DC Anti-Violence Project

Stonewall Kickball Hate Crimes Town Hall

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Stonewall Kickball Hate Crimes Town Hall

In response to some of their players falling victim to Bias-Related and other violent crimes, the leadership of the Stonewall Kickball League held a Town Hall Style meeting and discussion to educate their nearly 800 league members, as well as share information about how to protect themselves and the community at-large.

Stefania Mahdi, of the DC Anti Violence Project, a program of the DC Center, participated in the event.  StaStefania Mahdi, of the DC LGBTQ Center’s Anti-Violence Project.  Stefania was joined by Brett Parsons from the  Special Liaison Branch (SLB) of the Metropolitan Police Department , Roger Kemp from the US Attorney’s Office (AUSA), Director Sheila Alexander-Reid, of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs,  and ANC Commissioner Randy Downs, who moderated the event.

This is part of an ongoing effort to address the issue of Bias-Related Crimes and join the community in developing ways to protect themselves and their community through awareness, communication, education, and de-escalation.

The DC Anti-Violence Project is dedicated to eradicating violence against and within the LGBTQ+ community, engaging creatively with solutions through advocacy, community organizing, and survivor support.   Connect with DCAVP on twitter at twitter.com/dcavp or on facebook at facebook.com/dcantiviolenceproject.

Responding to Violence in our Community

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DC LGBTQ Survivors of Violence, Hate Crimes, Sexual Assault, and Intimate Partner Violence

Over the past several years, the LGBTQ community has seen a steady increase in hate crimes nationwide.   As the National Coalition of Anti-Violence reminds us people of color, transgender and gender non-conforming people continue to make up the majority of victims of LGBTQ and HIV affected related hate violence.

The DC Center strongly condemns all hate-motivated attacks: those that have garnered headlines in the news as well as those that have remained hidden. People in the LGBT community deserve to live in a safe and supportive environment and these crimes undermine the worth and dignity of the entire population.

The DC Anti-Violence Project, a program of the DC Center, works to reduce violence against LGBTQ individuals (and those perceived as LGBTQ) through community outreach, education, and monitoring cases to ensure that the rights and dignity of LGBTQ victims are respected and protected. DCAVP also seeks to assist victims of anti-LGBT violence by advocating on their behalf, encouraging reporting, and providing a community of support.

In a time where acts of violence against the LGBT community (and other communities that intersect with ours) are up, funding for supportive services for victims are scarce.   We will continue to work with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Metropolitan Police Department, and all other interested community partners to address this growing issue of concern.

We invite all interested parties to attend the next meeting of the DC Anti-Violence Project on Thursday September 27th at 7:00 PM. All of the city’s leaders and the community’s stakeholders need to be engaged to resolve this pressing problem. As a center for the LGBT and broader community at large, we open our doors to ALL victims of violence, including domestic and hate related violence, and seek solutions to promote a safe as possible environment for all.

Like the DC Anti-Violence Project on Facebook: facebook.com/dcantiviolenceproject

Follow the DC Anti-Violence Project on Twitter: twitter.com/dcavp

Join the DC Anti-Violence Project Google Group: click here to join google group

Visit the DC Anti-Violence Project Website: dcantiviolence.org

 

 

Social Worker Job Opening at the DC Center

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Job Opportunities at the DC Center for the LGBT Community

The DC Center for the LGBT Community is hiring! We are looking for a part time staff social worker. See below for details.

Job Position Description: Staff Social Worker/Therapist (LGSW or LICSW)

Staff Social Worker/Therapist Position:

The DC Center for the LGBT Community has a mission of educating, empowering, celebrating, and connecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of Washington, DC. The Staff Social Worker/Therapist helps to achieve this mission by providing mental health support services to survivors of violence, crime, and trauma. These services are available free-of-charge to our community members due to grant funding from the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG). The Staff Social Worker/Therapist will see clients individually, with a chance to also work with clients in group settings. The person who fills this position is also responsible for other related projects, such as supporting the social work team in quarterly reporting and management of the OVSJG grant and occasional outreach and education opportunities in the LGBTQ community. They will report to the Executive Director. Please note that this position does not provide on-site clinical supervision hours, so should candidate want to pursue clinical supervision, they must do so off-site.

Special Skills:

The Staff Social Worker/Therapist must have the appropriate licensure to practice in DC (LGSW or LICSW) and have at least 2 years’ experience working as a clinician with a diverse client population. They must also have a demonstrated ability to work with LGBTQ+ adults, to work well in a team, to problem solve and communicate at all levels verbally as well as in writing. Must be self-motivated and be able to build and maintain relationships, both with colleagues and community members, as well as be well adept at working in a fast pace environment. Bilingual capabilities are strongly preferred, but not required.

Functions and Duties

Staff Social Worker/Therapist: Responsibilities:

  • Provide individual and couples mental health support services, both through counseling and case management to a caseload of 10-15 unique clients, with potential for group work
  • Conduct intake assessments with all new potential clients to assess safety, job status, financial resources, living arrangements, current support system, type and history of victimization, legal issues, related medical history, and clinical symptomatology for the past 30 days.
  • Provide clients with LGBTQ-friendly and affirming referrals to community-based services, aimed at assisting individuals affected by crime, violence and trauma
  • Assess clients and provide necessary intervention in crisis situations (safety plans, hospitalization, referrals, etc.)
  • Keep current and accurate records of all clinical interactions in MyClientsPlus, a clinical database system
  • Support social work team in writing of quarterly reports and managing grant deliverables for the OVSJG grant throughout the fiscal year
  • Deliver trauma-informed, culturally competent assessment and treatment techniques to all survivors seeking support services, and serve as a resource for all individuals seeking support through The DC Center
  • Work in partnership with The DC Anti-Violence Project members to further the mission, vision, and values of DC AVP
  • Facilitate, as needed, cultural competency training opportunities, community presentations, and outreach events
  • Work well with a diverse staff to facilitate an open, supportive and warm environment for all individuals who visit The DC Center

Please send qualified resumes to Justin Johns at justin@thedccenter.org by Friday, October 12th.

Transitions: Farewell to Sam Goodwin

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Transitions: Farewell to Sam Goodwin

This week we sadly say goodbye to our social worker Sam. Sam Goodwin, LGSW, started working at The DC Center for the LGBT Community in May 2016 as The Center’s first Staff Social Worker/Therapist, and has been a great asset to the Center ever since. She helped to launch The DC Center’s first ever Behavior Health Program, providing trauma-informed mental health support services to LGBTQ survivors of crime, violence, and trauma in Washington, DC. Over the past two years, Sam has served over 93 individual clients at The DC Center, providing a variety of services including individual, group and couples therapy, case management, intakes, crisis intervention, education, outreach, referrals to the LGBTQ violence prevention  hotline, and warm hand-offs to LGBTQ-friendly and affirming practitioners across the DMV. Sam has also been an integral part of The DC Anti-Violence Project, helping to organize monthly meetings, visioning processes and strategic planning for the organization. She helped to coordinate the DC AVP event series ‘Taking the Stage, Taking a Stand: LGBTQ Voices Against Violence,’ several Survivor Art Expression Night events, and the 6 cycles of the Queer Women Working Through Trauma group. Her kind and caring demeanor along with her positive attitude has not only brought joy to her clients but to everyone who works and volunteers here at the Center, and will be dearly missed.

This summer, Sam will be moving to Cheltenham, England, with her partner, Ryan, and their two cats, Kinsey and Putter. She is looking forward to serving the community of Cheltenham by providing sex therapy and other mental health services and is hoping to be involved with efforts of the LGBTQ community across the pond as well. Although we are sad to see her leave, we know she will be doing amazing things in her next endeavors. Thank you Sam!

DC AVP Call for Branding Volunteers

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DC Anti Violence Project

DC Anti Violence Project

!VOLUNTEER ALERT!: Are you savvy with art, design tools and branding? Do you have a passion for all things intersectional social justice, anti-violence and the LGBTQ community?

If you answered yes to the above, we need your help! The DC Anti-Violence Project (AVP), a grassroots, volunteer-led organization dedicated to the eradication of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, is revamping its look and vision. We’re looking for artsy volunteers passionate about our mission to help us along on this journey.

You’ll work closely with a tight-knit group of volunteers to develop a branding kit, including:

  • A new logo
  • A color/font scheme for all of our materials and website
  • Templates for releases, fact sheets, papers and more
  • Event-specific branding, such as our quarterly Taking the Stage, Taking a Stand forum
  • …and more!

We want to hear your ideas. We believe strongly in community collaboration, so you should be willing to work closely with other designers if several people raise their hands for this project. If interested, please send a note to shannon.quinn94@gmail.com with any past work samples and a brief blurb about yourself.

Please note: this is a volunteer position.

*DC AVP always welcomes new volunteers of all talents! If you don’t have design experience but want to hop on board for an exciting time of revisioning and re-energizing, sign up for our Google Group and join us on the fourth Thursday of every month at the DC Center to get involved in our ongoing projects.

How We Support Survivors of Violence

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Mental Health Services at the DC Center for the LGBT Community

Over the past year, the DC Center for the LGBT Community, has been able to provide vital mental health support services and outreach opportunities to individuals in the community that are both survivors and supporters of survivors of violence, crime, and trauma.  This work is made possible with the support of the Office of Victim Services and the CenterLink-Johnson Family Foundation Mental Health Initiative.

We provided individual and group therapy, case management, and intake assessments to over 50 survivors of violence, crime, and trauma. Sam Goodwin, LGSW, and Dr. Zelaika Clarke provided over 470 individual therapy sessions and provided case management to a total of 42 individuals through warm handoff referrals to trauma-informed providers and organizations.

The DC Anti-Violence Project, a program of the DC Center, has also lso focused on engaging and educating community members through presentations and outreach events, such as our ‘Taking the Stage, Taking a Stand: LGBTQ Voices Against Violence’ event, which uplifted the voices of LGBTQ individuals affected by violence and trauma through various artistic mediums of expression, including dance, song, slam poetry, storytelling and rap. In addition to the 5 ‘Taking the Stage’ events held over the past year, The DC Anti-Violence Project launched several presentations to increase awareness and educate community members, specifically around issues in the LGBTQ community.

One of these community presentations occurred on September 6th, 2017, when The DC Anti-Violence Project provided a community presentation training to rape crisis hotline trainee staff at The DC Rape Crisis Center. This presentation provided an overview of LGBTQ issues and terminology, which included interactive and experiential activities for participants to learn about the needs of LGBTQ survivors of violence, crime, and trauma. Role plays, videos, and didactic learning material were provided to trainee staff, and participants were invited to look at the differences between a negative experience for LGBTQ individuals in contrast to an experience in which service providers practice cultural competency and cultural humility. The DC Anti-Violence Project received a great deal of positive feedback from both participants and DCRCC staff, and have been invited back to train hotline staff in the next year.

Additionally, monthly meetings for The DC Anti-Violence Project are held on the 4th Thursday of every month, from 7-8:30 PM at The DC Center. These meetings attract members of the community searching for ways to get involved with local action to eradicate targeted violence against LGBTQ individuals, and over the past year, have focus on the following efforts: organizing action around local violence and hate/bias crimes against transgender women of color; working with Council Member David Grosso to support legislation for both increasing bystander awareness/intervention and for legalizing sex work in DC; writing community impact statements for LGBTQ-centered cases currently in the DC court system; and planning future community events and outreach with local survivor-serving organizations, such as Safe Bars, Defend Yourself, End Rape on Campus, and Casa Ruby.

Over the past year, The DC Anti-Violence Project has doubled in size of membership, demonstrating the draw and sustainability of this work, propelled forward by the deep passion and commitment of our increasing member base.
This year, The DC Anti-Violence Project was successful in referring over 122 unique individual clients to vital resources and trauma-informed services such as the DC Victim Hotline through the LGBTQ Violence Response Hotline, psychiatrists, medical doctors, and free legal aid services (e.g. The DC Volunteer Lawyer’s Project), Crime Victim’s Compensation, vocational and employment resources and classes, and law enforcement services.

Support this Work

If you would like to support work like this at the DC Center for the LGBT Community, make a donation here.

Find Out More

To find out more about this work visit www.dcavp.org.  You can also find us on facebook as facebook.com/dcantiviolenceproject or on twitter at twitter.com/dcavp.

 

 

DC Anti-Violence Project Fundraiaser

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Come out on August 14th to help raise money for DC Anti-Violence Project. The fundraiser will be through Chipotle and what we need to do is pass around flyers that they have supplied, digital or print, and show up to chipotle and present them to the cashier. Upon doing so 50% of that purchase will got to DCAVP
When: August 14th from 4 till 8pm
Where: Chipotle (1508 14th Street NW)

DiCción Queer Announces DC Love – a Tribute: a Community Event to Commemorate the Casualties at Pulse Nightclub

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DiCción Queer, in partnership with TRADE and Gays Against Guns DC, invites the community to the performance of DC Love – a Tribute: a Community Event to Commemorate the Casualties at Pulse Nightclub. The performance takes place at TRADE, 1410 14th Street, NW, on Monday, June 12th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. and will include dramatic readings, solo dances and songs to commemorate the casualties and pay tribute to those who lost loved ones at the Pulse nightclub shooting one year ago.

The performance aspires to serve as a catalyst for an open discussion on gun violence and the LGBTQ+ community. At the end of the tribute, actors and audience will initiate a candlelight procession that will end at Dupont Circle, site of the Pride Fund’s Candle Light Vigil to End Gun Violence.

The community performance will happen with the support of Gays Against Guns,  Pride, and Colectivo de Artistas Latinx.

About DiCción Queer: DiCción Queer is a bilingual LGBTQ+ Latinx arts organization active in the Washington DC metropolitan area with the purpose of developing, nurturing, and supporting the Latinx LGBTQ+ arts. Check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DiccionQueer/

What have your experiences been with the Metropolitan Police Department?

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Metropolitan Police Department Community Engagement Surveye
Metropolitan Police Department Community Engagement Surveye
Metropolitan Police Department Community Engagement Surveye

The DC Anti-Violence Project, a program of the DC Center for the LGBT Community, has been invited to sit on a community policing panel organized by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). We want to hear from YOU about your experiences with the MPD.

This survey is completely anonymous. Thank you for your help!  To begin the survey, simply follow the link below:

Take the survey now.

 

 

Legisation Would Bar Use of Trans/Gay Panic Defense

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Hate Crimes

Hate Crimes

District of Columbia Councilmember David Grosso has introduced legislation that would amend Chapter 1 of Title 23 to curtail the availability and effectiveness of defenses that seek to partially or completely excuse crimes such as murder and assault on the grounds that the victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or other inherent identity, is to blame for the defendant’s violent action and to require an anti-bias jury instruction in criminal trials if requested by the prosecutor or the defendant.

This would effectively bar the use of the trans panic defense or gay panic defense which has been used in several hate crimes.

Co-sponsoring the bill are councilmembers: Jack Evans, Robert White Brianne Nadeau, and Mary Cheh.

Download the legislation here.

SAFE Trial Act of 2017