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.

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.”

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.

The Final Product!

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.”

“Movie nights” are a regular occurrence in our Cornerstone Program, but the film we screened on March 6^th 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.”

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.”