Darlene Thomas, our Executive Director, takes you on a tour of the shelter renovation progress in this video.
“Please know that this community — you all — are a part of this organization. GreenHouse17 wouldn’t be here doing what we’re doing without your help…”
Learn more about giving, adoption, and naming opportunities to support the shelter renovation here.
As Lexington’s holistic healing center, Centered has taken a holistic approach to supporting GreenHouse17. From donating 5% of sales in April to promoting our Flower CSA to selling our Handmade by Survivors products to becoming a Giving Circle for this year’s Lunafest, Centered has gone above and beyond supporting survivors of intimate partner abuse this spring!!!
Just as our work with survivors is holistic in offering group, nature-based and social-based support and healing, Centered is focused in “supporting, educating and inspiring our world through the moving, visual and healing arts.” They do it all, too! Centered offers acupuncture, meditation, yoga, life coaching, massage, a wholesome café, and a number of retail products!
In the past, Centered has also worked directly with our survivors by offering yoga and other healing exercises free of charge.
Their message to you, “If you are new to our space, please know that we welcome you as you are, where you are in your journey. Please stop by for a personalized tour; we would love to meet you.”
This post is part of a series about the renovation of our emergency shelter.
Phase II of our shelter renovation has been completed ahead of schedule.
This portion of the project focused on the west wing of the facility and included construction of the new Large Support Group and Conference Room. Existing bedrooms were fitted with built-in closets and storage spaces, while carpeting throughout the wing was replaced with high-traffic water resistant vinyl wood flooring. All walls also received a coat of fresh paint.
Phase III of the project already has begun! This phase will focus on the shelter’s lobby, crisis office, and central corridor.
Learn more about our services during the shelter renovation project at this link.
This position has been filled.
Do you enjoy working in nature?
Maybe you love arranging fresh cut flowers?
Looking for part-time summer work that creates good in our community?
We are hiring for a part-time summer farm assistant. The farm situated on the 40-acre rural property surrounding our emergency shelter offers the opportunity for survivors to heal in the fresh air while growing strong in body and mind. Our farm program is supported by research related to trauma-informed care for women veterans, studies exploring the restorative and healing outcomes of therapeutic gardens, and examinations of “social farming” as a means to promote healing, social inclusion, education, and social services in rural areas.
The Farm Assistant will perform agricultural and related tasks to support nature-based services and sales of value-added products to the community. This is a part-time, first-shift, seasonal position from May – October. The schedule is flexible but requires availability on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Responsibilities will include the following:
Minimum requirements for the role include agriculture experience and working knowledge of small farm equipment and organic practices. Understanding of the agency’s mission to end intimate partner abuse preferred. Valid driver’s license required. Supervised by farm co-managers.
Cut flower production is a huge global enterprise. Did you know up to 80% of cut flower sales in the United States are imported? When flowers are mass imported, it is difficult to know whether they were produced using practices that are good for the environment and for employees.
Here are five reasons to sign up for our Summer Flower CSA:
Membership in our Summer Flower CSA ensures that your flowers are locally grown, and our organizations invests the cost of your flowers right back into our programming to support local survivors of intimate partner abuse. Hope blooms!
We are gearing up for our 10th Annual Lunafest Lexington on Thursday, May 16 at the Lexington Theater. Lunafest is a traveling short film festival brought to life nationally by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women. Ten years ago, three local women came together with the goals of organizing this event in Lexington to support survivors of intimate partner abuse. Since then, the event has raised almost $100,000 to support our services for survivors!
Well of course, I hope you will save the date to attend this year’s event! Tickets will be available in mid-April, and we’ll be sharing the order link on the Lunafest event page. This year’s show includes eight amazing short films from around the world made by, for and about women. Films range from animation to fictional drama and all cover topics relating to motherhood, self-confidence, relationships, cultural diversity, breaking barriers and more!
In recent years, we have developed Giving Circles for the event. A Giving Circle is an opportunity to go a little further with a group of friends, family members, or colleagues to support survivors of intimate partner abuse. Giving Circles receives four tickets with reserved seating at the event and the opportunity to put a name, logo, or message on the big screen before the films begin!
Geni Osborn, one of the local founders of our Lunafest Lexington, began the event’s Giving Circles to show collective support for survivors in our community.
“We all have groups of friends, acquaintances or family members who share in the concerns for others going through challenging times. A giving circle gives us an opportunity to band together in our voice of support to support those harmed by intimate partner abuse. It can be a special circle of friends coming together as one, stronger voice in our support of GreenHouse17.”
Giving Circles are perfect for a group of friends, a book club, social group, or small business. They also offer a meaningful way to honor or remember a loved one, especially moms because the event happens just after Mother’s Day. If you’d like more information about Lunafest Giving Circles, please send me a note using the short form below. I’ll follow up with you really soon.
This post is part of a series about the renovation of our emergency shelter.
The first phase of our shelter renovation is complete! This portion of the project focused on the west wing of the facility and included a new support group room and two additional bedrooms that will provide four additional beds for survivors and their children.
New and existing bedrooms were fitted with built-in closets and storage spaces. Carpeting was removed from rooms and corridors and replaced with high-traffic water resistant vinyl wood flooring. All walls also received a coat of fresh paint.
Preparations for Phase II of the project have begun. This phase will focus on shared spaces in the east wing of the facility, including a new large support group and conference room.
Our friends at Heart of Kentucky United Way recently honored the Danville Tai Chi Circle with their Volunteer of the Year award.
“One of my favorite sayings is never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world,” says Darlene Thomas, our Executive Director. “These words certainly ring true for the Tai Chi Circle. We are blessed to benefit from their strength, grace, and friendship.”
The group of friends has been dedicated to supporting survivors for many years.
Last summer, they hosted an Afternoon with GreenHouse17 on the farm of Chris Kubale. More than 60 people attended to learn more about our mission and services for survivors. Jerry Houck and his team at The Caterer made small bites using fresh produce grown by strong survivors living at our shelter, and Melton’s Great American Deli provided delicious cookies for dessert. Generous event sponsors also stepped in to help, including Campbellsville University, Bluegrass Chiro, Coldwell Banker VIP Realty, and Stith Funeral Home.
“It was wonderful fun,” says Chris Kubale, a member of the Tai Chi Circle and host of the event. “It was delightful to see all of those wonderful people gathered together, and it is gratifying to see so many people who are interested in paying it forward.”
The practice of Tai Chi encourages balance of strength and grace, and we can’t think of a better way to describe the group’s wonderful members.
Not unfamiliar to the non-profit world, I am the past Education Director at a smaller, local organization, known as FoodChain. I developed and directed four distinct programs as well as cultivated countless partnerships that brought exposure, access and education around local, fresh food to the youth of Lexington, particularly those facing food insecurity.
I believe all people deserve to have basic needs met, safety in living their daily lives, equal opportunity in education and career, and the right to pursue their own happiness.
The spark that ignited my passion to fight injustice, not only in the food and energy systems, but in all facets of our humanity, began during my studies at Berea College.
As much as I love to be working with people, I absolutely love the outdoors. My daughter and I often find ourselves in the wilderness camping, hiking, swimming and exploring with our dog, Charlie. Emery, my daughter, is the light of my world (even on grumpy days) and everything I do is to give her a brighter future.
Want to get involved with our mission? Send me a note using the form below, and I’ll be in touch soon. Maybe some day soon, it will be safe for us to meet for coffee to talk more about our mission and ways to support survivors.
By Carol Taylor-Shim, Former Chair/President of our Board of Directors. This is a re-post of an article originally published during our 17 Voices campaign during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 2016.
I’m writing to you because I love you and know you are in pain. I know you are hurting. I know you are unsafe, confused, and feeling alone. I know the secrets you keep. You see, I know that as women of color we are not seen as survivors.
We are not seen as being in need of services and advocacy that are tied directly to our marginalized identities. I know the burden you feel of not wanting to get another brother in trouble. I know some of you don’t and won’t see yourselves as survivors. And that’s ok, I get it. You are fighters, because you have to be to survive. I understand.
And in those moments when you cannot speak for yourself, it is the responsibility of those of us working to end all forms on interpersonal violence, including dating/domestic violence, to do that for you.
To acknowledge that women of color are exposed to domestic violence at higher rates. To acknowledge that any shelter or service provider has to be fully committed to working through a lens of cultural proficiency. To acknowledge that there are additional dynamics that you must navigate that other survivors who are not marginalized by their identities don’t have to. That’s what we have to do for you.
Featured image labeled for re-use with a Creative Commons license from Women of Color in Tech.
