Editorial: The Good, the Best, and the Downright Peculiar
by Shanya Luther, Community Outreach Coordinator
I have had many amazing opportunities to work with wonderful people, to interact with the community in many meaningful ways, and to help develop creative projects for our agency. I’ve also experienced a few entertaining and slightly bizarre things. I’ve been yelled at, given advice, hung up on, admonished, and flirted with, sometimes by the same person. There was a woman who wanted to donate an antique “upright grand piano”, while another was surprised we couldn’t use 200 miniature cardboard sleighs. One donation had to be picked up from a cemetery. I conducted a meeting in a shed. Then there was the person who wanted to complete her community service, court-mandated for committing an act of violence, by volunteering at our agency. I recently took a call from a donor who yelled at me for not telling her in December 2006, before I even started working here, about a policy change we made in July 2007. A church declined a resource file from us saying, “We don’t have any domestic violence in our church.” I remember the folks confounded by our not listing online the address of our confidential shelter. And I’ve had to comply with quirky fire prevention regulations about grease-laden vapors. Luckily for me, these are the exceptions to my job, not the norm!
Since I started here 7 months ago, I have worked with people wanting to donate and volunteer with amazing generosity. We have been given a new floor for the Monika’s House Shelter, a used mini-van to transport clients, and furniture for our counseling rooms and business office. We have had volunteers from SOLV, Hands-On Portland, Macy’s, and churches / schools / businesses all come out to do incredible work: yard maintenance at the shelter, painting in the business office, serving holiday meals to survivors, helping at the Candlelight Vigil. And some specially trained volunteers have kept our computer system and our heating and air-conditioning system in good order!
I have worked with groups such as Soroptimists International of Hillsboro and two of their Kenyan visitors; several community choirs and singing groups; Rotary Clubs; mom’s groups; and volunteer groups. I have hosted visitors from colleges and universities, high schools, churches, and community associations, all wanting to find out more about what we do in the community. I have been interviewed for class projects and newspapers. I have done presentations at the Oregon Food Bank’s Washington County facility, Rivermark Credit Union, David Douglas High School, and many others. I have staffed tables at PCC Rock Creek, the Domestic Violence Summit in Pioneer Square, at a gathering of the Young and Innovative of Hillsboro…
I have also helped develop and implement a few exciting projects. Planning the 10th annual Candlelight Vigil was definitely one huge undertaking. Others have included: a volunteer and intern appreciation program; a resource library for our clients and community partners; training assessment tests; a resource file sent out to schools, churches, and businesses; and new presentation boards and tabling boxes for our programs.
Without a doubt, the most rewarding program I’ve helped develop has been our new Survivor Empowerment Fund. It was launched in conjunction with our Holiday Giving Program last December and has collected over $7,500 in gift cards, bus tickets, and cash for survivor assistance. The items are given to survivors for their basic needs – and the funds are going to be available throughout the year!
I have participated in community groups during my time here, too. I am on the planning committee for the Faith Forum – put on by the Interfaith Action Network; I am a member of the advisory council for Hands-On Portland; I attended several meetings of the Queer Caucus on domestic violence; and I meet regularly with all the Volunteer Coordinators from our partner domestic violence agencies in the tri-county area. I have helped coordinate trainings and community education throughout Washington County. And I have attended trainings on such topics as Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in the Latina Community.
Despite the occasional off-the-wall request or demand, serving as the Community Outreach Coordinator for this agency has been an incredible experience. I am overwhelmed by the community’s generosity, support, and engagement. I am proud to represent an agency on the cutting edge of domestic violence services; and I am looking forward to what this position will help accomplish in the future!
If you’d like to know more about our outreach, prevention, and awareness-raising efforts, call Shanya at 503.640.5352 x305 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). We also invite you to support community education about domestic violence and available alternatives to abuse by making an easy, quick, secure, and environmentally friendly contribution here.
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More stories:
Invitation: Giving Back
Journeys of Survival: Sandy M.
Report: Stalking Awareness Month
