Mother’s Day

DASH Art Group is a favorite among the kids. Every Tuesday night they get to unleash their creativity in a fun, safe environment.  The Art Group lead volunteers, Ann-Marie and Beth, come every week with a specific art project – we have done Andy Warhol drawings, impressionist still life collages and nature stamps. There is no coloring in the lines at DASH Art Group. At DASH we believe in the healing power of art, and every Tuesday night we get see the evidence as the kids express themselves with glitter, crayons and papier  maché.

AG4

Last week Art Group took on a new challenge, making Mother’s Day gifts. Over the course of three Tuesdays  the group made cards and then batiked and dyed scarves to give to their mothers on Sunday. Beth talks a little more about the details of the project, “What was more incredible about this whole process was not necessarily the intended designs, but the happy accidents that happened. Sometimes wax dripped in a spot where it was not wanted, sometimes there was too little wax applied, and other times we rubber banded the scarf and tie-dyed it just to see what would happen. All of these incidents helped to make every scarf we made a beautiful and unique gift for our DASH moms.”

AG7

The result was stunning! After three weeks of work, each child had a unique gift to give their mom on Mother’s Day. As Ann-Marie states, “the process of making the scarves was a lot of fun and very kid-friendly. We first dyed the scarves, and then used brushes, stamps, and various shapes dipped in wax to create the designs. The best part was that even if it got a little messy, every little drop of wax created something beautiful. ”

It should be noted that after the dying process, Ann-Marie and Beth stayed up until the sun came up washing and ironing the scarves and then sewed each swath of material to make the final product, infinity scarves. In the end, the children had the opportunity to create something beautiful and the mother’s got meaningful gifts. We are so thankful to Ann- Marie and Beth for their unwavering dedication and art genius!

If you would like to donate to DASH for our Mother’s Day Campaign – please Click Here.  All donations go to furthering the DASH mission to provide access to safe housing and services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families as they rebuild their lives on their own terms.

IMG_2141The Final Product!


Kids Yoga

Read about our new Kids Yoga program from the perspective of the facilitators!

One of the challenges of teaching the children’s yoga class at DASH is finding that delicate balance between restoring autonomy to the children and instilling in them discipline so that they can learn and benefit from yoga. Yoga is a powerful and transformative practice that ultimately is a journey inward, a journey to go back home to yourself. It is encouraging to see how many yoga poses the children retain, and every Monday when we come in, they request certain poses.

One popular request is tree pose, a balancing pose. Balancing poses cultivate humility, stability, and patience. Part of learning how to balance is teeter-tottering, falling, and picking yourself again, without getting frustrated or discouraged. With practice come the focus and the strong, steady grace needed to stand on one foot, both physically and figuratively. Some children who struggle with tree pose and waver back and forth before finding their balance get very animated and exclaim, “I did it! I balanced!” when that moment does come.

While some children are more eager and engaged than others are during yoga class, they are all respectful of the space. Once, a child spilled water on the floor and on a few of the yoga mats. Three children, including the child who spilled his cup, immediately ran to get paper towels to clean up the mess. It was touching to see how willing they were to take care of the space. The next step for us teachers is encouraging them to respect each other’s boundaries, both literally by staying on their own yoga mats, and figuratively by treating each other with more kindness and integrity.

On some Mondays, the children are overflowing with energy and guiding them through a seated meditation has helped center them. The first time we tried a seated meditation, I was surprised by how well it was received. I didn’t think that anyone would want to or be able to sit still in silence for an extended period of time. However, one child who was perhaps the most restless during that particular class wanted to stay in meditation for longer! She later shared with me that she really enjoyed meditating, and that it made her feel so peaceful and calm. Ultimately, all we can do is offer our presence to the children of DASH and plant seeds that inspire introspection, stillness, and clarity.

IMG_1974

IMG_1937

IMG_1983


Intern Profile Part 6: Langan Denhard

Her name is Langan and it rhymes with hanging!  She’s a senior at University of Maryland, soon to be an alum. She has been the Wellness Intern since January 2014. We asked her a few questions to showcase both how amazing she is and the impact she’s made at DASH.

–          Why did you choose to do your internship at DASH?: I started volunteering here last summer and I wanted to see how long it would take for them to notice I never left.  Just kidding, a little!  I’m a public health major and I think the lack of safe housing is a HUGE but under-recognized public health crisis.  I wanted to really immerse myself in that for my final internship.

–          What social justice issue are you most passionate about?: I am all about reproductive justice and comprehensive sexual education that isn’t cissexist or heteronormative.  I also see a lot of classism in the current feminist discourse and I want to see that shut down.  I could also go on and on about barriers to effective mental health services, and specifically stigma as a barrier.  And—housing for everyone, now!

–          What has been your favorite moment while working at DASH: Lots of the most *important* moments for me weren’t fun at all—they were hard.  The favorite moments usually involved holding a baby.  If I could relive one moment, it would be the Winter Wonderland Talent Show Extravaganza!  We have amazingly talented residents!!!

–          What are your plans for after DASH: Why would you ask a graduating senior that question?!  I hope I’ll either be doing something involving sexual health education or providing direct services to people who have experienced/are experiencing violence and homelessness.  I also am considering watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. *Editors Note: Langan recently accepted a position as a full time advocate at DASH – welcome aboard!

–          What is your spirit animal?: I’m pretty sure I was a whale in a former life!  Contact me personally if you are interested in a longer discussion re: whales.

What staff say about Langan:

“Langan took the Wellness Program to a new level! She really made the Community Health and Wellness Internship her own, and sets the bar high for whomever follows her.”

“Langan has made such a big impact on wellness program at DASH. Plus she’s fun, organized, and likes whales. She is also extremely skilled at bulletin board upkeep and maintenance. I am excited that she will be staying with us permanently.”

Langan


Intern Profile Part 5: Kylie Musolf

Kylie Musolf is a graduating senior at American University, earning a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She has been the development intern since January 2014. We asked her a few questions to showcase both how amazing she is and the impact she’s made at DASH.

Why did you choose to do your internship at DASH?: “I was drawn to DASH because of the voluntary service model and the innovation in housing support. I recognized that DASH was an organization that paid careful attention to the different ways that domestic and sexual violence affects the lives of individuals and families, and really appreciate the multiplicity of angles that DASH takes to support survivors.”

What social justice issue are you most passionate about?: “I don’t know if this counts as social justice, but I’m deeply passionate about trauma informed care. I think a crucial part of any well-functioning community is to be able to engage in productive support for trauma survivors. This is another huge component of why I was so drawn to DASH!”

What has been your favorite moment while working at DASH?: “My favorite moment working at DASH was when, at a staff training day, all of the staff were asked to introduce themselves and present a fun fact. Normally when a group is asked for a fun fact they come up with answers like “I like soccer” or “I have a dog” but DASH staff has some ridiculous and hilarious fun facts. I just knew in that moment that I was very lucky to be part of this group.”

What are your plans for the future?: “I am moving back home to Michigan for the summer after my internship with DASH ends for a job with the Council of Michigan Foundations. Next is hopefully a doctoral program in philosophy!”

What is your spirit animal?: “My spirit animal is Lil Bub. A very official Buzzfeed quiz has confirmed this.”

 

Kylie

“Kylie’s passion and readiness to take on any task contribute to her many skills. She is dynamic and has been a true ambassador to the DASH mission. It’s been a pleasure to work with Kylie!”

“It has been really great getting to know Kylie these past months, she is extremely motivated and strives to do the BEST for DASH at all times. She will be missed.”


The DASH Wellness Program

Langan Denhard is our Health and Wellness Intern at the Cornerstone site. She is a senior at the University of Maryland studying Community Health.

After about a year working with DASH, my time with this organization is wrapping up as I prepare for life beyond graduation.  Before I say good-bye (for now) to the staff and residents I’ve grown to love, I’m taking a moment to reflect on our wellness programming—where we are now, and how DASH can continue to grow.

At DASH, we provide services to fulfill the 7 dimensions of wellness that contribute to physical, emotional, and spiritual well being.

Social wellness: the ability to connect with and relate to other people.

Many survivors of domestic violence may lack close relationships and support systems.  Abusers often use emotional manipulation to isolate their victims and the effects of that can last beyond the abuse.

We promote social wellness by building a safe, secure community within our program.  Cooking with Afusat, the monthly cooking class led by one of our advocates, is among our most popular programs.  Afusat also leads monthly birthday parties for all residents to attend.  Our regular family movie nights are highly attended and allow the children and mothers to relax.

We also host a variety of groups that promote more intimacy and trust between our residents, allowing them to discuss shared trauma and personal experiences.  As part of my internship, I developed “Free to be Me,” a four-part course on healthy relationships and safer sex.  The course is currently being successfully implemented by two volunteers.

Occupational wellness: preparing and making use of personal gifts, talents, and skills to achieve a feeling of enrichment and purpose.

Our residents blew us away at our Winter Talent Show, showcasing their abilities to sing, act, dance, and play instruments.  Other residents use their artistic talents to make our building beautiful.  Our hallways are decorated with masterpieces made by our child residents during our weekly Art Group.

Alondria, our Economic Empowerment Advocate, helps our residents prepare for, find, and maintain employment.  On May 8th, our residents will have the chance to showcase their skills for our first ever Networking Night.

Physical wellness: maintaining a healthy body and seeking medical attention when needed.

Our physical wellness program keeps growing!  On Saturdays, we have our Double Fitness Feature: Weightlifting with David followed by an hour-long Zumba dance party.  On Sundays, women and teen residents can participate in Yoga.  Kid Yoga is held on Monday evenings.

Free to be Me and Let’s Talk are recurring programs that promote sexual health. We also hold one-time workshops on topics such as HIV, breast health, and contraceptive choices.

Seasonally, we receive an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables from a nearby farmer’s market. When paired with our popular cooking class, residents gain the skills to prepare healthy meals for themselves and their children.

Emotional wellness: includes the ability to cope with challenges, to accept self and past mistakes, and to develop stress management techniques.

Because of our low-barrier access to services model, we serve clients dealing with varying levels of trauma, and thus varying levels of emotional wellness.  This dimension is particularly intertwined with the others, but many of our programs are specifically focused toward the emotional wellbeing of our residents.

Acupuncture is regularly provided for our residents as pain and stress management.  Our grief counseling groups, provided as needed, help residents work together to move past trauma.  Monthly Let’s Talk groups provided through Metro TeenAIDS allow residents a chance to discuss shared stressors like parenting, body image, and relationships.

Environmental wellness: this refers to the ability to make a positive impact on the area surrounding us.

Though residents stay for a maximum of 2 years, it’s important for our residents to feel a sense of ownership over the building and surrounding community.  Our wellness coordinator, Annabeth, leads gardening activities to beautify the area surrounding Cornerstone.

Revolution: DASH, our community service-learning group for kids and teens, spent an afternoon picking up trash around our neighborhood.

Intellectual wellness: engaging in creative activities to increase knowledge and skills.

Our groups allow our residents to learn from each other; we try to incorporate a discussion component as much as possible into our programming.  Madeleine, another UMD intern, leads a weekly journaling group on Fridays.  Our recurring parenting class promotes new ideas in effective black parenting.  By popular request, we are now in the beginning stages of introducing a book club.

Do you have something to add to our Wellness Program?  Contact Annabeth Roeschley, our Wellness Coordinator, and/or Mari Vangen-Adams, our Volunteer Coordinator.


The Other City

“Movie nights” are a regular occurrence in our Cornerstone Program, but the film we screened on March 6th was different.  We had the exciting opportunity to screen The Other City, a limited release documentary about HIV/AIDS in Washington, DC.  The film told the stories of three people living with HIV, including J’Mia Edwards, an HIV+ mother of three about to lose her temporary housing.  J’Mia, who has now achieved permanent housing and works with Metro TeenAIDS, attended our screening and met with our residents.

Although DASH doesn’t have a direct focus on HIV/AIDS, we know that intimate-partner violence and HIV are closely linked.  Women who have experienced intimate partner violence are three-times more likely than non-abused women to have HIV.  The relationship is two-fold: intimate partner violence increases a woman’s risk of contracting HIV, and HIV increases a woman’s risk of experiencing intimate partner violence.  There’s a stereotypical ideas that the solution to the HIV epidemic is as easy as handing out condoms, but what if, as J’Mia Edwards asks in the film; “your partner is going to give you a black eye for asking him to wear one?” For too many women, violence is a more immediate threat than possibly contracting HIV or an STI.

J’Mia also stated many times in the film the importance of safe housing, and the role of safe housing in HIV prevention. The event highlighted the links between domestic violence, HIV, and homelessness.

We know that domestic violence exists across all demographics; a certain socioeconomic status or sexual orientation cannot protect against it. However, for low-income women, the effects of intimate partner violence can be more apparent and more devastating.  According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, 92% of homeless women have experienced severe physical or sexual abuse.  About 25% of homeless women report domestic violence as the direct cause of their homeless; according to other studies, it’s the cause at least half of the time.

In order to exert more power and control over their victims, abusers commonly also limit their available sources of financial and emotional support.  An abuser might take their victim’s existing money and prevent them from getting a job.  Many survivors come out of relationships with poor or non-existent credit, rental, and employment history.  It’s also typical for a survivor to lack close bonds with family and friends.  With no money and no friends, a high percentage of victims stay in abusive relationships simply because they have no other place to go. Abusers may also use a victim’s positive HIV status to convince them that no one else could love them; conversely, they could block the victim from receiving medical attention, or from getting tested in the first place.

At DASH, we provide housing and victim services, as well as  hope to increase understanding in the community.  In DC, the effects of all three can be seen all around but are too often ignored.  Organizations like ours are key in increasing the visibility of “the other city.”


Intern Profile Part 4: Molly Driessen

Molly Driessen is one of four graduate interns currently working with DASH. She’s originally from Rosemount, Minnesota, and she attended Providence University. She is now pursuing her Masters in Social Work and is getting married over the summer! We asked her a few questions to showcase both how amazing she is and the impact she’s made at DASH.

  1. Why did you choose to do your internship at DASH?: “I wanted to continue working with a non-profit organization that supports survivors of sexual and domestic violence.”
  2. What social justice issue are you most passionate about?: “I am most passionate about issues surrounding gender violence and coming at it from multiple perspectives-whether through research, direct work, advocacy, and other mezzo ways.
  3. What has been your favorite thing about working at DASH?: “Building relationships with some of the women and seeing them begin their healing journey. I also have loved Art Group!”
  4. What are your plans for the future?: “Planning a wedding, staying in D.C. for a bit, and continuing to work on ending  gender violence.”
  5. What is your spirit animal?: : “Panda bears are my absolute favorite animal, but if I had to be an animal I would like to be a bird so I could travel everywhere.”

What DASH staff say about Molly:

“I have enjoyed working with Molly she is very intuitive and is willing to go the extra mile to learn about the residents that we serve, she is soft spoken and laid back but don’t let that fool you, she understands the work that she does and why she does it. She uses some of her life experiences to influence the work that she does here at DASH.”

“I appreciate Molly’s thoroughness.”

“Molly is down to earth, intuitive and she’s from Minnesota – so what more could you ask for?”

“I appreciate Molly’s patient approach with her residents. She has handled both challenges and success from her work in a thoughtful way that ensure her growth as a social worker.”

molly


Allies in Change Awards Luncheon: 2014

On April 2nd DASH celebrated its’ 4th annual Allies in Change Awards Luncheon. Every year DASH takes a day to honor DC’s safe housing champions and recognize community partners who make a difference in the lives of women and children facing homelessness due to domestic violence. It takes the efforts of a community of organizations and individuals to address homelessness and domestic violence as they are multi-faceted issues. We at DASH are so thankful for the community of hardworking, innovative advocates that motivate us as an organization to do better every day.

This year we were once again joined by Mistress of Ceremonies Erika Gonzalez, Anchor for NBC News Channel 4, and for the first time, special guest speaker Yvette Cade. Yvette Cade, a survivor of abuse and domestic violence activist, spoke about her personal struggle with an abusive partner as well as the importance of options for domestic violence survivors. Yvette described her experience through  a woman who has been living with her family in a car for six months, which unfortunately is a reality for many survivors. According to the census done by The National Network against Domestic Violence, in the space of one day in DC in 2013 there were 40 unmet requests for housing from survivors of domestic violence; survivors are then forced to choose between going back to their abuser and living in their cars. Yvette’s sincere, touching speech was a call to action. No one should have to choose between abuse and homelessness.

Yesterday we honored individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to support survivors of domestic violence and their families. For more information about specific awardees please click here. DASH was also honored to receive the Celebrating Solutions Award from the Mary Byron Project during the event as well. We look forward to another year breaking barriers and providing access to safe housing and services for survivors and their families as they rebuild their lives on their own terms.

In 2013, DASH safely housed 225 individuals (94 women and 131 children) in our programs, providing over 80,000 “safe nights” for victims away from the threat of violence.

Donate now to help us expand our services.

 

66 DASH Luncheon - April 2014


Intern Profile Part 3: Alexis

Alexis Gareau is one of four graduate interns currently working with DASH. She’s originally from Bowie, Maryland, and she attended The Catholic University of America. She is now pursuing her Masters in Social Work and is the proud owner of three adorable Jersey calves-Winnie, Annie and Bea, and an equally adorable hound mix puppy named Ellie. We asked her a few questions to showcase both how amazing she is and the impact she’s made at DASH.

  1. Why did you choose to do your internship at DASH?: “I was really drawn to DASH’s low-barrier, harm-reduction model. I also felt strongly about working with victims of domestic and sexual violence in a team environment.”
  2. What social justice issue are you most passionate about?: “Homeless/housing issues, as well as environmental and animal rights issues. Lots and lots of issues!”
  3. What has been your favorite moment while working at DASH: “Helping a resident meet a goal she has set for herself.”
  4. What are your plans for after DASH: “I’ll keep you posted ;)”
  5. What is your spirit animal? “Probably a whale-they’re big enough that no one will mess with them, but they don’t have to be violent to assert their authority. Also, the OCEAN IS AMAZING.”

What DASH staff say about Alexis:

“I have appreciated Alexis thoughtful questions and processing with her around both client and organizational nuances. She is appreciated on the team and seems to have found her niche with her residents.”

“I appreciate Alexis’s perseverance.”

“Sure of herself, quiet, goal driven, always has a smile on her face. She’s works well with the residents.”

“Alexis has a really grounded attitude that I appreciate. She is easily able to put others at ease with little effort.”

Alexis


Allies in Change Award Anouncements

4th Annual Allies in Change Awards Luncheon

April 2, 2014

Honoring D.C.’s Safe Housing Champions

DASH is pleased to honor the following individuals who have made a difference in the lives of women and children facing homelessness due to domestic violence.

Support Beam Award
Support Beam: That which steadies and strengthens the structure.

Ann-Marie VanTassell & Beth Hansen, Art Group Volunteers

Anchor Award
Anchor: That which provides structural reinforcement for the building.

Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)

Building Brick Award
Building Brick: That which makes up the substance of the structure.

Dusty Wince, CEO and Founder, Knowledge Consulting Group

Pillar Award
Pillar: That which gives internal support to hold up the structure.

Ted McGinn, Community Activist

Keystone Award
Keystone: The central stone that holds together an archway.

The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

Join Us – Buy a Ticket or Sponsor today!  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/dash-allies-in-change-awards-luncheon-tickets-8174262439

Allies_2014_logo