Through a collective voice, the WCADVSA is committed to provide leadership, education, and systems advocacy to advance social change and end violence.

February 18, 2022

Welcome to your weekly edition of the Coalition Connection!

Are you having difficulty viewing this e-mail or do you feel like you are missing some of the information in the Connection? If so, click here for help.

We will highlight important information in this section each week in red that requires your action or attention. This week's highlights include:  

Opportunity

• Coming soon!

Our Work

• Meet our new Staff Attorney in Ft. Washakie, Sara Robinson!
• Register for the Winter WCADVSA Membership Meetings, February 23 - 25, 2022.
• Save the Date - Spring WCADVSA Membership Meeting, May 11- 13, 2022.
• Program Support Calls have resumed!
• WCADVSA Laramie Office Hours and Program, Board, Staff and DVS List Reminder
• 2022 ERAP Updates
• 2020-2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Program
• Funds to Reduce Education, Employment, and Job Training Barriers for Survivors
• NNEDV Independence Project Available
• New granting cycle for RedRover's Safe Housing grants!

Policy Updates

• NTF VAWA Reauthorization Rally (recording)
• WY Division of Victim Services Request for Proposals
• WCADVSA Policy Call: WY Legislature Budget Session - Fridays at noon
• Feedback for Wyoming VAWA Implementation Plan Requested

Training and Events

• Living Our Values: Supervision and Feedback for Survivor-Serving Organizations (recording)
• Core Rural Advocacy Training via Zoom!
• Transitional Housing Voluntary Services Training E-Learning
• QPR training for students
• Resource Sharing Project's Rural Learning Opportunities Addressing Stalking
• Creating Language Access with Deaf Advocates: Partnering for Success - February 22,2022

Resources

• In Right Relationship materials for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
• Introducing the Student Survivor Toolkit
• Brave Conversations: Immigration Guide and Toolkit
• Introducing a new data collection system -- Vela!

Spotlight: The Many Ways to Learn Black History: A NSVRC Resource Guide

Sorry folks - we don't have any open positions at this this time. We'll keep you updated as new positions become available.

Welcome Sara Robinson, Ft. Washakie Staff Attorney

Hello All, I am Sara Rose Robinson. 

Nu Sosori nI en Doya Donzia; my Eastern Shoshone name is Mountain Flower. I am an only daughter, an older sister, a granddaughter, a wife, a mother of 3 adult children, a grandmother of 9 beautiful children, an auntie, a cousin, and a relative to many. 

I have worked in the arena of domestic violence and sexual assault for approximately a half-century. My work began early on with immediate and extended family members in a personal capacity. As a tribal member, I have volunteered as a victim advocate for the Wind River Reservation domestic violence and sexual assault organization previously known as Women Restored and as a Safestar. In a professional legal capacity as a public defender, a prosecutor, and a public service attorney, I have worked within tribal, state, and federal jurisdictions on behalf of perpetrators, victims, survivors, adults, minors, and families. 

I am very excited and honored to be a team member of an exceptional organization that provides indispensable services, education and support to a critical population, DV/SA victims and survivors, in Wyoming and the Wind River Reservation. I am looking forward to working with a unique group of colleagues with diverse and unique experiences to increase and expand my ‘vision’. 



My favorite quote has to be: “Beautiful Lightbearers, Your wounds and trauma do not define you. You are not the darkness you endured. You are the light that refused to surrender”. John Mark Green, Australia

WCADVSA Membership Meeting

Register for our Winter Meeting

Please join us next week for the Winter Membership Meeting February 23 - 25, 2022 via Zoom. We truly regret that we cannot meet in person. Thank you for your patience as we navigate the risk of infection and spread, restrictions from grant funders, and finding facilities with staff and capacity to accommodate our group.

Click here to register for the Winter Membership Meeting.

Winter Membership Meeting Agenda

Save the Date for our Spring Membership Meeting

Please join us for the Spring Membership Meeting May 11-13, 2022 at the Ramkota in Casper, WY. This in person meeting following the Division of Victim Services mandatory meeting May 10 - 11, 2022. Agenda and registration information coming soon.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact kschwartz@wyomingdvsa.org.

WCADVSA Program Support Calls

Held first Tuesday of every month

at 1:00 pm via Zoom

Program Support Calls are an opportunity for DVSA program directors (or their designee) to connect with other programs and WCADVSA staff about the work being done around Wyoming. Coalition staff will invite others to join the support calls at the request of membership.

We held our first Program Support call of the year February 1, 2022, joined by Jason Petry and Darryl Erikson from DVS to answer questions about the Request for Proposals for SFY 2023 & 2024.

Our next Program Support Call is March 1, 2022. Join us by clicking this Zoom link (it will be emailed directly to member program directors). Contact Kristen at kschwartz@wyomingdvsa.org with any questions or problems connecting.

WCADVSA Office Hours and Program, Board, Staff and DVS List Reminder

WCASVSA Laramie Office is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. If you are unable to reach WCADVSA staff at (307) 755-5481, please let Kristen at kschwartz@wyomingdvsa.org or Tiffany at te-m@wyomingdvsa.org know. The majority of staff are in office full time, and some work a hybrid schedule splitting time between home and office to reduce the risk of full office exposure, quarantine and/or closure.

We've updated our Program , Board, Staff, and DVS List!

Click here to access our full contact list. Please email Celeste with any updates or corrections.

2022 Emergency Rental Assistance Funding (ERAP) Updates

Let's Talk ERAP!

We will be talking about ERAP at the next membership meeting (February 23-25, 2022) but in the meantime, think about adding the following questions to your intake form:

• Are you ERAP Eligible?
• If you don't know, are you interested in becoming ERAP Eligible?



This way you'll have an idea of how many of your survivors may be eligible for this additional ERAP funding. It will also open the door for deeper conversations about survivor's needs.  

If you haven't already made a connection with your county ERAP CBO, here is a list of who they are. They are a wealth of information, so don't hesitate to reach out to them for assistance with rent and utility needs. 

Funding Update

ERAP has reallocated $1M of to the Northern Arapaho Tribal Housing Program.

As of February 11, ERAP has approved a total of 7,627 applications, paying a total of $19.3M in assistance. Of the rental payments, $15.2M went to landlords, $2.9M went to renters and $1.M to utilities. To see county specific information, click here.

ERAP Funding is Open to Homeless Households or Those Without Current Residence and No Lease Agreement 

ERAThis may include those living at a homeless shelter, living with friends or family, couch surfing, living doubled-up, etc.

Applicants will need to complete the online application, submitting all required documents with the exception of a lease agreement and go through eligibility determination. If deemed eligible, the applicant will receive a letter of intent (LOI) to show prospective landlords what the applicant is eligible for:

• Security deposit
• First 3 months of rent
• Potential additional rental assistance up to a total of 18 months, pending future eligibility determinations

Once a lease agreement is signed, the program will make payment.

So far 562 Wyoming households that are homeless or without a current residence have been approved for letters of intent. Of those approved LOIs, 47 households have already successfully obtained housing. 

IRS News for Landlords and Utility Providers

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Emergency Rental Assistance is intended to help eligible households that require financial assistance to pay for rent, utilities, home energy expenses, and other related expenses. Rental payments and/or utility payments are ONLY counted as gross income for your landlord or utility provider. See IRS ERA FAQs. The IRS 1099 Form for ERAP payments will be mailed to landlords and utility providers.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS

The Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault provides legal aid services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Call 307-755-0992 or visit wyomingdvsa.org/legal-program.

ERAP Resources

• Online: Learn more about ERAP online at dfs.wyo.gov/erap. 
• In Person: If you need assistance with an application, there are community-based organizations set up in each county to provide help. (Click here for an updated list) 
• Via Phone: The call center is open 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. The toll-free number is 1-877-WYO-ERAP (1-877-996-3727). 
• Flyer: Download the ERAP flyer to learn more about the program and to share with those who may be interested in the program. Download here

If you have any questions or would like more immediate information, contact Angie at afessler@wyomingdvsa.org.

2020-2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Program

The WCADVSA Transitional Housing Assistance Program is purposed to increase housing options, support service resources, and address barriers relevant to the delivery of transitional housing services to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking

in Wyoming rural communities and within the Wind River Indian Reservation.

This program will primarily focus on supporting the needs of survivors who are Native American, older people, persons with disabilities, persons who are Limited-English-Proficient, persons who are immigrants, and/or survivors within extreme rural areas.

For more information about program requirements, working with participants and providing services, and accessing and utilizing this assistance please review the 2020-2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Program Policy.

Funds for the 2020-2023 grant cycle have all been pledged.

Contact Trish Worley, Economic Justice Specialist for technical assistance.

Funds to Reduce Education, Employment, and Job Training Barriers for Survivors

With support from The Allstate Foundation, the WCADVSA has funds to support education, employment, and job training barriers for survivors. These funds can be used to help support survivors in obtaining G.E.D.s, job skills training, certifications, licenses, continuing education, education/job-related supplies such as uniforms, tools, and/or other equipment, transportation-related support, etc. 

If your program is offering training on the Allstate Moving Ahead Curriculum or other economic empowerment training, you may request funds to support and encourage survivor participation such as offering food and/or childcare during economic empowerment events or gas gift cards for survivors to get to the training. 

Member programs may also inquire about offering scholarships to help support survivor participation in job training programs such as CLIMB Wyoming.

Funds must be spent by June 30, 2022. We have approximately $8,276.00 remaining. Remaining funds will be pledged on a first come first serve basis. To request funds, please submit an Allstate Barrier Reduction Request Form. Once your request has been approved, your program will pay expenses upfront and then you can request reimbursement by submitting an Allstate Barrier Reduction Reimbursement Form.

While it is not required for participants to utilize the Allstate Moving Ahead curriculum to access these funds, financial planning and management is a life-long process and this online curriculum is designed for domestic violence survivors and can help provide the guidance and tools needed to make important financial decisions and work toward gaining long-term financial security.

If you have any questions, please connect with Trish Worley

NNEDV Independence Project Available

Credit Building through Micro-Lending

Just a reminder that NNEDV is able to provide $00 credit-building, micro-loans to survivors. 

Through the Independence Project, advocates and local domestic violence programs across the nation can support survivors of domestic violence in improving their credit scores through micro-lending. Through the Independence Project, a survivor can apply for a credit building micro-loan of $100 and to repay this loan over the subsequent 10 months with no interest.

Loan Qualifications:

1. Be a survivor of domestic violence
2. Meet with a domestic violence advocate 3 times

To apply please register at the following link: Independence Project Application Sign Up.

Thanks to the generous and continued support of The Allstate Foundation, which makes many of these loans possible!

Click here to learn more.

If you have any questions, please connect with Trish Worley or contact the NNEDV team.

New granting cycle for RedRover's Safe Housing grants!

RedRover has moved the deadline for applications for Safe Housing grants to September 1, 2022 and have added a new grant cycle!

Grants of up to $60,000 are offered to nonprofit domestic violence and animal organizations across the United States. RedRover’s Safe Housing grants help survivors of domestic violence by removing a barrier to safety and allowing pets and people to escape abuse together. Flexibility in how to implement your pet program ensures that there is a solution for every community.

The Safe Housing grant application will always be open. Applications will be reviewed on March 1st, June 1st, and September 1st. Scroll down on that page and you'll find some additional resources including a PDF request for the application and a budget template. 

And, don't forget about RedRover's Coaching program! They can provide you with FREE one-on-one support with everything from building partnerships to design/construction, to policies and procedures. If you're interested, fill out the application here. 

If you have any questions, please connect with Katie Campbell.

National Policy Updates

NTF VAWA Reauthorization Rally (recording)

On January 19, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF), Angelina Jolie, and Senate sponsors of the upcoming Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization held a day of action to ask Senators to co-sponsor and pass the bipartisan consensus bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

You can see the 35 minute virtual rally recording here:  https://www.facebook.com/NTFSDV/videos/2153114901536512

State Policy Updates

WYOMING OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

DIVISION OF VICTIM SERVICES Request for Proposals

for SFY 2023 & 2024

All proposals must be submitted to the Division of Victim Services no later than 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

The Wyoming Division of Victim Services (DVS) is soliciting proposals for state fiscal years 2023 (7/1/22 – 6/30/23) & 2024 (7/1/23 – 6/30/24) from public and private non-profit agencies and organizations that serve victims of crime in Wyoming. Proposals will be funded through the Violence Against Women Act, the Victims of Crime Act, the Family Violence Prevention Services Act, and state general funds for the purpose of providing services to victims of crime in Wyoming.  

More information regarding the application process including eligibility, allowable expenses, and reporting requirements can be found in the DVS Subgrantee Administrator’s Guide Book, located on the DVS website at https://dvs.wyo.gov/home, on the Funding page.

For more information contact DVS at 307-777-7200.

WCADVSA Policy Calls - Everyone's Invited!

Survivors, staff, board of directors, members of your community response team or other partners are ALL invited. 

Wyoming Legislature Budget Session 

Weekly Calls - Fridays noon to 1:00 pm - brown bag it on Zoom!

February 25 - https://wyomingdvsa.zoom.us/j/82636633151

March 4 - https://wyomingdvsa.zoom.us/j/89666782959

March 11 - https://wyomingdvsa.zoom.us/j/86851086949

For questions or issues connecting, please contact Tara tmuir@wyomingdvsa.org

Feedback for Wyoming VAWA Implementation Plan Requested

Spread the word! We are all invited to provide feedback on the Wyoming VAWA Implementation Plan. The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, Division of Victim Services (DVS) is the state administrating agency for the S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grant. The purpose of the S.T.O.P. VAWA grant is to support communities in their efforts to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violence against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.

As the state administrating agency, DVS is required to submit an Implementation Plan outlining how the state plans to use funds from the S.T.O.P. VAWA grant. Throughout 2021, DVS has convened a group of stakeholders to serve as a planning committee and they have developed a draft plan. DVS would like your feedback on the plan, specifically the goals, objectives, and activities. Click here to see the draft version of the plan. In the next few days, please review the plan and submit any comments or feedback that you have by using this link https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7O62XSTPThKGg8S

Your feedback is very valuable to this process. DVS and the planning committee will review all of the feedback and revise the plan taking your feedback into consideration. We appreciate you taking the time to review the draft plan.

All year long, you can visit our website to review the most recent legislative sessions and what we have worked on, as well as archived previous years. 

Follow this link, or you can always get to that page in the "Get Involved" drop-down menu and then "Public Policy". Please share with staff and board members. We'll work on getting our regular public policy zoom calls on that webpage, too.

Wyoming Webinars, Training and Events

Core Rural Advocacy Training via Zoom!

This training will meet 32 of the 40-hour requirement for DVSA program advocates and volunteers. (It may also be a great opportunity for newer/seasoned advocates to connect social change more deeply to their advocacy!) You can find more information on this training by going here.

When:  March 14, 16, & 17 and March 21, 22, & 24 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.

Where:  Via Zoom (link will be provided to registrants)

Who: DVSA program advocates and/or volunteers

Ready to register?! Please go here to register. Please use the “Submit” button, not the “Save & Exit” button, for your registration to be received.

Virtual Wellness: Long virtual trainings like this one can be a beast! Participants will be invited to engage in wellness activities throughout the training, as well as, having access to our Practicing Wellness folder for ideas. If you have virtual wellness ideas that you would like to share, please send along to Tiffany!

If you have questions, please email Tiffany E-Maestas or give her a ring at 307-789-8855.

Transitional Housing Voluntary Services Training E-Learning

The NNEDV Voluntary Services Training in 2021 will be completed through an e-learning module. MOU partners (WCADVSA member programs) are encouraged to participate in the e-learning module if they are providing direct services. There is no limit on the number of staff who can take this e-learning course. But at least one person needs to complete the courses for the agency. 

There are 8 lessons available. In total, you'll need to view 6 lessons to complete the training requirement. There are 5 mandatory lessons in Track A and 3 elective lessons in Track B. At least 1 lesson from Track B must be completed to meet the minimum lesson requirement.

Click this link to find the registration page. When you register, you will automatically be registered for both Tracks A and B and you will have access to all eight lessons. When you register, you'll be asked to create a username and password that is unique for you. Each person, who wants to take the course, should enroll separately. That way the certificate generates with your name on it.

The e-learning platform will track your progress. You can start, pause, and restart all of the lessons. Once you've viewed all of the lessons in Track A, and the lesson(s) you want to view in Track B, you'll need to complete the Course Completion Certification to obtain a certificate. In that quiz, you'll note the lesson(s) you viewed, and then click the "Print Your Certificate" button. 

Please email a copy of your certificate to Trish Worley, Economic Justice Specialist

National Webinars, Training and Events

Living Our Value

Supervision and Feedback for Survivor-Serving Organizations

Webinar Recording

Supervisors within domestic and sexual violence organizations must provide supportive guidance to lead and manage projects. Effective supervisors are trauma-informed, strengths-based, and highly relational. This requires the ability to engage in generative feedback that maintains mutual accountability and trust, advances equity, and supports professional growth.

This two-part webinar series is interdependent and participation in both sessions is highly recommended. Participants will have the opportunity to use supervision and feedback tools, engage in practical exercises, and apply strategies to use personally and within their organizations.

As a result of this webinar series, participants will be better able to:

• Explore different types of supervision and feedback strategies in order to discern the best fit for your work, style, and relationship with your peers.
• Examine personal reactions to giving and receiving feedback and practice skills to regulate your response and promote ongoing communication.
• Utilize tools and resources to build trust in your supervisory relationships and mutual staff support.

Click here to watch the recordings and get access to the handouts.

For questions, please contact Monica Arenas at marenas@futureswithoutviolence.org

Wyoming QPR Initiative

Question.Persuade.Refer.

Three Steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide.

The Department of Health has pre-purchased specialized QPR training for any Wyoming resident!

The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. The Wyoming QPR Initiative provides quality education to empower all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know.

Please email Megan Selheim, megan.selheim@wyo.gov if you have questions.

Click here to register. To see which courses are available click here.

Rural Learning Opportunities Addressing Stalking

Know More, Do More: Recognizing and Responding to Stalking

March 2nd, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Central / 1:00 p.m. Mountain / 12:00 p.m. Pacific

Stalking is a prevalent, dangerous and often misunderstood crime. This webinar explores the dynamics of stalking, focusing on the highly contextual nature of the crime by discussing common tactics used by perpetrators, stalking’s co-occurrence with sexual and domestic violence as well as tools to plan for victim safety and hold offenders accountable. 

By the end of this webinar, participants will be better able to:

• Identify stalking behaviors and dynamics
• Recognize the intersection of stalking with sexual assault and intimate partner sexual violence
• Apply strategies for working with victims of stalking

Click here to register

Stalking 2.0: The Use of Technology to Stalk

March 16th, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Central / 1:00 p.m. Mountain / 12:00 p.m. Pacific

Stalkers are creative criminals who use – and misuse – a variety of technologies to locate, surveil and monitor their victims. This webinar will address common technologies utilized by stalkers, discuss documentation strategies as well as identify effective safety-planning strategies. 

By the end of this webinar, participants will be better able to:

• Identify common technologies misused by perpetrators
• Identify strategies to document stalking and preserve technological evidence

Click here to register

Stalking Risk Assessment and Safety Planning

April 6th, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Central / 1:00 p.m. Mountain / 12:00 p.m. Pacific

Stalking is a traumatic crime in its own right that often co-occurs with sexual and physical violence, including homicide. This session explores strategies to assess risk, identify the 14 risk factors in stalking cases and promote victim safety focusing on the diverse tactics stalkers may utilize.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be better able to:

• Assess the 14 risk factors in stalking cases
• Identify safety planning strategies for victims of stalking 
• Utilize behavior logs for documentation purposes

Click here to register

Topical Office Hours: Stalking & Sexual Violence

April 12th at 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Central / 1:00 p.m. Mountain / 12:00 p.m. Pacific

April Office Hours will be topical and staff from SPARC will join to further the conversations about stalking and sexual violence, and share more about the support they offer rural advocates. There is no registration link, you will be automatically send a link to join office hours the day of. 

Creating Language Access with Deaf Advocates: Partnering for Success

February 22, 2022, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:00-1:30 MT

Conferences are a place where advocates and leaders in the anti-violence movement can learn more about trends and strategies as well as network with other colleagues. For Deaf advocates, there are access considerations to ensure they can fully participate. This webinar will discuss how staff from the Resource Sharing Project at the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Center on Victimization and Safety at the Vera Institute of Justice partnered together during the Embracing Change & Growth Conference that took place in Chicago in March 2019.

Staff will share the approaches utilized to ensure full inclusiveness and language access for Deaf participants, including the provision of both hearing and Deaf American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. They will share lessons learned from the from the conference, discuss what our partnership looked like, including what made it a successful partnership, and share recommendations for your future in-person event planning for access and inclusion. If you have always wondered about the successful ingredients for maximum language access for Deaf participants at your in-person events, this is the webinar for you!

Our Panelists:

American Sign Language interpreting will be provided for all webinars in this series. Closed captioning and other accommodations for the live session are available upon request.

If you need assistance with registering or have any questions you can email us at cvs@vera.org.

In Right Relationship materials for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

In Right Relationship is a school-based campaign created for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month by the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence that engages middle school and high school-aged students in conversations about how to be in right relationship with ourselves and one another.

In Right Relationship campaign materials are available for order for FREE including:

• National Teen Dating Awareness & Prevention Month Posters for classrooms, counselor's office, and hallway. Spanish versions available!
• NEW! Engage young people in conversations on social media through animated video posters. Download here for a social media campaign on Instagram, Facebook, and other online platforms. Video posters available in English, Spanish and ASL.
• NEW! In Right Relationship pocket brochure is designed to encourage healthy relationships for middle/high school students. Download here.
• Support Friends, Unhealthy Relationships, Breaking Up, Technology & Relationships and Stalking pocket brochures for middle school and high school students. Great for health teacher's lesson plans, and counselor's office. Spanish versions are available!
• Healing from Abusive Relationships and Healing from Sexual Assault comprehensive booklets for youth who are experiencing teen dating violence, or youth who have friends who have experienced teen dating violence.

Brave Conversations: Immigration Guide and Toolkit

Families Belong Together put together a "Brave Conversations" guide to encourage and support folks in having hard but necessary conversations about immigration.

The guide covers tips on engaging with conflict productively, examples of how to respond to common problematic ideas about immigrants/immigration, and helpful facts to pull from. We also have a social toolkit (with great GIFs!) to use for distribution. 

• Brave Conversations: Immigration Addition GUIDE
• Brave Conversations Guide TOOLKIT

Introducing the Student Survivor Toolkit

We are excited to announce that we have launched the Equal Rights Advocates Student Survivor Toolkit last week as a new resource for student survivors, advocates, and allies. It is available on our website here as a PDF.

The Toolkit is a comprehensive 70 page guide written by student survivors, Title IX experts, attorneys, restorative justice practitioners, and community organizers. It includes guides to the Title IX process, survivor-centered self-care practices, advice for Muslim and LGBTQ+ survivors, and more. 

We are reaching out to you, our trusted colleagues, collaborators, and student ambassadors, to share Equal Rights Advocates’ Student Survivor Toolkit and utilize and share it as a resource for continued student survivor advocacy. From its inception, the Toolkit has been a project for survivors by survivors. It has grown into a powerful body of work that we are thrilled to share with you. 

If you or someone you know wants to know more about their rights and options, please schedule an appointment to speak with a legal advocate at Equal Rights Advocates. Please email advice@equalrights.org or fill out our online form here.  

We are excited to share with you a new data collection system -- Vela!

Our Coalition has partnered with Element 74 in using Coalition Manager, and they recently worked with advocates to create a new data collection system to meet local organizations unique needs.

With Vela you are able to track hotline calls, services, activities, generate true one-click data reports for major funders automatically generate your timesheet, and so much more. Vela is offered as a HUD comparable database, and meets or exceeds confidentiality standards.

Vela is worth looking into if you're considering adopting a new platform.

Click here to schedule a demo: https://calendly.com/veladirect/demo 

Click here to view more information: www.veladirect.com 

Please connect with Katie at Katie@veladirect.com with any questions!

The Many Ways to Learn Black History

NSVRC Resource Guide

Black people are often overburdened with the expectation to teach others about the importance of Black history, why it matters, and its connection with current dynamics of racial inequity in the world. This labor is often done unpaid, can be emotionally triggering, and places an unfair expectation on Black people to teach as opposed to the duty for non-Black people to seek out learning resources themselves.

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has compiled several resources to help connect people with tools, resources, and materials for learning Black History on their own. The collection aims not only to celebrate Black History, but to guide learners in making connections between knowledge and overdue action in order to make changes on the ongoing inequalities in our nation. This deeper engagement should be done not just in February during Black History month or on MLK Day, but all year long.

Classes, Teachings and Lesson Plans:

• Free Online University Classes You Can Take on African American Studies – Reader’s Digest
• Depth and Dimension with Five Black History Month Lessons – KQED
• More Than a Month: Three Resources for Exploring Cultural Acknowledgement- KQED

Books & Collections:

• Free Ebook Collection on African American History – Ebooks for Students
• 45 Books to Teach Children About Black History  – The Culture
• Program in African American History – Smithsonian Learning Lab
• Discover Digitized Primary Sources Detailing Black Experiences with Slavery, Abolition, Emancipation, and Freedom – CURIOSity Digital Collections, Harvard Library
• Me and White Supremacy – Layla F. Saad

Articles and Resources:

• Black History Month 2021 – History.com
• Resources to Educate Yourself On Black Oppression – Scoot Education
• How to Educate Yourself on Black History – The University News
• Learn and Educate About Racial Injustice – Brock University
• Educate Yourself With These Resources About Race, Racism, and Racial Justice – Champlain University
• 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge – Debby Irving
• Civic Engagement with Black History – Facing History
• Explore Library of 3,200+ Racial Equity Resources – Racial Equity Tools

Podcasts:

• Eight Podcasts to Deepen Your Knowledge of Black History – Vanity Fair
• Best 20 Black History Podcasts You Must Follow in 2022 – Feedspot Blog
• Zora's Daughters Podcast – Alyssa A.L. James & Brendane Tynes
• Cite Black Women –The Cite Black Women Collective

Videos:

• Black History Month: Dig Deeper with Seven PBS Learning Media Collections – KQED
• Video Collection: U.S. Racial Justice & Black History – KERA
• Video Bank – Black History in Two Minutes (or so)
• 10 “Must Watch” Black History Documentaries – PBS
• Celebrate Black History Month with Streaming Video – Emory Libraries Blog

Historical Documents & Museums:

• Primary Documents Archives – BlackPast.org
• Learn Center – National Civil Rights Museum
• The Collection – National Museum of African American History & Culture
• 12 Black History Museums you can Explore from Home – Momma Wanderlust

To see their full resources click here:

Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

     ccollingwood@wyomingdvsa.org  | www.wyomingdvsa.org 

     710 Garfield St | Suite 218 | Laramie, WY | 82070

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