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On March 28th, DASH will celebrate 5 years as an organization and honor key individuals who have dedicated their service to survivors of domestic and sexual violence who seek safe, affordable housing through our work. We are pleased to be honoring DC Councilmember Jim Graham, interviewed here. Remember to buy tickets to our luncheon!

DC Councilmember Jim Graham

“I have had a strong connection with DASH in that we maintain a similar mission – to provide services and resources to some of the district’s most vulnerable residents.  My office has a long-standing history of introducing and co-sponsoring legislation that both raises awareness and aims to help survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.  I’ve introduced and co-sponsored such legislation as the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund Establishment Act of 2005, the Latino Community Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Recognition Resolution of 2007, the Emergency Care for Sexual Assault Victims Act of 2008, and the Child Abuse Prevention Month Recognition Resolution of 2011, among a handful of other bills and resolutions geared towards raising awareness and helping survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, and their families.

I was born in Wishaw, Scotland, and, with my parents, emigrated to Hyattsville, MD. And then to Detroit.  I received my Masters of Law at Georgetown University, and later became an adjunct professor for the Georgetown University Law Center.  I have been licensed to practice law in the District for 33 years, have held a seat on the DC City Council for 14 years, and currently reside in Adams Morgan.

Following are some ideas for improving services for domestic violence survivors in the city:

• Dedicate more city funds to long-term housing options (transitional housing)
• Push for more statewide synergies between law enforcement agencies, health care providers, educational institutions, courts, and advocacy groups.
• Ensure that advocates are adequately trained to meet the quality of services necessary to help survivors of domestic & sexual abuse, as well as their families. “

We are honored to work with Councilmember Graham and to be giving him an award at our luncheon. For more than three decades, Jim Graham has been diligent and focused in his various roles as legislator, activist, and health care provider. In 2010, he was elected to his fourth term as Councilmember for Ward 1 with 81.34% of the vote in the general election.

In his service as Councilmember, Mr. Graham makes constituent services a priority, personally responding to emails and telephone calls he receives from those he represents. He is motivated by a desire to support those who face the greatest challenges within the Ward while working hard for new development.  Housing and retail have significantly grown in Ward One during his tenure – indeed many parts of Ward One have been transformed – though the Ward remains the most ethnically and economically diverse area in the city.

Born to parents who lacked a high school diploma and immigrating to the DC area when he was 8, Mr. Graham can relate to the challenges facing those who must rely on government support. He brings this important perspective to bear as Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services, which is responsible for matters concerning welfare, social services, certain youth affairs, and disability services, as well as alcohol regulation. In his first months as Chairperson, Mr. Graham successfully fought to avoid massive cuts to homeless services and other key programs that service DC’s most vulnerable residents.

Mr. Graham was an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center and George Washington University, and supervising instructor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. He has been a member of the District of Columbia Bar in good standing since 1973. Mr. Graham is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and before the U.S. Supreme Court.  A graduate of Michigan State University, Mr. Graham received a J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School and an L.L.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Mr. Graham currently chairs the Committee on Human Services, and serves on the following committees:

• Committee of the Whole
• Committee on Aging and Community Affairs
• Committee on Environment, Public Works and Transportation
• Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs
• Committee on Small and Local Business Development

On March 28th, DASH will be celebrating its five years and the people without whom our work would not be possible. We wanted our community to get to know them better before the event itself, so we are doing a series of interviews with the awardees ahead of time. Buy tickets to the luncheon here and share with friends.

Our first feature is on Julie Hamre.

Ms. Hamre provides accounting and financial services for several nonprofit organizations, including the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), the association of law school and legal employer professionals concerned with legal career development, and its associated foundation.  For twelve years she was the Deputy Director of NALP and became financial manager when she chose to reduce her hours to part-time status in order to pursue her volunteer activities.  She also works with the Music Center at Strathmore, the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, Shaw Community Ministries, and the District Alliance for Safe Housing.  Prior to joining NALP in 1989, she served as the legal assistant manger and recruitment administrator at two major Washington law firms.  She is a co-author of The Legal Assistant’s Handbook, published by the Bureau of National Affairs.

“About two years ago, a dear friend (the ED of a program for homeless/low income women) told me that DASH was looking for a new bookkeeper,” explains Ms. Hamre.  “She and Peg had met through the Leadership Washington program.  I provide accounting services to a number of nonprofits in the city, most of them small and none that can afford a CPA on staff.  I offered to fill in for a short time on a pro bono basis while Peg and the board decided what kind of staffing they needed and could afford.  I was quickly impressed with Peg and the program and could see that they are fulfilling a great need.  Before we knew it, two years had gone by and the decision has now been made to change my status to a regular contractor.

I bring to DASH 35 years of experience as both staff and as a board member in a broad range of nonprofit settings and significant experience in governance, financial, and accounting practices in small nonprofits.  Many small organizations, particularly start-ups, are weak in administrative practices because they are (understandably!) too busy providing the services they were set up to offer to focus on governance, and few people are interested in administration.  But those vital services don’t get provided if payroll is not processed, if donations are not handled properly, or if audits are mishandled.  So it’s been my goal to provide those unexciting but nonetheless vital behind-the-scenes functions in a way that enhances the mission of the organization.”

Thank you Julie, for your incredible work in service of DC’s most vulnerable residents, on behalf of DASH!

Today the Washington City Paper released its giving guide, featuring DASH as one of the 70 charities to give to this season. The City Paper has made an effort to feature the best smaller organizations in DC, and “look under the hood” to find the community organizations that are working to improve conditions for its residents under the radar. The City Paper partnered with the Catalogue of Philanthropy, which also featured DASH as one of the best small charities in the Greater Washington Region in the 2011-2012 edition.

We are honored to be a part of this piece, and hope community members across the District will consider DASH in their holiday giving.

On Thursday,  DASH resident and domestic violence survivor, Jackie, and two members of the DASH staff, Connor McFadden and Alison Gurley, attended Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED)’s Art in Action Exhibit and Silent Auction at the Longview Gallery in DC.  Art in Action was created by partnering ten local artists with

ten nonprofit organizations, including DASH. After meetings with organizations and District residents, the artists gained a deeper understanding of the importance of community development and its impact in the city. Each artist then drew on this as inspiration to create the pieces for the exhibit. At the event, Jackie, Connor, and Alison mingled with an array of volunteers, staff from various non-profits,  artists and art-buyers while viewing a breathtaking collection of incredibly inspirational artwork. They were also able to reconnect with DASH’s partner artist, Joann Lee, and snap some photos with her and the beautiful piece she created for DASH, which was based on Jackie’s story of survival and her conversations with DASH staff.  And even better news…the piece sold for $500! Thank you so much to CNHED for hosting such a wonderful event and to everyone who supports DASH and helps us foster these wonderful partnerships in the DC community.

DASH interviewed Board Co-Chair Julia Wright about her involvement with the organization.

How did you first find out about DASH? What stood out to you?

Peg and I have a mutual friend Lydia Watts who started WEAVE – formerly “Women Empowered Against Violence,” now known as “Washington Empowered Against Violence,” a legal clinic helping survivors of domestic violence work through the court system in Washington DC. We were both on the Board of Directors of that organization. When Peg took the very bold step of purchasing the building for the Cornerstone Program she needed someone to work with her doing the redevelopment of the site. I have been in the commercial construction business for almost 30 years and jumped at the chance to work with Peg in this very important project. Peg and I worked together turning a 52 unit apartment building into a 47 unit building with services. We worked together for over three years making this dream come true.

What stood out to me about DASH was the different approach that DASH takes to serving the survivors and their families. First, this is a low barrier program so it allows for more women to be reached and therefore more families getting the opportunity to live safer lives. It also is the longest term program in the City. It is not simply an emergency housing program but gives women the opportunity to live for up to two years with their families while rebuilding their lives. My belief is if you don’t have a program that allows people the opportunity to go through a meaningful healing process and put their lives back together it is going to fall short. DASH was established with this goal in mind.

How is DASH’s work and focus important to your community, family and friends? How can you see people in your life connecting with the organization?

DASH’s work is extremely important to our community because it addresses the issue of  domestic and sexual violence head on. These are both still  difficult issues to discuss  because of the misinformation about victims and the uncomfortable nature of this topic. DASH works to educate our community about the problems that exist and the ways that we can all work together to help change the outcomes of existing situations in addition to educating young people about alternatives to violence.

I take every opportunity I can to discuss my involvement with DASH with family and friends. My 21 year old daughter Sydney has volunteered at the shelter working with the younger children during times of the day that have been set aside for the women to be able to work on the computer or address things that need to work on in their own lives as well as getting a break from childcare duties to just relax for a while. Sydney has worked with me all of her life when I served on the Board at Calvary Women’s Services a homeless shelter in DC as well as the work that we did at WEAVE. I think by bringing members of our family and our community together to tackle these problems we are “getting the word out” , so to speak, and educating young people about ways in which they can help to change the communities that they live in to healthier safer places.

I work very hard at trying to connect the people in my life to the work that we do at DASH. I have had fundraisers in my home to introduce my friends and neighbors to the organization and give them an opportunity to ask questions about the work that we do and the things that we need to continue to be a success. I think the key is taking the opportunity when possible to bring up the work that we do and the things that we need to continue the work. I find that most people are very receptive to hearing about DASH and in turn asking what they can do to help. This is especially true for the children that we serve. There is always a need for food, clothing, toys, school supplies and other essential items and people are generally very willing and eager to help. People won’t know what we need unless we are out there asking, educating, and explaining the nature of the work that we do and the urgency with which we need to act. When I discuss the work at DASH with people in my life it seems that most people can identify with people in crisis and want to be able to do something to help out. I have gotten an overwhelmingly positive response when I ask for help, which makes me very proud of my family, friends and work associates.

What are some of your personal interests and skills that you think are a good fit for DASH’s needs moving forward?

I have been interested in women’s issues as well as working with homeless populations from a young age. I helped at So Others Might Eat working in the dining room as well as serving on the Board of Directors at both Calvary Women’s Services and WEAVE. I have seen too many people’s lives destroyed by domestic abuse and therefore whatever I can do to help change someone’s life to free them from that type of situation is important to me. As a small business owner in the commercial construction business I helped to bring the project to life by managing the construction of the facility and then joining the Board to continue my work with DASH. I work with Peg and her team around issues with maintenance of the building, financial stability and fundraising. The community that I work in is very generous to charitable organizations especially related to housing.

Is this your first time working with a nonprofit? If so, what stands out about DASH?

DASH is not the first non-profit I have worked with over the years and its mission sets it apart from previous organizations I served because of the holistic nature of the approach it uses to help the population it serves. To me, that is what makes DASH special. I like that they are approaching it first and foremost as a way to keep families safe and then to give women the skills that they need to take care of themselves and their families. My interest in serving families in need as it relates to housing and safety serves DASH because I am motivated to help to raise money to keep our doors open and our programs available.

What future plans of DASH’s are you excited about?

Moving forward our desire is to raise enough money to expand our programs to serve more families in need as well as raise some money for reserves. Due to the incredibly difficult past few years I am sure that organizations like DASH all over the Washington Metropolitan area have used reserves and need to build back up to ensure that in case of emergency we are not going to be caught short. I know it doesn’t sound glamorous, but I think it is very important and responsible to ensure fiscal soundness and operate in a way that ensures sustaining the programs and the building.

Men Can Stop Rape Strength Campaign poster

Thank you to our incredible community partners Men Can Stop Rape and the staff of Giant grocery store in Columbia Heights, Washington, DC. Giant hosted MCSR’s donation drive for DASH on Saturday, and it was a massive success. Thank you to everyone who donated much needed food, diapers, and other supplies. And thank you, again, to Giant for being such incredible community partners. DASH appreciates you!