May is Share Your Story Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Combining those two topics we sent out a survey to our staff with the following questions:
1) What initially drew you to the field of non profit?
2) What motivated you to specialize in domestic violence issues specifically?
3) How do you maintain self-care and resilience while working in such a demanding and emotionally taxing field?
4) Is there anything else you’d like to share about your journey, your motivations, or your experiences in this field?
Here are their stories.
2) “Too many vulnerable people who are unaware there is help for them, so they are able to save themselves and escape their suffering.”
3) “Exercise, spending a lot of time outdoors in nature, and surrounding myself with my family and friends.”
4) “The learning curve is steep and challenging but extremely rewarding and fulfilling.”
2) “My older sister was in a very bad Domestic Violence relationship that almost took her life. I wanted to understand why she allowed someone to treat her so poorly. When I went to the University of Houston I graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Inner Disciplinary studies. That started my career in helping make a difference in the lives of survivors.”
3) “I make sure that I take time to do something that makes me smile every day. Music has always been therapy for my soul.”
4) “I have learned a lot about healthy relationships and that saying “no” is not a bad thing it’s a way to set healthy boundaries.”
2) “Advocacy in domestic violence issues allows my loud voice to be heard for all victims that was silenced.”
3) “Daily I ground myself through prayer, meditation, singing, dancing, exercise, breathing, gratitude, and hugging on the little people that call me mom and grandma!”
4) “This journey called life was and is not easy, yet it feels like a walk in the park, and I am grateful to be here.”
2) “Survival and my children.”
3) “Praying and not giving up.”
4) “I was able to get out the abusive relationship and lived through it all.”
1) “I’m passionate about making a positive impact in the world and believe in the power of collective action to address social issues and create positive change. I’m also inspired by the opportunity to work towards a cause that aligns with my values and allows me to contribute to the greater good of society.”
2) “I was designed to have a understanding of various social and provide support and information on how to address them. Domestic violence is a serious problem that affects many people, and I want be able to provide accurate and helpful information to those who may be experiencing or know who is experiencing domestic violence. It’s important to raise awareness and support survivors in any way we can.”
3) “Self-care is extremely important when working in a demanding and emotionally taxing field like supporting survivors of domestic violence. It’s important to take breaks when needed, set boundaries, and practice self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, and spending time loved ones. It’s also helpful to seek support from colleagues, supervisors, or a therapist to process difficult emotions and experiences. I try to remember to prioritize my own well-being so i can continue to others effectively.”
4) “I am programmed to provide accurate and helpful information on various topics, including domestic violence. My main motivation is to assist and support individuals who may be experiencing such difficult situations. It is important to raise awareness about domestic violence and provide for those in need.”
1) “I love giving back to others. I think that it is important to all the communities.”
2) “My past experiences-first my mom’s ex and then my ex. This industry is the most overlooked and most misunderstood.”
3) “I practice self-care by spending time with family and friends, watching documentaries on TV, working out, and playing video/board games.”
2) “Domestic violence is a personal story of mine, being a child that survived the violence at home created many barriers during my childhood, teen years and as a young adult. The trauma has followed me through the years. I have not only heard stories of DV survivors I am a survivor of such crime: no child should ever have to live through such pain.”
3) “GOD is the only one who has taught me how to heal and forgive. I believe individuals have the opportunity to learn how to be better to themselves and to others. The journey might be a long road, but it will lead you to where you need to be to feel complete.”
4) “I maintain self- care by seeing things grow (I am not a gardener by no means) but enjoy seeing plants grow. I share my life with my loved ones. Nature nurtures my soul and spirit all living things bring me joy. I love! love, love! to hear from past clients (now friends) that have kept my contact number. Some still keep in contact with me, I now hear a different story, stories of happiness, stories of success, stories of growth, stories of triumph. We now share tears of joy. That is my MOTIVATION seeing, hearing people becoming, a change, sharing a different story to tell others.”
1) “My journey to advocacy began with the mission of DVCC not necessarily that it was a non-profit.”
2) “My passion for domestic violence advocacy work started when I realized there are a lot of survivors but not a whole lot of quality services. Everyone deserves to live a violence free life and I want to make sure that kids that grow up in that environment don’t have to continue the cycle of abuse.”
3) “I maintain my mental health through spending time with friends who are not in the movement to take a break but the most important thing is cuddling with my dog!”
4) “My final thoughts on motivation and experiences are setting boundaries, knowing your limits and knowing when to take a break are the only things that get you through working in this high stress environment. “
1) “My journey to advocacy began with my passion for bringing about positive change and making a real difference by addressing social issues attracted me to the nonprofit field. My work is a legacy, as I know my efforts can have a lasting impact beyond my lifetime. It gives me immense satisfaction to know that I am contributing to something greater than myself and leaving a positive legacy for future generations.”
2) “My passion for domestic violence advocacy work started when entering a women’s domestic violence shelter and realizing I was the only male present was a turning point for me. Understanding the statistics surrounding domestic violence, I realized the crucial role men play in both perpetuating and addressing this issue. As a husband, father, and brother, I am inspired to challenge myself and others to become involved and specialize in domestic violence issues. By breaking stereotypes, dismantling patriarchy, promoting healthy relationships, and building empathy and compassion, men can make a significant contribution to eradicating domestic violence.”
3) “I maintain my mental health is practicing self-care and resilience is by knowing my limits and understanding that I can only control what I can control.”
4) “Making someone feel visible will increase their perceived value of you. It’s a powerful lesson I learned on my own journey, and I’ve found that it can make a huge difference in any personal or professional relationship. “
