Happy Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is our anniversary! On February 14, 2005, we became a nonprofit organization. Let’s celebrate healthy relationships. Click or tap on one of these Valentine’s Day cards to share with someone special.
Tarana Burke & the #MeToo Movement
Black women have and continue to be leaders in the movement to end sexual and domestic violence.
Tarana Burke is known as an activist, community organizer, executive, and founder of the “me too” movement. With over 19 million uses on Twitter in one year alone, this hashtag started one of the most notable movements of our time.
In a Variety article penned by Burke, she explains, “Everyday people — queer, trans, disabled, men and women — are living in the aftermath of a trauma that tried, at the very worst, to take away their humanity. This movement at its core is about the restoration of that humanity.”
The “me too” movement was created to highlight the violence experienced by marginalized women. Along the way, it brought international attention to the universal prevalence of sexual violence.
Research finds 4 of every 10 Black and multiracial non-Hispanic women in the U.S. report experiencing rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.
Burke is now considered a global leader in the movement to end sexual violence and does so with her theory of “empowerment through empathy.” Her work is changing how we talk about sexual violence and serve survivors.
This movement was built with the intention of collective healing by creating space for survivors to cultivate empathy with one another.
“For too long women and others living on the margins have managed to survive without our full dignity intact,” reminds Burke. “It can’t continue to be our reality.”
This post is part of our Black History Month series celebrating the contributions of Black women in the movement to end intimate partner and sexual abuse.
Vote for our DV8 Kitchen Table
Your vote for our table at the new DV8 Kitchen location could win a $1,000 prize to support survivors!
In celebration and prep for its new location opening this spring, DV8 Kitchen has organized a fun project! They’re hosting a table painting contest with 14 nonprofit organizations in the recovery community. Each organization partnered with a local artist to paint a beautiful table related to their mission.
We partnered with Kristin Carpenter, a local artist and member of our staff. Her original painting illustrates the benefits of nature-based healing. Lots of sunshine and water nourish flowers and vegetables to grow strong and stand tall in the fields. Our 24-hour hotline in the bottom right corner of the table will help victims and survivors to connect with supportive services.
To vote for Kristin’s table, like the video at this link on the DV8 Kitchen Facebook page. Voting opens on February 10 at 5 p.m. and closes on Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m.
DV8 Kitchen is a local restaurant & bakery that employs people in recovery from substance use disorder who are trying to redirect their lives. Their original location on South Broadway has thrived since opening in August 2017. The new second location will be located in Lexington’s East End at the corner of Midland Avenue & Third Street.
The work of DV8 Kitchen is especially important to our mission. Many survivors struggle with substance use while healing from intimate partner abuse. A strong and supportive community is crucial for those on the path to healing and sobriety.
What is a healthy relationship?
You deserve a healthy and loving relationship.
What is a healthy relationship? All relationships exist on a spectrum from healthy to abusive, with unhealthy being somewhere in the middle.
Healthy relationships are rooted in equality and respect. You actively make decisions together, especially when it comes to sex and financial decisions. Time together is enjoyable, and you enjoy your time apart.
Unhealthy relationships means one person is trying to control the other by making most of the decisions. You often spend all of your time together, and there are clear instances of miscommunication or lying.
Abusive relationships have a clear imbalance of power and control. One person is making all of the decisions, which leads to manipulation or isolation. All of your time is spent with your partner, and you don’t feel comfortable or safe discussing the relationship with others.
Do you wonder if your relationship might be unhealthy or abusive? Taking this quiz at loveisrespect.org could help you decide.
Key elements of a healthy relationship include healthy communication, healthy boundaries, mutual respect, and support for one another.
Black History Month Series
Black women have and continue to be leaders in the movement to end sexual and domestic violence.
This month, we’re learning more about the lives of Black women who built, shaped, and continue to lead the missions to end intimate partner abuse and sexual violence. The series was inspired by an inspirational list created by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.
Click or tap on the image to open the poster.
Handmade by Survivors for Valentine’s Day
Celebrate love and healthy relationships on Valentine’s Day with a Hope Box of Handmade by Survivors products.
A Hope Box of Handmade by Survivors products makes a special gift for a partner, friend, and yourself. Every Hope Box includes each of the following:
- .25 oz tube of lip balm
- 5 oz bar of soap
- 8 oz tin of bath salts
- 3 inch soy wax candle
Our Hope Box ships free to any address across the nation. Products are packaged in a cute printed box with information enclosed about our mission to end intimate partner abuse. Let us know if you’d like to include a short note for your special someone. We’ll handwrite your message on a gift card for no additional charge.
More giving ideas
Send a Lip Balm Sampler to your friends to celebrate them on Valentine’s Day, They’ll love the natural ingredients and sassy names of our lip balms: Don’t tell me to smile, Dissent, Zest for rights, and Concinnt.
Encourage your friend or partner to take time for a little self care during the Valentine’s Day weekend with the gift of a Bath Salt Sampler. Blends of Himalayan pink salt, Epsom salts, and essential oils soothes body and spirit.
A hand-poured soy wax candle with natural essential oil fragrance always makes a perfect gift. Our Candle Super Sampler includes plenty of candles to share with friends and loved ones on Valentine’s Day.
Every purchase supports survivors
Your purchase of Handmade by Survivors products will support victims of intimate partner violence as they establish safety, heal from the physical and emotional wounds of abuse.
Making products has a special connection to our mission. The process provides collaborative work and microenterprise experience for survivors, while also generating resources for our organization.
Our products are Kentucky Proud.
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”
Today, as we honor and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr, these words written by him decades ago continue to inspire and make meaningful connection to our mission.
“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.”
His words call us to personal and social action that acknowledges racism and prejudice persist in our lives, community, and nation.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
His words remind us that freedom of spirit is tied to every part of our being and that long-term sustainable change is possible.
“We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
As this new year continues to unfold, may we continue to serve and commit to justice with the same peace and compassion of today. Let us remember that to serve is to commit to change — and to change we must heal.
January is National Stalking Awareness Month
All stalkers can be dangerous. Intimate partner stalkers, compared to acquaintance and stranger stalkers, are more likely to threaten and physically assault the victim and their friends and family.
Stalking often co-occurs with intimate partner violence and can be an indicator of other forms of violence. Many abusers use stalking to intimidate and control their victims. Did you know stalking can include these behaviors?
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Repeated phone calls, texts, or communication on your social media
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Sending unwanted gifts to your home or work
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Threatening you or your loved ones
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Following you or watching you from a distance
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Digital harassment, such as tracking your location through an app or showing up at a place you’ve checked into online
Stalking is illegal and survivors have rights.
January is #NationalStalkingAwarenessMonth. Learn more about the crime and ways to plan for your safety:
- Call our 24-hour Crisis Hotline to speak with an advocate: 800-544-2022.
- Read this Survivor Handbook created by the Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition.
- Follow SPARC – Stalking Prevention, Awareness & Resource Center.
Handmade by Survivors Shop Reopens Soon
Thank you for such incredible support for survivors!
Our Handmade By Survivors shop sold out during the recent holidays. New products are being made this month. Check back on February 1 to place an order in time for Valentine’s Day.
Can I still pick up a local order placed last month?
Yes. Local pickups are welcome any day of the week between 9 am – 7 pm. An email with driving directions was sent to the address you used during checkout.
Can I track my order shipment?
Yes, the USPS tracking number was included at the bottom of the order completion email you received at the address provided during checkout.
If you have another question, please call us at 859-519-1904 or send us a note using this form:
A GoodGiving Challenge Thank You
“We are truly blessed and grateful…It’s because of you that we’re able to continue services.”
— GreenHouse17 (@GreenHouse17KY) December 8, 2020
