Tag: blog

  A group of students are filing a complaint against their university, University of Connecticut, with the U.S Department of Education Civil Rights Office for failing to “adjudicate sexual misconduct properly and failing to stop harassment on campus as required under the federal gender equity law Title IX.” One of the girls filing tells her story of how when she was raped two years the perpetrator was quickly expelled. However, when he appealed two years later, he was readmitted with no warning to the victim. Another of the girls tells how she experienced hate crimes and sexual harassment for a long period. However, she never got the help she requested from the University. According to the article, “University police suggested she keep a low profile and wear a hat on campus.” It appears that a number of the women at this university, and probably many other schools as well, are not satisfied with the measures being taken in cases of sexual harassment and assault. “The Clery complaint could lead to financial penalties levied against the university by the Education Department.” What else can be done to create a more long term change in attitude of universities like this? Brought to you by the Sponsors of 2013 Walk This Way Fundraiser at the Italian Embassy on November 8th, 2013 CLICK HERE for tickets and sponsors Read the rest of this article HERE

Working with Becky’s Fund has been an eyeopening experience. When I began my internship, I hoped to learn more about the causes of domestic violence and how to eradicate it from my university campus and my community. I hoped to use my communication skills to start the conversation about domestic and dating violence. I hoped to get people talking about an issue that is swept under the rug in so many instances. As my internship with Becky’s Fund comes to a close, I realize I got everything I hoped for and so much more.

Throughout my internship with Becky’s Fund, I have been able to use my skills in communication and design in many ways. It was so rewarding to take photos and promote Becky’s Fund’s activities and news stories on the web because I started the conversation about domestic violence and got people talking about breaking news concerning domestic and dating violence. Also, I was afforded the opportunity to create promotional materials for both the Tough Mudder fundraiser and Walk This Way fashion show. Working closely with other Becky’s Fund team members on all of these projects taught me more about what Becky’s Fund is really about: teamwork, camaraderie and compassion to bring about the end of domestic violence.

Becky’s Fund is an amazing organization that prides itself on four pillars: foster awareness, encourage advocacy, promote activism and create support. I was able to assist on projects that addressed each and every one of these pillars and it was very rewarding! I have never had the opportunity to be thrown into important projects and pushed to succeed, but that’s what Becky’s Fund is all about. It is why we help more than 120 families a year, because of the compassion and dedication it takes to help victims become survivors.

I also had the opportunity to work closely on the Men of Code program and I could not have been happier to see how much the football players at Friendship Collegiate Academy absorbed the information. From class discussions to group activities and skits, the players showed an aptitude at understanding leadership, masculinity, sexual assault and bystander intervention that I did not expect. It was a pleasant surprise to see the players open up about their past experiences and to discover how they can handle situations differently in the future. There is nothing else in the world like seeing the impact a few people can make on a group of boys who will become our future leaders. I can only hope they take what they learned during the program and apply it all to their lives after the program is over.

I learned so much more about the causes and effects of domestic violence on women living in my community. I spoke with survivors and heard their stories. I educated others in my community about domestic violence and started the conversation about this issue. Overall, my experience at Becky’s Fund was incredibly rewarding, there is no other word for it.

As a Government and Politics major focusing on public policy and advocacy, I could not have chosen a better organization to intern with than Becky?s Fund. The organization, which aims to foster awareness and provide support for victims of domestic violence, provided me with an eye-opening and educational experience that allowed me to build necessary and competitive skills to use throughout my career.

As an intern for a non-profit focused on domestic violence, I gained a better understanding of violence against women and the underlying problems that surround it.

My name is Natalia Langner; I am a senior at the University of Montevallo majoring in Social Work and Psychology. I was born in the Ukraine and was adopted in 2005. As a child, I witnessed many accounts of domestic violence (dating violence, violence between married couples), which planted a need to be involved in making change. I received an opportunity to study in D.C. for the summer through the Washington Center, and I wanted to intern in an area that focused on human trafficking or domestic violence.

Over the past three years, I have developed a passion for advocacy and a desire to assist the vulnerable and the oppressed. In my first year of college I worked on a project involving human trafficking and since then, I decided to incorporate this learned knowledge of injustice to make a difference in some way as a future career. Working as an intern at Becky’s Fund is a wonderful opportunity to continue my work with victims of domestic violence, as well as obtain further experience that will guide me in my future endeavors as a Social Worker and an advocate. I am looking forward to learning more about domestic violence and the numerous ways that we can work together to assist the victims as well as being proactive in informing our communities of such crimes.

My name is Yasmin Fallahkhair and I am currently a senior, Government and Politics major at the University of Maryland, College Park. Originally from Potomac, Maryland I have always had an interest in public policy and advocacy. Growing up so close to Washington DC, I knew that I would want to work in the capital to gain experience and understanding of the causes that different organizations are working on and the policies that are being made to address these issues. My goal is to continue my education and receive my masters degree in Public Policy so that I may continue to reach out and provide assistance to those in need.

While interning at Becky’s Fund, I am interested in learning more about domestic violence and the methods of reaching out to help victims of abuse.  Unfortunately, domestic violence is a rising issue in society today, however, due to organizations such as Becky’s Fund more and more women are seeking support and overcoming the abuse they are faced with. As an intern at Becky’s Fund, I am passionate about helping those who are unable to help themselves and look forward to promoting awareness of domestic violence and creating support for victims of abuse.

My name is Taylor Soldner and I attend the University of Missouri where I am studying strategic communication and business. I am excited to be working with Becky’s Fund this summer because it advocates not only to end domestic violence but also to educate people on the issue. Attending a large university has given me the opportunity to interact with many different types of people. All too often I see and hear violence against women in the way boyfriends interact with their partners, in the way women are treated at parties and in the way people post comments belittling women on social media. Our college campus culture of alcohol and partying exacerbates these issues and in a way, endorses them. We need to educate people, and students especially, that this college culture allows them to think violence is acceptable. It’s very important to start with students because they are the future leaders and decision-makers of our country. If we can educate them effectively, we will be on our way to ending domestic violence. Therefore, Becky’s Fund is the perfect opportunity and experience for me to help educate people on the issue and start the conversation about domestic violence. People do not talk about domestic violence very publicly, so they are able to distance themselves from the issue. I hope to help start the conversation as the communications intern. Also, I am passionate about volunteering and hope to help with the various educational workshops and fundraisers for Becky’s Fund. As a woman, this issue is very close to my heart. I hope to learn more about the issue and what I can do after my experience at Becky’s Fund to help end domestic violence in my community.

My name is Giancarlo Serrato, and I will be working this summer as a legal intern with Becky’s Fund. I am originally from Geneva, Switzerland but currently reside in Maryland.

By way of education, I attended high school in Geneva Switzerland, at the Collège Du Léman, and later earned a B.A. in political science from the George Washington University in Washington D.C. I am currently a law student at the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law and will be entering my second year in August of 2013.

My interests in interning with Becky’s Fund over the summer are based on my desire to learn about domestic violence law, and develop better advocacy, research and writing skills for my future endeavors as a law student and eventually as a practicing attorney.

I hope Becky’s Fund will offer me the opportunity to explore the legal intricacies of domestic violence law and work on researching and assimilating domestic violence policy on both a micro and macro scale. I want to learn about a new area of law and in that process, apply some of the skills I learnt from my first year at law school. In addition, I want to gain as much real life legal experience as possible. Although law school introduces its students to thinking like lawyers, there is a huge disconnect between theory and practice. I want to be exposed to situations in which I will be required to apply critical legal thinking and reasoning, and work one on one with clients and other parties concerned. Taking part in helping craft practical and effective legal solutions to client problems and policy issues, will be a perfect vehicle by which to help my eventual transition from law student to practicing attorney following law school.

Finally my interest in working with Becky’s Fund is also motivated by its legal activism role in fighting against domestic violence. A lawyer’s duty is not only to protect those that come to him for help, but also to protect and fight for those that are not aware of their rights and cannot easily protect themselves. Working to put the law on the side of domestic violence victims and working on promoting awareness to counter domestic violence from occurring in the first instance is the sort of legal activism that I believe is essential to becoming a true advocate, and something I want to be a part of.

My name is Sarah Anouilh, and I am about to begin my senior year at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I have lived in Arlington, Virginia for most of my life, but have always enjoyed traveling to other countries. Growing up in an Army family at Fort Myer, I was taught to value volunteerism. I am majoring in International Affairs, and I plan to join the Peace Corps after graduating. Eventually, I want to focus my career fully on international development and serve as a Foreign Service Officer. I am interning at Becky’s Fund to learn how domestic violence affects women in the US so that I may apply that knowledge and experience to my service abroad.

Due to my major, I knew that I wanted the experience of interning in Washington, DC as well as with an organization that focuses on an important issue that extends beyond US borders. I want to expand my knowledge of domestic violence and its effects on families through my internship at Becky’s Fund because women’s empowerment is a crucial issue in international development. Women’s education, advocacy, and empowerment are focuses of many non-government organizations that successfully aid victims of domestic violence abroad. By interning at Becky’s Fund, I will gain the experience of working within Washington, DC as well as the opportunity to empower countless women across the United States.

Unfortunately, domestic violence is present both in developed and underdeveloped nations. The United States must place their efforts in ending domestic violence within the US so that they may act as a positive influence to developing countries. I want to work for Becky’s Fund because international development cannot occur without women’s rights. I believe that the US should extend its values of gender equality to areas in which women have little rights or representation. With the experience gained from my internship at Becky’s Fund, I will not only be doing my part to advocate against domestic violence but also learning how to help women in nations whose regimes do not lend them a voice. I believe that by eradicating violence against women in the US, we will be well on our way to ending domestic violence worldwide.

My name is Michaela Quimby and I am a junior at Westfield State University in Westfield, MA. I am interning at Becky’s Fund from February to May. I grew up in a small suburb about 20 minutes north of Boston. My town is the kind of place where “everyone knows everyone” so living in DC is a huge change of pace compared to small-town New England.
I grew up in a home where I was taught to always be patient with people because you never know the demons they are dealing with. My older brother is autistic. He looks the same as you and I but his mannerisms may seem peculiar to someone who is not familiar with his disability. My mother has raised me to be understanding of all people because we all come from different places and we all have different problems. Her lessons are the reason why I want to go to college to help those who cannot help them self.
My career goal is to be a counseling psychologist specializing in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The military faces two major challenges in relation to PTSD and domestic violence. The first being that PTSD is a taboo subject many veterans do not want to talk about. They sweep their problems under the rug and take them home with them. Often anger is taken out on their loved ones and leaves a family in pieces. The second issue relating the two is sexual assault within the military. Every day women are sexually abused in the military yet the government continues to ignore this crisis. Many people do not know that there are actually more women suffering from PTSD in The United States due to rape than veterans returning from combat. It is time to remove the stigma of counseling and help these men and women.
While I am interning here at Becky’s Fund I hope to focus on the issue of families facing PTSD at home. I want to learn more about how we can help those dealing with PTSD at home with their loved ones. What programs can we offer them? What support systems are necessary? What therapy works best? Is only one type of therapy effective or can we individualize it? PTSD is not a new disorder but the effects are finally coming to surface. I hope with Becky’s Fund I can help end this crisis.