Preventing Violence: It Takes an Entire Community

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...Violence prevention doesn’t begin when someone enters a shelter, calls law enforcement or asks for a restraining order. It begins much earlier, with awareness, education, relationships and people recognizing when something isn’t right.In this special continuation of a conversation I began at My Sister’s House’s Preventing Violence event late June, I bring together four extraordinary Sacramento-area leaders working every day with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other forms of abuse.I’m joined by Beth Hassett of WEAVE, Ashlie Bryant of 3 Strands Global Foundation, Christine Nguyen of My Sister’s House, and Joyce Bilyeu of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center.We explore what violence can actually look like—including emotional, financial, technological, psychological, cultural and sexual abuse—and why coercion and control can sometimes be much harder to recognize than physical violence.We also talk about what prevention looks like in practice: education in schools, working with employers and nightlife businesses, danger and lethality assessments, culturally responsive services, survivor-informed programs, workforce opportunities, housing, legal services and removing barriers like transportation, childcare and language.But what struck me most during this conversation was just how interconnected these organizations really are.A survivor may begin with one organization and ultimately receive housing, legal assistance, translation, clothing, employment support, counseling or advocacy through several others, all without having to navigate that complicated system alone.That is collaboration at its best.And it reinforces one of the most important messages of this episode: preventing violence isn’t the responsibility of one organization. It requires an entire community willing to recognize the signs, believe survivors and act. You can learn more about each of the organizations by visiting their respective websites.My Sisters House : https://www.my-sisters-house.org/WEAVE : https://www.weaveinc.org/3Strands Global Foundation : https://3sgf.org/Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center : https://www.sacramentofjc.org/Episode Chapters00:00 – Continuing the Conversation on Preventing Violence 00:52 – WEAVE: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Trafficking Services 01:46 – 3 Strands Global: Prevention, Survivors & Human Trafficking 03:35 – My Sister’s House: Culture, Language & Independence 05:53 – Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center: Help Under One Roof 08:55 – Identifying Risk Before Violence Escalates 16:04 – Prevention in Schools, Workplaces, Bars & the Community 18:13 – Violence Isn't Always Physical: Recognizing Abuse and Control 25:55 – Why Collaboration Changes Outcomes for Survivors 35:27 – Real Examples of Sacramento Nonprofits Working Together 43:42 – What Every Organization and Community Member Can DoThank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.