Safety•Healing•Growth News from the Susan B. Anthony Project Spring 2019 New Day We’re excited to announce that Susan B. Anthony Project will be holding our 2nd BY JENNY MATTHEWS ® Walk a Mile in Her Shoes On this morning as she wakes event on May 19, 2019! she takes a breath of sweet embrace. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® is an international men’s march A newfound strength she never knew where men and boys lead the way on the road to end to persevere and see life through. sexual and domestic violence. Created by men, the Walk She smiles sweetly because she knows gives participants the opportunity to get their communities each new day is her gift to behold. talking about a difficult subject while increasing awareness She stretches her limbs, feet touching the floor, of the problem, offering opportunities for healing and realizing in that moment she is a prisoner no more. demonstrating men’s willingness to walk with women and She feels the sun upon her face, children as allies, advocates and survivors. looks to the skies in her quiet place. EVENT INFORMATION She believes in the life that she seeks, • Registration up to Walk day it’s in her voice as she speaks. • Individual or team participation Although things may not be as she once planned • Prizes awarded she is happy just to breathe again. • Post-walk foot massages I’ve taken back my heart that had once beat for you. • Live music Taken back my soul you felt so entitled to abuse. • All ages welcome No more looking back on yesterdays and what can never be. REGISTRATIONS I found the love inside myself that you could never see. • Individual & Team (shoes & t-shirt included): $50 It’s not about what she has lost but taking back what she • Women & Students (t-shirt included): $15 once knew. • Sponsored Team** (shoes & t-shirt included): $15/$50 Unraveling all the twisted lies and starting anew. • Youth Individual & Team (t-shirt included): FREE Now able to see it for as it was, not what she wanted it to • Virtual Walker: FREE be GET INVOLVED she’ll have to learn how to restore her faith and decipher There are several ways to get involved in SBAP’s Walk a her beliefs. Mile in Her Shoes®. She smiles again as she starts to see through this clouded • Participate as a walker — men, women & children welcome! haze. • Become an individual or corporate sponsor Only blue skies lie ahead for her even on those rainy days. • Pledge registered walkers Turning to her mirror, she looks deep into her eyes. • Cheer on walkers A single tear runs down her cheek, her triumphant • Purchase Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® merchandise freedom why she cries. • Spread the word! Visit www.sbaproject.org/walkamile or contact Gina Devaux I remember this day with such clarity. It was the moment at [email protected] or 860-489-3798. I took back my power. The realization that he only had power over me as long as I stayed connected to that source. To unplug yourself from it is not easy. It requires forgiveness and understanding that it is not your fault. We become victims by circumstances beyond our control... staying one is a choice. Choose to use that power for yourself… to find your strength and become a survivor. 1 Board of Directors Mark Famiglietti, President Meet Our Board Maria Salomone, Vice-President Bob Berson, Secretary It is both a privilege and a challenge to be a member Nancy Boland, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Susan B. Anthony Project. Members Having lived in Litchfield County for many Michelle Apiado Matt Oneglia years, I had an awareness of Susan B. Anthony Matt DeRienzo Turi Rostad Project. But it wasn’t until my husband, Patrick, and I Michael R. Emanuel, Jr. Lois Shafir became involved with the Adopt-a-Family program Kirstin Etela Damaris Sierra that my learning about the mission and operation Anne Green Marlene Smith Josephine Jones Sarah Worden of this organization began. From Adopt-a-Family program to the annual Nancy Kiely Jessica Wright giving campaign, to the fundraisers such as MOMIX and Authors Lunch, I Aaron Mambrino continued to learn about the dedicated, relentless work done at Susan B. Anthony Project to help promote safety, healing and growth for survivors Advisory Council of domestic and sexual abuse. I learned about the Community Education Jennifer Abbott-Tillou Mark Macomber program that helps young people to identify and develop appropriate Claudette Baril Beth McCabe behaviors as they meet the challenges and situations that surround them. Sabrina Beck Diane Meier I am a Certified Public Accountant. I retired from active practice Martha Bernstein Denise Pratt Merz Allan Borghesi Jacqueline Miller a few years ago. Most of my career was involved with taxation and Ann Bott U.S. Senator, compliance work. As treasurer of Susan B. Anthony Project Board of Carlos Braverman Christopher Murphy Directors, I strive to ensure that the organization is as financially strong Lesley Budny Claudia Ocasio and secure as possible. I have been on the Board since 2016. I serve with, Manny Clark Gail Olsen and continue to learn from, an exceptional Executive Director and staff as Catherine Oneglia Emily Dalton well as extremely dedicated Board members. —Nancy Boland Mark DeCruccio Vickie Patrick Deborah Donne Susan Payne When I first moved to Litchfield 34 years ago, my Louis Donne, Jr. Barbara Putnam Barbara Douglass Cynthia Quinn first job was with the Torrington Youth Services Hon. Anne C. Dranginis Susan Rea Bureau as the coordinator of the Child Protection Janet Duchaine Nancy Rogers Team. TYSB shared offices then with the Susan B. Seth Duke Philip Samponaro Anthony Project and I got to know some of the Saun Ellis Mary Schinke founding members of the Project. Their commitment Joyce Schwartz Nanette Falkenberg and enthusiasm were inspiring. I was interested in Mark Halloran Dennis Sherva the work of the Project because in my training and Catherine Hogan Chris Smith later in my practice as a Clinical Psychologist (now retired) I learned of the Lisa Horne Barbara Spiegel John Johnson Ellen Tillotson enormous impact that interpersonal violence has on folks’ psychological Susan Jordan Nancy Wadhams health. The more time I spent as a provider of psychological services, the Kathryn Litwin Sukey Wagner more I saw how its impact affected people, often for the entirety of their lives. I wanted to contribute to efforts to intervene early on in this process Executive Director and to prevent interpersonal violence from happening at all. My clinical Jeanne S. Fusco practice didn’t offer me many opportunities to do that. I spent the bulk of my professional life helping people to recover from traumatic experiences Our Mission that occurred in the past. Rarely did I get to support prevention and early Susan B. Anthony Project promotes safety, intervention efforts. When I had the opportunity I joined the Board of Susan healing and growth for all survivors of B. Anthony Project so that I could contribute to those efforts. That was in domestic and sexual abuse and advocates 1990. I have served as the Secretary to the Board most years since then. for the autonomy of women and the end of Because of my long time association with the Project I have clearly interpersonal violence. seen the extraordinarily caring and competent efforts of the many people who have worked there. I feel fortunate to support the work of these people as they meet our clients and assist them in their efforts to build their lives following traumatic experiences. I am especially proud of the work the Susan B. Anthony Project Project continues to do in preventing interpersonal violence. It has also been is a United Way Agency gratifying to have worked with hundreds of volunteers who have given of their time, their wealth and their wisdom to that end. —Bob Berson 2 When a survivor of sexual assault Making a discloses, it is important that we begin by believing Difference! them. It is the first step in creating a path toward healing and justice. This positive reaction influences the survivor to reach out to others and to create a network that supports their healing. When there is a negative response, the effects of the sexual trauma may worsen. Fewer than 25% of victims disclose because they fear they will not be believed and that there will be a negative response to their disclosure. If you know a survivor of sexual assault who would like to expand their support network, Susan B. Anthony Project is here to help. Call 860-482-7133 to speak to a counselor. Altek Electronics employees, Chris and Paul delivered non-perishable food items for our shelter from their company collection. This was so Legislative Initiatives Highlights appreciated—Thank You! SB3 An Act Combatting Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (Time’s Up Act) Synopsis: This bill is proposed by Senate Democrats as one of their main and important bills for this legislative session. The criminal statute of limitations for sexual assault would be eliminated for most crimes of sexual assault and extended to 25 years for forced sexual assault (where there is no sexual penetration) and outlines a comprehensive sexual harassment policy for the workplace. This year’s bill would eliminate the civil statute of limitations for offenses against children. The CT Alliance to End Sexual Big Y Foods held their annual Paul & Gerald D’Amour Memorial Charity Golf Outing. SBAP was Violence (The Alliance) is working to advance this bill. included for the first time as one of 31 charitable organizations that were awarded gifts.