
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| This spring, we saw a powerful show of solidarity from organizations committed to uplifting survivors and their children. | | Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc.’s Tau chapter at the University of Maryland raised over $1,700 at their annual Free to Speak event, where MSP staff joined to educate and empower. | | Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. contributed $1,500 to support our programs, continuing their legacy of social action and service. | | Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc.—DC Grad Chapter brought much-needed in-kind donations for the families in our housing programs. | | Together, these organizations remind us that our community stands with us, and through their actions, they help build a safer, more supportive world. We're so thankful for their support! | | Unsafe Housing in DC: Frontline Perspectives from Dominique, Housing Navigator at MSP | | | |
In April, the DC attorney general filed a sweeping lawsuit exposing over 100 housing code violations at two Deanwood apartment buildings, where tenants endured mold, collapsed ceilings, standing sewage, and even seven reported deaths or murders over two years.
For Dominique, a housing navigator at My Sister’s Place, these horrifying conditions aren’t just headlines, they’re the daily reality her clients potentially face as they look for housing in the DC area.
Through various housing programs, Dominique works with survivors and families to secure safe, stable homes in a system where some landlords recycle uninhabitable units, avoid penalties by changing business names, and continue to profit off government housing programs.
“We did four inspections with DHS, police, and community members,” she recalls of one property. “Out of twelve units, only two were legally occupied—the rest were squatters. Even after multiple failed inspections, the landlord faced no consequences. They recycle the same unsafe units, recover withheld funds, and keep collecting rent by placing new voucher holders.”
Dominique goes beyond housing placement. She educates clients, supports fellow advocates, builds trust, and partners with responsible landlords. “Success means helping as many clients as possible find safe, stable housing,” she says. “It’s about providing support that empowers them to build a better future.”
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Just this month, thanks to Dominique’s tireless advocacy, a mother and her two children moved out of emergency housing and into their first safe, permanent home in years. Your support made this possible.
MSP salutes our great staff, like Dominque, for making a difference. Want to learn how Dominique is changing the system from the inside out?
>> Read the full story on our blog: mysistersplacedc.org/blog
| | In Uncertain Times, We Have Each Other | | |
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As many in the DMV face growing instability and uncertainty, one truth remains: we have each other.
During a recent peer empowerment group, one survivor reminded another,
“Don’t come down on yourself for having needs. We all need nourishment. Right now, we’re going to give you nourishment so you can nourish them—your children, your community, your future.”
This is the heart of our work at My Sister’s Place.
“They’re doing the heavy lifting—I’m just holding the space,” says Leise, who leads our peer empowerment groups. In holding that space, we create connection, dignity, and healing.
We carry forward the ripple effect started decades ago by volunteers and founders who believed in this mission. Every shared resource, every act of kindness continues that legacy.
Right now, you can help double the impact. We’re close to meeting our fundraising goal for our Spring Appeal, but we’re not there yet. There are just days until we reach our goal of $50,000, and we want to do more to help our community.
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Thanks to a $25,000 match from our Board of Directors, every dollar you give will be doubled—$5 becomes $10, $25 becomes $50. Your gift ensures that survivors and families have safety, support, and a path to a stronger future. Every dollar truly counts. Our families need your help!! Together, we nourish hope. Together, we grow the ripple. Together, we rise.
| | Be Greater: Support MSP During Give Greater DC | | |
Give Greater DC starts tomorrow, May 28th!
MSP is proud to participate in Give Greater DC, a giving event celebrating nonprofits making a real change in our region. We need your help to unlock matching prizes for MSP! Every gift—large or small —makes a big impact. Remember: your gift is also being matched dollar for dollar by our board of directors. Join us and help survivors and their children thrive!
Can you give $20 to help us get the momentum started?
| | | Mental Health Matters: Healing Beyond Survival | | |
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. At MSP, we recognize mental health as a crucial part of healing from domestic violence. Trauma from abuse can linger, causing survivors and their children to feel isolated, anxious, and overwhelmed, making mental health care crucial to their safety and long-term recovery.
One survivor shared with us how mental-health-focused self-care literally became her lifeline:
“During my darkest moments, the emotional pain felt overwhelming. I wrapped myself in a blanket I crocheted—it became my anchor, giving me warmth, stability, and grounding me in moments when nothing else could.”
Our survivor-centered programs include trauma-informed counseling and peer empowerment groups, ensuring every survivor has a safe, supportive space to heal emotionally as well as physically.
Visit our blog to explore resources, grounding techniques, and practical self-care strategies to support mental health after trauma.
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Know someone who’d love to learn about what we’re doing?
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