2010 Annual Report - Community Violence Intervention Center

30 YEARS OFMAKING OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACEBy Julie Christianson2000sPrevention & long-term servicesInitiated the Light of Hope Shelter,child visitation and exchangeservices (called Kids First), careercounseling and children’s services(Bright Futures).Started the Prevention & EducationProgram (now part of our CommunityInnovations Program) toproactively address local violence.Further expanded our efforts byinitiating the DELTA Program toprevent violence among teens.Initiated Hope Transitional Housingto help low-income, single-parentfamilies fleeing violence.Initiated legal services to victims toensure their safety and well-being.Began offering Break the SilenceTours to inform and involve communitymembers in our efforts.Began the Later in Life Program tooffer specialized services for oldervictims.Were one of eight cities chosen bythe U.S. Department of Justice toparticipate in a demonstrationproject to reduce and preventchildhood exposure to violence.Remodeled our lower level inorder to enhance services to localadults and children, with significantcommunity support.As I think about CVIC’s 30th anniversary, I think back on over 30 years of my ownlife and how the existence of CVIC has changed our community.In the mid-1970s, I got my first “real” job as a cashier at a local store and my first“real” experience with victimization at the hands of a co-worker who sexually assaultedme. I was so humiliated and confused that I gathered my clothes and convincedmyself to forget it ever happened–because how could it have? You see, back then,there were no advocates, no school curricula, to teach us what acquaintance rapewas. We thought rape was committed by strange men lurking behind bushes. Womenhardly whispered the unbearable truths to each other in the sanctity of friendship.‘Nothing gave my experience a name’In the late 70s, I went off into the world as a soldier in the first group of womenwho joined the Army, and I soon met a man who swept me away with forced sex,black eyes and the charm of a movie star. Again, no one had talked about datingviolence in high school, there were no military briefings on sexual assault. Nothinggave my experience a name. Without awareness or someone to validate the innerscreamings that these were violations of my body, mind and soul, without laws toaddress these atrocities, I remained silent and alone. And I became a shell of a woman.e beginnings of societal and personal changeIn the following years, grassroots organizations sprang up across America,opening shelters, securing funding and enacting laws. They spoke the message thatviolence was wrong and not a victim’s fault, and that help was available. I returned toGrand Forks, having been battered for 10 years. During a violent incident, as I ran formy life, I dialed CVIC’s hot line. The police arrived and helped me to retrieve mychildren. The words “battered woman” resonated true in my soul. Thank Godsomeone validated that my husband’s cruelty was wrong.‘CVIC saved my life’Finally– some peace. Some understanding. Some help. There was someone whoknew what to do. Gave me options. Listened non-judgmentally. CVIC saved my life.If there had been no help, one of us would have died, or my daughters would havegrown up thinking they needed to cower around men. But no. There was help fromsomeone who understood. I went from bare survival mode–to thriving. CVICsupported the hard work it took. They helped me plan for our safety to stay aliveduring the dangerous time when I took out a protection order, they offered meshelter and gave me referrals so that I could find a way to survive with my children.Now so many lives are savedOver the years, CVIC has seen the needs of families and responded. They sawthat we needed a safe place to have abusers visit their children or exchange them forvisitation to prevent continued harassment; they heard our pleas to please help ourabusers stop their violence; they heard our pleas to please, please, please help ourchildren understand and heal from the abuse they witnessed.They heard and they responded. They let nothing get in their way–despite thelack of funding, despite the challenges and hurdles–CVIC staff and supporters founda way. Now so many lives are so much happier. So many lives are saved.