Hi! My name is Devani and I am currently working on my Master’s degree in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at George Washington University. I am originally from Colorado, where I received my undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Political Science. On a slightly less academic note, I am also a certified yoga instructor. I am very excited for the opportunity to work with Becky’s Fund as I pursue my degree.

My research interests have generally focused on women’s equality and how that relates to both reproductive justice and the cultural rhetoric that is used to define women’s status in our society. I believe each of these dialogues have had a part in how the rhetoric surrounding domestic violence has evolved in our society, or how it hasn’t. In working with Becky’s Fund I hope to be able to be a part of a solution and address these issues in a hands on manner.

Starting with Becky’s Fund this Spring I am looking forward to being a part of prevention-based programs that work directly with young men and women to break down the cycle of domestic violence through education.

Hello! My name is Lauren Testa, and I’m a senior at American University in Washington, D.C. I’m currently pursuing a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with Communications, Law, Economics, and Government with a minor in History. I am originally from southern New Jersey right outside of Philadelphia. I’m thrilled to be working with Becky’s Fund for my final semester of college!

I began my studies with a general interest in politics and social justice, and I have always been passionate about women’s rights in particular. As a member of AU Students Against Sexual Violence, I learned more about domestic violence and it ignited my passion for the issue. As I continued to study issues related to domestic violence and other issues such as LGBTQ rights, I realized how important it is to have dedicated individuals working to solve the issue of domestic violence, especially for the sake of marginalized communities. I wanted to work with Becky’s Fund because of the organization’s commitment to prevention and education; two things that I believe are essential to the discussion surrounding domestic violence and gender inequality. I am especially excited to be able to work with youths through Becky’s Fund’s targeted programs because they are the future of ending domestic violence. It is a great privilege to be able to work with people who are also passionate about this issue.

I’m excited to not only be able to contribute more to the movement to end domestic violence, but also to gain meaningful experience working in the non-profit sector, where I want to spend my career. In the future, I want to continue working towards the goals of prevention and education, and my position with Becky’s Fund will give me my first taste of working with my passion on a professional level. I am thrilled to be given this amazing opportunity!

Hello! My name is Margaret Dorokhina and I am a sophomore at American University. I am majoring in Public Health and minoring in Women, Gender Sexuality Studies. I was born in Canada, but have lived in various cities on the East Coast for most of my life. I also speak Russian fluently, and it was actually my first language!

I am so excited to intern at Becky’s Fund this spring. Despite having many interests within public health, I think domestic violence and sexual health are the topics I feel most passionate about. Educating and raising awareness around these topics is absolutely essential as we work towards reducing the frequency with which domestic violence occurs. Becky’s Fund does just that for the local community, making it a valuable asset to public health.

This spring, I am looking forward to learning more about the behind- the- scenes operations of a non- profit organization.  It will also be incredibly rewarding to have a direct impact on those who are struggling with unhealthy and abusive relationships. Especially with the focus on teenagers, programs like the ones led by Becky’s Fund will continue to improve students’ relationships for years to come.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is a national effort to raise awareness of dating violence, promote programs that support young people, and encourage young people to have open conversations about what a healthy and happy relationship looks like. The term dating violence refers to the perpetration or threat of an act of violence by at least one member of an unmarried couple on the other member within the context of dating or courtship. It is also when one partner tries to maintain power and control over the other through abuse/violence.

Dating violence can take many forms, and does not just have to be physical. The CDC defines intimate partner violence as “physical violence, sexual violence, stalking and psychological aggression (including coercive acts) by a current or former intimate partner,” (“Intimate Partner Violence: Definitions”). 1 in 5 girls have been threatened with self-harm by their boyfriends if they attempted to end the relationship. 1 in 5 college women also report verbal abuse from their partners (“Get the Facts & Figures”).

Technology is also an important factor in the spectrum of dating violence among young people. 1 in 4 teens in abusive relationships experienced this abuse over texting platforms or through the Internet (“Get the Facts & Figures”). This is especially distressing because according to the Urban Institute, “victims of digital abuse and harassment are 2 times as likely to be physically abused, 2.5 times as likely to by psychologically abused, and 5 times as likely to be sexually coerced,” (Zweig and Dank). Young people are becoming increasingly involved with technology and the Internet, so it is important for everyone to understand that these things can be tools of abuse.

Addressing intimate partner violence early on is important for several reasons. 69% of female victims of intimate partner violence and 53% of male victims reported having experienced some type of IPV for the first time before 25 years of age, indicating that said age group is either more vulnerable to IPV, or that there is a correlation between IPV experienced early on and IPV in adulthood (“Get the Facts & Figures”). Girls who have experienced abuse are also more than twice as likely to test positive for a sexually-transmitted infection or disease (“The Facts on Teens and Dating Violence”). Mental health also severely deteriorates in situations of intimate partner violence; rates of attempted suicide increase to 50% among teens who have experienced IPV, compared with 12.5% of girls who were not abused and 5.4% of boys who were not abused (“Dating Abuse Statistics”).

Unfortunately, many people are not aware of how prevalent dating violence is among young people, or how to address it. 2 out of 3 teens who experience abuse will not tell anyone, including their parents and closest friends (“Teen Dating Violence”). Of 82% of parents who said they could confidently recognize signs of dating violence, only 58% actually could successfully recognize the signs (“Dating Abuse Statistics”). Additionally, 58% of college students admitted that they would not know how to help a friend who was experiencing abuse and 38% said that they would not know how to get help for themselves (“Get the Facts & Figures”). Before we can combat the issue of intimate partner violence among young people, we must first educate ourselves as a society about what it looks like and how we can prevent it from happening.

Check out local DVAM events this month, such as the Prince George’s County Family Justice Center’s workshop on healthy relationships. If you or someone you know is in need of help, contact the DC Victim Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732) or one of the following organizations: DC Safe (202-879-0720), My Sister’s Place (202-529-5261 or 202-529-5991), or NVRDC (202-742-1727).

“Dating Abuse Statistics.” Loveisrespect.org, Loveisrespect.org, www.loveisrespect.org/resources/dating-violence-statistics/.

“The Facts on Teens and Dating Violence.” FuturesWithoutViolence.org, Futures Without Violence, 2009, www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Teens/teens_facts.pdf.

“Get the Facts & Figures.” TheHotline.org, The National Domestic Abuse Hotline, www.thehotline.org/resources/statistics/.

“Intimate Partner Violence: Definitions.” CDC.gov, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/definitions.html.

“Teen Dating Violence.” Just Say YES, Just Say YES, www.justsayyes.org/topics/dating-violence/.

“Understanding Teen Dating Violence.” CDC.gov, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016, www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/teen-dating-violence-factsheet-a.pdf.

Zweig, Janine, and Meredith Dank. “Teen Dating Abuse and Harassment in the Digital World.” Urban.org, The Urban Institute, Feb. 2013, www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/23326/412750-Teen-Dating-Abuse-and-Harassment-in-the-Digital-World.PDF.

Hello I am Tomas Kurtz and was a Becky’s Fund Program and Development Intern for the fall of 2017. It is hard for me to believe that my internship is coming to a close…time really does fly. First, I want to start and thank Becky Lee and the Becky’s Fund organization, partners and friends for making these past few months so memorable. Also, thank you to the 3 other fall interns – we made quite a good team if I do say so myself.

Before starting this internship I had general interest in nonprofit organizations and this interest has been further cemented from my time at Becky’s Fund. I really got to witness how much work and effort goes into running a nonprofit, but also how much good an organization can do for individuals who might be in tough situations. Becky’s Fund provides an incredible resource to the community and I am thankful for my time as an intern here.

From working with the Men of Code program to preparing for 2017 Walk This Way, and so much else in-between, I can definitely say it’s been a busy few months but that is a good thing. One of my favorite memories from this past fall is when we participated in a spinning fundraiser back in September – that was the longest 45 minutes of my life.

In all, it has been a wonderful past couple of months and I hope to stay connected with Becky’s Fund in the future. Thanks again to Becky for all that you do.

It is nice to meet you – my name is Brandon Harvey. I am highly enthused to be working as an intern with Becky’s Fund this winter. I have recently graduated from Towson University in 2016 with a degree in Art & Design. From my time spent at Towson until now, I have been in pursuit of finding an organization where I may utilize my skills to best provide a pronounced impact in some manner. My most important objective while here is to not only create for such a great purpose, but to effect and bear witness to those that I am ultimately creating for.

I believe assisting with Becky’s Fund will allow me to accomplish this objective in the most direct method possible. After my first introduction, I was excited to learn about the Men of Code program and head to Ballou Senior High School, delving right into the people and environment for which we would be supporting. Joining Becky’s Fund brings forth the chance to directly spark the influence I am looking to make personally within my own community.

I look forward to learning about the nonprofit sector and all it has to offer regarding different areas of social impact. I would like to be competent and aware of what is going on around me socially, so that I may be able to target and communicate these issues to a wider audience. I believe this opportunity in working with Becky’s Fund will allow me to better develop this competence in learning how to support and impact my community in a positive way.

My name is Sara Moretti and I am a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I came to Washington DC in search of a new adventure, and little did I know, I found an internship that gave me a life-changing experience. From managing the social media accounts for Becky’s Fund, working on Men of Code and Becoming Your Own Heroine programs to participating in social events like 2017 Walk This Way, I have gained so many insights on how a non-profit organization runs. I was able to personally witness how Becky’s Fund positively impacts individuals that seek for help and the constant effort put into spreading awareness on domestic violence.

I find myself extremely thankful for the type of upbringing I have had. I was raised in Italy surrounded by a loving family that shaped me with the strength of valuing my own persona. Being able to learn about domestic violence opened a door into a world for me unknown. I have always been interested and passionate about women’s rights, but it never occurred to me that those rights could be violated directly from someone’s home. I consider my house a sacred space, a safe haven to come back to each night. I can only imagine how violated and lost I would feel if I was teared away from that right.

My time spent at Becky’s Fund is a memory that I will cherish with great affection. From her awesome team to Becky herself, this internship opportunity gave me the possibility to not just learn so much about domestic violence, but also about myself and the people around me. As a compassionate person, I find the need to advocate for human rights, especially for those that do not have a voice. There is so much work to do in order to break the cycle of intimate partner violence that shapes the upbringing of children growing up in that type of environment. These children are the world of our tomorrow and we are the ones to be hold accountable for the outcome of it.

The enormous effort that Becky’s Fund does in order to shine a light on domestic abuse and invest in preventative programs is something that I view with great respect. It was truly a blessing and an honor to have had the possibility to be part of an organization that is driven by passion, but most importantly, by the human heart. Thank you Becky for the work you do! You make the world a safer place.