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News & Notes - September 2015
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Due to the papal visit and WIT's Center City location, our offices will close early at 3 p.m. on Thursday, 9/24, and will remain closed from Friday, 9/25 - Monday, 9/28.
Normal hours will resume from 9 a.m. on Tuesday, 9/29.
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Melissa Landsmann,
WIT board member |
MEET MELISSA LANDSMANN: WIT'S NEW BOARD MEMBER
I was introduced to Women In Transition through a friend, a board member who was fundraising for the organization. WIT's mission and vision immediately resonated with me because I believe that all people deserve to be treated with respect and to live free from fear of violence and abuse.
I have several wonderful friends who have experienced domestic violence, and the courage that they showed in leaving the situation and rebuilding their lives was inspiring to me. And I realized something very clearly: how could any woman protect herself from predators in their own homes, from people who pretended to love you while hurting you at the very same time? While it was very hard for me to simply watch and stand by my friends, I knew that the abusers were counting on me and other loved ones to leave my friends in isolation-and that then they would have true power over them.
I am proud to say that my friends are survivors, but I realize that not all women have loved ones who can stand by them during these situations. Without that support, their journey to freedom from abuse is that much harder to make. I support WIT - and groups like WIT - because we provide women with resources and support so they can find their inner strength to do what they need to do in order to free themselves.
As a new board member, I look forward to bringing my HR expertise to WIT and providing a corporate perspective to the organization and the clients we serve. Domestic abuse is an issue that impacts employers as well as employees; most workplace violence situations are caused by domestic abuse situations that come into the workplace. As employers, we need to ensure that our employees have a safe place to come to work every day - and we also need to ensure that they have the resources and support they need to stay safe outside of work.
Melissa Landsmann, SPHR, is Vice President, HR Business Partner and Staffing Manager at Firstrust Bank. A former president of the Greater Valley Forge HR Association, she currently serves on their board of directors, as well as serving as the Diversity Resource Connections Chair. She is also actively involved in several veterans recruiting groups, including the Philadelphia Metro REACH (Recruit for Excellence and Achievement of our Committed Heroes) and the Southeastern PA Veterans Consortium.
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FIGHT THE FEAR WITH WAVE
A community-based violence prevention initiative, FtFC is partnering with local self-defense programs to offer free empowerment-based self-defense classes wherever Brandi's tour bus stops this fall.
WAVE classes are open to all women, teens, trans*, and gender nonconforming people, ages 14 and up!
Fight the Fear WAVE class
DATE:
Saturday, October 17th
TIME: 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Christ Church Neighborhood House
(20 N. American Street, between 2nd and Market)
COST: Free!
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| Roberta L. Hacker (WIT), Mirela Bani (TJX), Debbie Lee (WIT) |
THANK YOU, TJX!
WIT was honored this summer by by The TJX Foundation with a $5,000 grant supporting our Empowerment Counseling Program for women experiencing domestic violence and/or substance abuse.
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Next month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Here are a few events to put on your calendar:
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Thursday, October 1st
Men Can Rally
Kicking off DV Awareness Month
is Lutheran Settlement House's Men Can Rally with free food, performances, and more. Event starts at Love Park from 11 a.m.
Saturday, October 3rd
March to End Rape Culture
Guest speakers, live music, performances, and a march (formerly known as Slutwalk) to call for the end of rape culture. Event at the Thomas Paine Plaza from 11 a.m.
Learn More
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iPledge
Wo
me
n Agai
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Abuse's 8th annual iPledge campaign to raise community awareness of DV will launch from noon at Love Park.
Learn More
Saturday, October 17th
Fight the Fear with WAVE
A
free WAVE self-defense class open to the public!
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Pope Francis Visit Gives Hope to Sexually Exploited Women in City Jail
Learn More at NBC Philadelphia
Survey: More than 1 in 5 female undergrads at top schools suffer sexual attacks
Read More in The Washington Post
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New York City to Add Housing for Domestic Violence Victims
The States Where Women Are Most Likely To Be Murdered By Men
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And follow us on social media!
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