September Newsletter

Newsletter
September 2022

Cocktails Under the Stars
Board of Directors
Julia Peloso-Barnes, President
Laura Holdgrafer, Vice President
Dan Lipka, Secretary
Melissa Szot, Treasurer
Pamela Ashford
Silvana Bajaña
Blakely Brodbeck
Michele Goldmeer
Shreya Gopal
Ingrid Kessler
Martha Obler Kohn
Yael Levy
Marisol Sanchez
Elizabeth Zimmerman
@HopesdoorNY
@STar_hopesdoorny
Join Hope’s Door for Cocktails Under the Stars, our Fall
Fundraiser, on Wednesday September 28 from 5:30pm to
8:00pm at the Hudson River Museum Planetarium in
Yonkers, NY.
The talented Peter X. Kelly of Xavier’s fame will provide
food and beverages for you to savor. Meet many of our
dedicated and trauma-informed services staff and gain
perspective on our High Risk Intervention Program that
inspires so much HOPE for DV survivors. Close out the
cocktail party with a star show in the Planetarium and
enjoy an array of delicious desserts.
Secure your spot now! Attendance in the Planetarium
is limited at this event of the season.
You can become a sponsor,
purchase a ticket, or donate to this
event by texting “FallHope” to 41444
or for more information, use your
phone to scan the QR code
provided.
If you plan to attend, be sure to email a copy of your
vaccination records to sgadson@hopesdoorny.org in the
next two weeks, or present your vaccination cards at the
event registration table. Individuals who are not
vaccinated must
take a PCR test
within 72 hours of
the event, and
present negative test
results at the door.
Thank you for your
understanding and
patience as we work
to keep everyone
safe and healthy.

A B I G T H A N K Y O U
Thank you JoAnn and Allison, and the campers from Camp
Summerset, for putting together this gorgeous mural! We are
so touched by the design. Including the small details like the
six stones that represent the six months our residents can
stay in our shelter, as well as the inspirational words the
children incorporated into the stones, in the grass, and the
climbing vines. The words “Love Lives Here,” carved in a heart
on the door, resonate with our shelter staff.
Our residents are so inspired by this mural; one
exclaimed that she is impressed by the
children’s artwork and choice of words. She
went on to note that the mural is “colorful,
joyful, and welcoming” and makes her smile
each time she walks through the room.
Every donation that is made to the shelter
conveys to our survivors that people care what
happens to them. This gift of love and art is a
constant reminder of that fact, and we will hold
the kids of Camp Summerset in our hearts for
years to come.
S H E L T E R D O N A T I O N
Thank you, Annabelle Newberger, for collecting
and donating feminine hygiene products to our
shelter residents and other clients. What a
thoughtful donation.
Tami Shimkin and Annabelle Newberger

D V A M Y A R D S I G N S
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is fast approaching. Publicly show your support
for survivors and help spread the mission of Hope’s Door by purchasing a DVAM yard sign for
only $20, available in English and Spanish.
On October 1, post one or more
signs where you think people will
see it and think about domestic
violence victims. Then collect the
sign at the end of the month, and
save it for next October.
By purchasing a sign, you are:
Supporting the work and
mission of Hope’s Door
Sharing our 24/7/365 hotline
number, the gateway to
Hope’s Door services
Showing survivors that YOU
CARE
To purchase a sign simply text DVAWARE to 91999, click on the link provided, or use your
phone to SCAN the QR code provided.
Shine the Light: A Walk in Solidarity
Join Hope’s Door, and many of our sister agencies,
for the 2nd Annual Shine the Light: A Walk in
Solidarity on Thursday, October 20 from 11:00am to
3:00pm. Walk with us as we honor the memory of
victims and show survivors of domestic violence
how much we care about them.
We encourage everyone to wear purple, the color
of domestic violence awareness, and share this
information with your friends and family. Use the
link provided to register and for bridge
information.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S , K A Y L A !
Congratulations to our Youth Educator and DV
Advocate Kayla Stephens for winning a Purple
Ribbon award as Program Staff of the Year
from domesticshelters.org.
Kayla is a big part of our Love Shouldn’t Hurt Program. This program is an awareness,
intervention, and prevention initiative that addresses the serious issue of abuse in teen dating
relationships. Its purpose is to empower youth with the skills to distinguish between
relationships based on power and control and those based on equality, respect, and trust. We
are so proud of the work Kayla does in encouraging youth to break the cycle of violence, to
learn safety strategies, and to heal from the trauma of abuse.
H O P E ' S D O O R W E L C O M E S
N E W B O A R D M E M B E R S
Hope’s Door welcomes our NEW Board members
Ingrid Kessler, Shreya Gopal, and Yael K. Levy to our
amazing team. Thank you for choosing to serve with
us at Hope’s Door. We look forward to working with
you in our mission to end domestic violence and
empower victims to achieve safety, independence,
and healing from the trauma of abuse.
Ingrid Kessler and Executive Director,
CarlLa Horton
Yael K. Levy and Executive Director,
CarlLa Horton
Shreya Gopal and Executive Director,
CarlLa Horton

J U S T I C E F O R T R A C Y M C C A R T E R
Tracy spent six months on Rikers Island
awaiting a delayed grand jury hearing that
resulted in her indictment for murder.
Attorneys for McCarter assert that the
former DA’s office did not properly inform
the grand jury about Murray’s history of
violence nor the intoxication levels he
reached on the day he died, which most
likely led to Tracy’s indictment for murder.
Her lawyers are trying to get the DA to
reconvene the grand jury in order to present
the exculpatory evidence.
Hope’s Door stands with Tracy
McCarter, a Manhattan nurse charged
in 2020 with murdering her abusive
and estranged husband. Tracy
admitted to stabbing her husband,
James Murray, after he drunkenly
showed up at her home, and
demanded money while threatening
her life. Her neighbors recalled Tracy’s
husband going on an “intoxicated
rampage in the building” earlier that
day.
During the last election cycle for the position of Manhattan District Attorney, one of
the candidates, Alvin Bragg, promised during his campaign not to prosecute victims
of abuse, stating that “prosecuting a domestic violence survivor who acted in selfdefense
is unjust.” Bragg was later elected to be the DA, but he has not honored the
commitment he made to survivors when he was a candidate. Hope’s Door stands
with Tracy McCarter and hope that you will too! #StandWithTracy
To learn more about the Tracy McCarter case click on the link provided.