Transition to Change

Joanne Tulonen
Executive Director, BWRI

All of us are creatures of habit. Whether it’s the food we eat, places we go, friends we keep, or belief systems that hold us in place, we have a hard time with change… even if it’s for the good! With organizations it can be just as difficult. Entrenched beliefs, ways of looking at issues, and fear often prohibit agencies or businesses from true change, losing an opportunity to look at things from a different perspective.

BWRI has been honored with an opportunity to look at things from a different perspective. With a grant from the Verizon Foundation, BWRI has entered into a strategic planning process that began this past September and will continue until May 2006. Along the way BWRI will look at the agency from top to bottom- keeping what works, changing what doesn’t. Our plan will involve input from community members and agencies, former clients, key stakeholders, and forums with men and women leaders in an effort to gain ideas and information on how BWRI can better serve North Central Massachusetts.

Thirty years ago this country heard from women who had survived the violence without police protection, without shelters, and without the term “domestic violence”. The public education on domestic violence was raw- full of outrage at the consequence of such acts. The country was moved to act as pictures and stories of beaten and murdered women were splashed across the pages of newspapers, and campaigns were launched for the release of hundreds of women wrongfully imprisoned for murdering their batterers.

The successes were numerous. Every state in the country developed a network of shelters to safely house women and children. Laws to protect victims of domestic violence were enacted, police departments were trained, civil protection orders became commonplace in the court system, and the country began to understand that violence in the family was an unacceptable way to solve problems. It was a time of great social change…hard now to imagine such a time.

After thirty years of research we know more about domestic violence and its impact. We know for example that children suffer greatly growing up in a violent home. We know more about the health consequences of violence, both physical and mental, and we know that domestic violence exists all over the world, in every culture. This issue has lost much of its grass roots beginnings and has become institutionalized, sometimes to the detriment of those who provide the services or seek them. Yet there is much to be proud of- those early pioneers raised a nation’s consciousness and brought awareness of domestic violence worldwide.

Now what? This seems to be the question BWRI is facing. Our services were developed from a paradigm designed thirty years ago with a focus on crisis intervention, not prevention. Domestic violence agencies framed the issue from a “woman’s rights” perspective and men were largely excluded- both as victims and as partners in addressing family violence. The task for BWRI during the strategic planning process is to sort through the larger issue of domestic violence and what we now know after thirty years of research. BWRI must decide how this influences what the agency’s priorities will be for the next five years and how we provide those services.

We believe with the help of many in our community, the results will be as creative as our original model. We believe that involving men in our design will make this agency stronger and able to address many of the issues before us. We also believe that the contributions of women who have lived through this will not be left unheard, nor forgotten. We believe that the prevention of the violence will be the key to the next social movement. Along the way our name will change to reflect the work of the future and our commitment to creating a community of non-violence for the safety of everyone.

Volunteer Spotlight

BWRI is sad to announce that volunteer coordinator, Karin Oliveira, has left the agency to accept a position with Community Builders, based out of Mount Wachusett Community College. Community Builders is lucky to have her and BWRI wishes Karin the very best of luck in her new endeavor. We look forward to a continued relationship with her on the agency’s fundraiser. With this news however, BWRI is very pleased to announce that the agency has hired a fresh, new staff member to coordinate the agency’s volunteer program.

Yolanda Link knew she wanted to work in human services since she was a teenager and finds great joy in helping others to reach their goals. She thinks that volunteering is important not only for the organization, but the volunteer as well, “If we would take our eyes and minds off our own worries and focused on helping others, our problems wouldn’t seem nearly so bad”.

Yolanda was interested in becoming a volunteer at BWRI when Karin Oliveira recommended she submit her resume for the volunteer coordinator position. Yolanda’s first priority with BWRI’s volunteer program is to recruit more volunteers and interns for all of the agency’s programs. Additionally she would like to help develop more volunteer education and training programs to aid in the continued growth of the volunteers and the women and children the agency provides services to.

In her spare time Yolanda, who resides in Leominster, enjoys spending time with her family and friends, church activities, traveling, and reading.

Yolanda is very excited to join everyone at BWRI…especially the volunteers…and BWRI is excited to have her!

BWRI Receives $15,000 Grant From Verizon For
School Violence Prevention Program

Verizon SuperPages and the Verizon Foundation have collectively awarded $15,000 to BWRI to support its School Violence Prevention Program and BWRI’s strategic planning process, which will take place during this fiscal year.

“Verizon gives $70 million a year to worthy programs and organizations like BWRI. We support these programs because we believe that eliminating domestic violence and improving literacy in the communities where our employees and customers live and work is essential to a good quality of life,” said Jim Brady, SuperPages district sales manager.

BWRI’s School Violence Prevention Program has been working collaboratively with the elementary, middle and high schools of North Central Massachusetts for the past two years. The program, funded primarily by the United Ways of North Central Massachusetts and Tri-County, teaches children of all ages alternatives to violent behavior, particularly in relationships. The program is critical to the prevention of family violence.

Considering the prevalence of violence in our society, information, education and skill building for children counteracts the continuous violent messages students, at all age levels, experience. With education children access valuable information and skills on non-violent communication.

Bullying curriculums are offered to kindergarten through grade six students. The program focuses on empowering students to respond to negative behaviors in healthy, non-violent ways. Last year, BWRI’s School Violence Prevention Program was presented to more than 6,500 elementary students. Outcome measures indicated that ninety-four percent of all students understood what bullying is and what effects it has. Eighty-nine percent were able to practice and apply anti-bullying skills and behaviors.

In middle and high schools throughout the region, nearly 4,000 students received education on healthy relationships and teen dating violence. After two years of working with students of all age levels and from many school districts, Nicholas Howe, BWRI’s Education Coordinator said, “I believe our program offers a choice to kids and builds their confidence to use non-violent skills to resolve conflict.”

“We are thankful that Verizon has recognized our School Violence Prevention Program as a necessary step in the prevention of family violence. Elected officials, including Senator Bob Antonioni, are seeing the connection between bullying, the choice to use violence to resolve problems, and the impact that can have on relationships throughout a child’s life. This grant allows us to continue this important work,” said Joanne Tulonen, Executive Director of BWRI.

A Playspace and a Pal

Horizons for Homeless Children founded the Playspace Program in 1990 to make healthy play possible for children living in shelters. HHC collaborates with agencies, such as BWRI, to design and build age-appropriate, “kid-friendly” spaces that come equipped with libraries, building blocks, art supplies and more. These all-important tools challenge children physically and creatively and allow them to have a place to play, use their imaginations and be just who they are…kids. The program recruits, trains, and places volunteers in the shelter Playspaces. The volunteers supervise and engage the children in fun, educational play so that they can grow and develop, as all children should.

The organization continues to grow and increase their core programs to reach more homeless children and families. New regional offices are opening, new Playspaces are being created, and new staff and volunteers are recruited each and every day. More than 800 trained volunteers known as Playspace Activity Leaders (PALs) participate in educational play activities with children each week in over 90 family shelters in Massachusetts.

Horizons for Homeless Children has constructed an exciting and appealing Playspace at BWRI’s shelter for our young residents and each week we are lucky to have a PAL come to visit with the children. BWRI’s PAL is a retired teacher from the Fitchburg Public School District who enjoys story time and activities.

Horizons for Homeless Children is touching the lives of more than 1,000 children each week with their Playspaces across Massachusetts and BWRI is excited to take part in such a valuable program.

For more information on the Horizons program, visit www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.

Community Profile

The economic downswing in our area has proven to be a hardship for non-profit agencies throughout all of northern Worcester County. Consequently, maintaining the same level of quality programs within Battered Women’s Resources would be a tremendous challenge if the agency did not receive support from the community. Donations, matched payroll programs, volunteerism and in-kind goods and services are valuable assets to Battered Women’s Resources. These funds and services allow BWRI to enhance programs and help to provide tools for our clients to work toward a more secure future.

Community service means much more than signing a check, although financial support is always needed and appreciated. There are many creative ways that small businesses can make a difference, such as donating used items, mentoring children, providing professional expertise, and serving as role models to the community. This makes good business sense too, since local residents are potential customers!

Bill Hannigan admits that he has an addiction. It requires his time, energy, and resources and he can’t be happier about it! Owner of Hannigan Engineering, Inc., Bill explains that community service is addictive. “Once you get involved with community service programs”, he says, “You feel so good about it, that you just want to continue to help.” Bill certainly lives up to this philosophy, juggling several volunteer projects at once.

Last year, Bill and his wife, Anne-Marie, discovered BWRI when their friends Mark and Vickie Manchester invited them to the agency’s annual fundraiser. This year, they will attend the fundraiser again…this time as sponsors! Anne-Marie, an energetic and charismatic woman, donates her time as a member of BWRI’s Board of Directors. Anne-Marie’s high energy inspires everyone to new levels of achievement. Her involvement on the development, fundraiser, and strategic planning committees has provided an invaluable service to BWRI.

Bill regards community service as a lifestyle, judging by the amount of time he gives to others. With his friends Tom Allain of Hudson Savings Bank, Mike Mullaney of McKenzie Engineering, and several others, he has helped re-organize the St. Bernard’s Central Catholic High School golf tournament to create a new organization to raise money for the school. He is also a member of the Leominster Downtown Association and on the Board of Directors of Julie Country Day School in Leominster.

While giving so much to the community, Bill somehow finds time to run Hannigan Engineering, Inc., located at 8 Monument Square in Leominster, MA. He opened the company in 1994, functioning as owner and sole employee. Today, the company employs fourteen people and offers land-surveying services in addition to civil engineering. While living the American dream of independence and prosperity, Bill has never forgotten the community he lives in. He devotes as much time to volunteer service as he does to his personal life. Perhaps this spirit of generosity and service is a key to his success as an entrepreneur, family man, and valuable member of the community.

Thank You!

From January 1st to December 31st of 2005, BWRI was very fortunate to be the benefactor of much generosity. BWRI relies on the communities of North Central Massachusetts for their support. Because of the kindness of hundreds, BWRI is able to continue to provide valuable services that help make the community a better place to live.

From donations of money, raffle and personal care items, sponsoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities, and gifts for our holiday store to the priceless donation of time, service, and helping with agency events, BWRI is overwhelmed by the generosity of those in this community and would like to acknowledge their kindness. We thank you all!

Sincere apologies to those who may have been omitted from this list...

This past year’s Holiday Store was a huge success because of the donations from hundreds of individuals, groups, and companies across the region. With thousands of toys, clothes, and household items lining the tables of the store, more than 450 women and children were able to have the happy holiday every one deserves.

This past September BWRI was graced with the help of Fitchburg YMCA’s Active-Y-Ladies for United Way’s Day of Caring. This inspirational group of women has assisted BWRI with several agency mailings and has “adopted” the agency for future projects.

BWRI continued to tour its exhibit, An Empty Place at the Table, across Central Massachusetts for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year the moving display, which commemorated the 15 lives lost as a result of domestic violence from October 2004 – September 2005, was hosted by Mount Wachusett Community College, Clinton Town Hall, HealthAlliance Leominster, and Heywood Hospital.

From the Executive Director...Concern for Our Children

Recently, a report by Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Harvard Law School, and The Task Force on Children Affected by Domestic Violence was released entitled “Helping Traumatized Children Learn”. The report was a sobering look at the impact violence in the home has on a child’s learning ability in school. The report outlines a legislative and policy agenda for schools and communities to create “trauma-sensitive schools” that recognize the benefits for all children-“those whose trauma history is known, those whose trauma will never be clearly identified, and those who may be impacted by their traumatized classmates.”

BWRI has been working in the local school districts for over two years, reaching thousands of children every year with our age appropriate curriculums on violence, but it clearly isn’t enough. The support of the community to help school systems cope with traumatized children must be a recognized need within the school systems. These children are impacting classrooms daily, keeping teachers away from teaching, and assigning children to special education categories when really it’s the environment the child lives in… not the child himself or herself.

For more information about the report, please contact Susan Cole at Massachusetts Advocates for Children at scole@massadvocates.org.

Peace.

Joanne