Domestic Violence Awareness Month at GAIN

Atlanta, GA—Thursday, October 17, 2024

October was #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth, observed nationally to shed light on the reality and prevalence of domestic violence, uplift and support survivors, and share knowledge and tools as advocates and service providers. Year-round, GAIN fulfills an immense need for free legal services for immigrant survivors through our Victims of Violence (VOV) program. This unique population requires culturally sensitive services and a sophisticated legal response to complex cases. Through U visa applications for survivors of crime, we empower our clients to speak out against their abusers, with the assurance that they are safe from deportation. And through other forms of relief for survivors of intimate partner violence, such as Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) filings, GAIN can remove a survivor’s reliance on their abuser for immigration status.

In 2023, GAIN’s VOV program provided legal services for hundreds of crime survivors and provided expert technical assistance to our pro bono volunteers working on these cases. We are grateful to all the donors, funders, staff, partners, and pro bono volunteers who make this essential work possible!

Each year in October, many advocates participate in #PurpleThursday, a day to wear purple to show support for survivors of domestic violence. Purple is not only the color for domestic violence awareness, but also serves as a symbol of peace, courage, survival, and honor. Several GAIN team members proudly wore purple and reflected on the following prompts shared by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

How do you see healing work being connected to prevention work?

“The work of healing from the effects of domestic violence is not just a task for survivors.  The work of healing is collective. It is the work of changing the parts of our society that enable, hide, or encourage domestic violence. The work of protecting, supporting, and empowering survivors.  It is working to have more conversations about what healthy relationships and mutual respect and care look like in our communities.  For me, prevention work and healing work are deeply intertwined. Prevention work is healing working on a societal level.” —Sally Sanko, Director of Client Care

In what ways do you hold space for trauma survivors in your workplace, community, and family?

“To me, being a legal advocate for survivors of domestic violence doesn’t mean swooping in and solving all of my clients’ problems. I am not another person telling them what to do. Instead, it means understanding and supporting their goals, talking through strategy on even footing, and giving encouragement as they step into their own power. It means cheering them on and watching as they exert their will in big and small ways. And as I watch, I see one of the most beautiful things in the world: freedom.” —Adriana Heffley, Director of Legal Services

“One way we hold space for our clients is through ethical storytelling, an empowering practice that centers survivors sharing their stories in their own words and on their own terms. The process starts with our team getting permission from a client to share their story with GAIN’s audience. We make sure to let the client know sharing their story, or choosing not to share, will not affect the services we provide them. Plus, they can change their mind at any time without judgment. To protect the privacy of our clients, we use stock photos and ask them to choose their own pseudonyms. This last part is my favorite because there is power in naming things, and in a small way, our clients are getting a piece of their power back by sharing their story.” —Adewunmi Oke, Development Manager

“In my work and in my community, I try to be intentional about how I treat others. I never know what trauma other people have survived, so I treat others with respect and kindness. I also strive to be a person who is open to others’ stories and experiences, and I welcome any willingness to share with me. In my workplace, I remember our clients have been through a lot and offer grace and patience to them.” —Kathrine Beno-Valencia, Asylum Legal Fellow