PIE – More Than Just an Irrational Number or Delicious Dessert
by Shanya Luther
How are PIE and domestic violence connected? When I recently asked a group of high school students from Sherwood this questions, they understandably looked at me with confusion. Do we serve pie at our emergency shelter? Are we making survivors learn about mathematics or Greek letters? Well, no. PIE actually represents a philosophy of our agency – one that we are dedicated to expanding in the coming year.
Since the movement to address domestic violence started in the 1970’s, agencies like ours all across the country have done an amazing job of responding to crisis in order to help victims of violence. Shelters, crisis lines, emergency services, and access to basic food and clothing have all been trademarks of the movement since its beginnings. This is the “I” in PIE: Intervention, or safe haven and the meeting of immediate needs for survivors.
Over the next 20 years domestic violence service agencies began to recognize the need for helping survivors achieve self-direction and self-sufficiency. It was not enough to step in and do what we felt was best, it was critical to listen to survivors and assist them with whatever they knew they needed. This is the “E” in PIE: Empowerment, or the willingness to let someone determine what they need and want and then assist them in achieving those goals.
Well, now the movement is taking on the third piece of the PIE. Many agencies, including our own, are recognizing the importance of getting in front of the problem. It is time to break the cycle of violence earlier on and stop individuals and families from having to endure the pain, shame, and fear that come with it. This is the “P” in PIE: Prevention, or the education, understanding, and development of healthy relationships.
Domestic Violence Resource Center takes very seriously this critical aspect of our work. We help children understand and express their emotions, present dating violence and healthy relationship trainings for teens, and speak to senior groups about the dynamics of elder abuse. We are expanding our stalking awareness, our culturally specific programming, and our outreach efforts. And we are looking ahead to this coming year as a prime opportunity to help our community address intimate partner violence!
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