Wondering how NOT to lean into criminal legal systems as a response to DV?…listen to this episode as staff flesh out what that means at WOMAN Inc, where we are at in that process and some overarching reflections on TJ!

Guest Bio: Destini Davis, AMFT is the Clinical Coordinator at Young Community Developers for the past 3 years but has been doing mental health work for over 8 years now. Currently, working with groups and individuals a long side there job readiness training to helping them maintain their employment.

Destini Davis, Clinical Coordinator and Healthy Relationship group facilitator at Youth Community Developers and Jill Zawisza, Co-Director and support group facilitator at WOMAN Inc discuss their work with the Healing Roots Collaborative, specifically, Healthy Relationship groups.

Additional links: San Francisco Department on the Status of Women, Black Women Revolt Against DV, WOMAN Inc.

This is the end of this volunteer spotlight series where Jill, the Co-Director, is joined by Alicia – the Educational Development Manager, Sabrina – the Support Line Program Manager, and Mary – the Co-Director, to offer up some reflections on the WOMAN, Inc. Volunteer Program and to share our gratitude and appreciation to all those that volunteer with the organization.

This is part three of the series where we’ve spoken with volunteers and advocates at various levels. Listen in as Mary, WOMAN, Inc.’s Co-Director, has a conversation with Tania Parks, a long time WOMAN, Inc. community member. In this episode Tania reflects on her time working with survivors of domestic violence at the organization, including what brought her to the work and what keeps her here at WOMAN, Inc.

Tania Parks has been part of the WOMAN, Inc. community for over a decade. With ten years of experience in the non-profit and NGO sector, Tania has had the opportunity to participate in and spearhead various research, training, development, and advocacy roles at organizations working to end gender based violence. She is especially interested in the relationship between gender and refugee rights and in policy implementation that will enact positive change for those impacted by displacement. Tania is an adjunct professor of American Government at a community college in Northern California where she places particular focus on the intersection of race and American politics and place student equity at the core of her teaching philosophy.

Mary Martinez (she/her) comes from the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the Co-Director of WOMAN, Inc., who started at the organization as a support line volunteer back in February 2008. For most of her time at the organization Mary has been involved in the 24 hour Support Line program, and has expanded her work in the general programs and operations of WOMAN, Inc. She also represents WOMAN, Inc. in the community, works one-on-one with survivors, and continues to do the work alongside the WOMAN, Inc. team of upholding their value of centering Black, Indigenous, and other people of color while also holding the organization and one another accountable in divesting from white supremacy and anti-Blackness. During her free time you can find Mary hanging out in nature and taking her little fluffy dog, Nemo, on walks and car rides.

Thanks to Yedidia, who shares her perspective on volunteering with WOMAN Inc’s support line with us! Sabrina, WOMAN Inc. Support Line Manager, and Yedidia chat about their what their preconceived notions around volunteering at WOMAN Inc were, and then delve deeper into what it’s like helping out survivors who contact our DV support line. A must listen for folks interested in volunteering at WOMAN Inc and even perhaps other DV organizations!

In this first episode in our volunteer series, Sasha and Alicia talk about WOMAN Inc’s 40+ hour DV Counselor training. Learn from Sasha, a recent volunteer training graduate, what it was like to be in training, her overarching learnings that she applies not only to her volunteer work, but her personal life as well. If you are a survivor, you might be especially interested to hear how Sasha leaned into her WOMAN Inc community when feeling activated by training content. Many thanks to you, Sasha, for your kind, authentic and personal reflections.

Ever wonder if volunteering with WOMAN Inc is a good fit for you, what the training is like or what it’s like to work with survivors who call the support line? WELL, this 3-part series is for you! Look for our first episode dropping in March. We hope you join us. Until then, catch up on our previous episodes!

CW: domestic, sexual, physical violence, bodily harm, racism, xenophobia

On June 23, 1993, Lorena Gallo (then, Bobbit) would come to be known as the woman from Manassas, Virginia who, in a rage, severed her husband’s penis and threw it out the window of her car. What was missing from this story, in all of the sensational media coverage, is the extreme abuse she had endured from him the years leading up to this. In our first collaborative episode ever, Shaena and Jill cover this incident, and most importantly, Lorena’s story. Join us as we uncover the details and political context of this case, break down dynamics of domestic violence, and the role we all can play in supporting survivors.

About Unpacking the Eerie:

Unpacking the Eerie is a passion project hosted by social workers based in the Pacific North West. Here, we explore true crime, the occult, conspiracy theories & other unknowns via dark humor, and a social justice/psychosocial lens. Each episode we dig past the surface of morbid fascination, scavenging for unasked questions surrounding the stories that creep the hell out of us. ⁠(@unpackingtheeerie)
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Host Bios:

Shaena (she/her/hers) is a mixed-race woman of Japanese, Korean and white descent, and has been with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. since 2014. Starting as a Support Line volunteer, she has since supported in various capacities including peer counseling, support group, education, outreach, and DVIRC coordination. Shaena also has experience as a sexual assault peer counselor and medical advocate with SF Women Against Rape. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, has her MSW with a focus on community-centered praxis and is a co-host of Unpacking the Eerie. Shaena is deeply invested in movements that bring us closer to collective justice, healing & liberation.

Jill Zawisza (pronounced Za-we-za) (she/her/hers) is a white woman of Polish descent and serves as a co-director at W.O.M.A.N., Inc. She has been in the anti-DV movement since 1996, and has been with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. for 13 years. In addition, Jill has served as an anti-Sexual Assault advocate and counselor. She represents W.O.M.A.N., Inc. in the community, aids in program development, provides mentorship to staff, and participates in active community outreach. Her current focus is offering counseling and advocacyto survivors, and delving into how to share power & dismantle white supremacy culture within the leadership structure at W.O.M.A.N., Inc., and beyond.

As a continued embodiment of our visions and values, we are pleased to share an exciting shift in our current leadership structure. Effective July 1, 2021, W.O.M.A.N., Inc. transitioned into a Co-Director Leadership model. Mary Martinez, our former Associate Director, is joining Jill Zawisza, former Executive Director, as Co-Directors.Hear from Jill & Mary on how we got here, and what is to come!

Learn more about the transition on our blog!

Co-director Bios:

Mary Martinez (she/her) is a queer, Mexican-American who is not fluent in Spanish :), and who comes from the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Co-Director at WOMAN, Inc., who started at the organization as a support line volunteer back in February 2008. For the most part she’s done all things support line-related from covering shifts, to helping recruit and train new volunteers, to managing the program, to providing emotional support to the advocates. She also represents WOMAN, Inc. in the community, works one-on-one with survivors, and continues to do the deep work alongside the WOMAN, Inc. team of upholding their value of centering Black, Indigenous, and other people of color while also holding the organization and one another accountable in abolishing white supremacy and anti-Blackness. During her free time you can find Mary attempting to be best friends with all the feathery, furry, slimy, slithery friends. She also loves a good meme.

Jill Zawisza (pronounced Za-we-za) (she/her/hers) is a white woman of Polish descent and serves as a co-director at W.O.M.A.N., Inc. She has been in the anti-DV movement since 1996, and has been with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. for 13 years. In addition, Jill has served as an anti-Sexual Assault advocate and counselor. She represents W.O.M.A.N., Inc. in the community, aids in program development, provides mentorship to staff, and participates in active community outreach. Her current focus is offering counseling and advocacyto survivors, and delving into how to share power & dismantle white supremacy culture within the leadership structure at W.O.M.A.N., Inc., and beyond.

Moderator:

Shaena Lee S. (she/her/hers) is a mixed-race woman of Japanese, Korean and white descent, and has been with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. since 2014. Starting as a Support Line volunteer, she has since supported in various capacities including peer counseling, support group, education, outreach, and DVIRC coordination. Shaena also has experience as a sexual assault peer counselor and medical advocate with SF Women Against Rape. She currently lives in Washington and has her MSW with a focus on community-centered praxis. Shaena is deeply invested in movements that bring us closer to collective justice, healing & liberation.

How do you make decisions? Who is the holder of “respect” and “authority” in an organization? How do we care for each other? These are the kinds of questions that help us map out sustainable futures even when the work is complex and hard to navigate. In the last discussions, we talked about the core values that move our work at WOMAN, Inc. forward both personally and professionally Join us in this reflection on how existing policies and organizational culture really make a difference in co-creating equity and sustainability for the long haul.

This is a part of the series, Introducing Navigating with Integrity: Mindmapping Crisis Response in Nonprofit Leadership. We’ll be breaking down what comes up for us when we’re talking about dismantling white supremacy culture in the workplace and navigating all of this with integrity. Read more and locate the mind map here: https://womaninc.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/dismantling-white-supremacy-culture-and-navigating-with-integrity-mind-mapping-crisis-response-in-nonprofit-leadership/.

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Host Bios:

Shaena Lee S. (she/her/hers) is a mixed-race woman of Japanese, Korean and white descent, and has been with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. since 2014. Starting as a Support Line volunteer, she has since supported in various capacities including peer counseling, support group, education, outreach, and DVIRC coordination. Shaena also has experience as a sexual assault peer counselor and medical advocate with SF Women Against Rape. She currently lives in Washington and has her MSW with a focus on community-centered praxis. Shaena is deeply invested in movements that bring us closer to collective justice, healing & liberation.

Jill Zawisza (pronounced Za-we-za) (she/her/hers) is a white woman of Polish descent and serves as a co-director at W.O.M.A.N., Inc. She has been in the anti-DV movement since 1996, and has been with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. for 13 years. In addition, Jill has served as an anti-Sexual Assault advocate and counselor. She represents W.O.M.A.N., Inc. in the community, aids in program development, provides mentorship to staff, and participates in active community outreach. Her current focus is offering counseling and advocacyto survivors, and delving into how to share power & dismantle white supremacy culture within the leadership structure at W.O.M.A.N., Inc., and beyond.