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Summer is here, and at My Sister’s Place (MSP), warmth means more than sunshine—it’s the warmth of our community coming together to support survivors and their children; it’s the stories of strength, connection, and collective action. This month, you’ll find meaningful ways to volunteer, see how our workforce development program is restoring power to survivors, and learn how inspiring partnerships rebuild lives.
Read on to see how your support helps survivors turn resilience into renewal, every day. Thank you for being here.
| | Spring Appeal Update: Final Push to the Finish Line | | Thanks to the incredible generosity of our amazing community, we've raised over $71,000 toward our $100,000 goal! With only a few days left in our Spring Appeal, there's still time to make a difference. Every dollar you contribute will be matched dollar for dollar, effectively doubling your impact for survivors and their children. Let's finish strong—together! | | Spotlight on Service: Volunteer Program Update | | |
Thank you to everyone who attended our Volunteer Information Session on June 25th! It was wonderful connecting with you and sharing details about our upcoming projects. We shared exciting updates about:
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM)—including the Clothesline Project
- The Lipstick Project
- Care package drives
- Holiday Sponsor-a-Family Initiative
| | Couldn't make it? No worries—there’s still time to get involved! Email our Volunteer and Engagement Manager, Cassie, at creeder@mysistersplacedc.org to join our next session or start volunteering today. | | 2025 Workforce Development Fair: A Day of Connection and Opportunity | | |
On a rainy spring day in May, eleven courageous clients stepped into a brighter future at our Workforce Development Fair, hosted in partnership with Accenture. Far from the usual job fair, this event was about restoring power and choice for survivors.
Employers included DC Fire & EMS, Stoddard Baptist Global Care, and Hope Project, among others.
The impact was clear:
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“This event offered clients the chance to boost their income and/or transition to new careers by directly connecting with employers,” said Kayla, an MSP advocate. With a calm and welcoming atmosphere, along with thoughtful coordination by Ricardo, MSP's workforce development specialist, clients engaged in meaningful conversations with employers and organizations aligned with MSP's mission.
“I believe the community made this event successful,” said Javonte, MSP advocate. From real-time applications to genuine connection, the fair was a powerful reminder that healing and opportunity go hand in hand.
Special thanks to Accenture for hosting and for their continued partnership with My Sister’s Place.
>> Read more: Building Futures, One Connection at a Time: MSP’s 2025 Workforce Development Fair
| | Special thanks to our partners who show up for survivors again and again: | | New Grove Missionary Baptist Church donated care bags and essentials for survivors and their children. | | Giant Food Landover generously donated $1,000 to our programs, directly supporting survivors. | | We couldn't do this work without you. | | When Housing Becomes Healing | | |
Missed our last post on unsafe housing? Catch up and learn how partnership and advocacy are creating safer paths forward.
Stable housing is critical to a survivor’s path to recovery, but it takes trust and support to help make that possible. That’s why we work closely with landlords who share our belief that housing can be a tool for empowerment.
Landlords like Cynthia have seen the impact of that collaboration firsthand. “The tenant’s advocate from MSP has been central in achieving a win-win-win outcome—for myself as a property manager, for the tenant, and for MSP." Support, clarity, and follow-through make it easier for landlords to say yes and feel good about it.
Mercedes, another property manager, puts it simply: “Survivors are highly motivated to rebuild their lives. You’re not just providing housing...you’re witnessing resilience.” She calls it an investment, one that changes lives and strengthens communities, one home at a time.
Dominique, the MSP housing navigator at the center of these partnerships, makes the connection personal.“There were times Dominique felt like my advocate, too. That kind of partnership builds trust.”
These relationships show what’s possible when landlords and advocates work together, recognizing that safe, stable housing isn’t just about filling units, it’s about creating space for someone as they rebuild their lives.
>> Learn more about housing partnerships on our blog.
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| Why Juneteenth Matters to Our Work | | |
At MSP, we understand that racial justice and survivor justice are inseparable. Systemic oppression and domestic violence intersect in ways that disproportionately harm Black survivors, creating barriers to safety, stability, and healing. That’s why every program we offer is centered on equity and removing barriers.
This Juneteenth, we recommit ourselves to honoring freedom as an ongoing pursuit of justice and healing. Your support helps ensure Black survivors have the resources, dignity, and choices they deserve. Join us in honoring freedom, not just today, but every day.
Honor Juneteenth with a gift to My Sister’s Place.
| | BIG Conversations, Bold Collaboration | | Earlier this month, MSP joined advocates, organizers, and pilot participants at the 2025 BIG Conference, where the focus was on building stronger coalitions beyond the basic income movement. | | Members of our team actively participated in the DC leaders circle, proudly representing MSP on a panel and co-leading a breakout session with our partners at DC SAFE. We shared lessons from our programs and coalition work, and helped spark conversations about the deep connections between economic justice and survivor justice. | | | The message was clear: we can’t afford to work in silos. We’re excited to keep building with this movement—deepening partnerships, sharing survivor-centered strategies, and shaping a future where economic justice is at the center of society’s response to poverty, violence, and systemic inequality. |
| PTSD Awareness Month: Shining a Light on Silent Struggles | | |
Each June, awareness efforts turn toward two critical and often interconnected issues: domestic violence (DV) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While PTSD is commonly associated with combat veterans, millions of survivors of domestic violence silently carry the invisible wounds of trauma. PTSD Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder that the impacts of abuse extend far beyond physical scars—and that healing is possible with the right support.
>> Learn more about the intersections of DV and PTSD on our blog.
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New research finds that victims remain susceptible to power imbalances, while the systemic causes of violence are ignored.
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