Author Archives: GreenHouse17 Staff

Healing.

It comes in as many forms as the harm that brought its need. Yes, it takes time. Safety. Counseling. Space. Nurturing. Not just covering wounds but allowing them to slowly mend and then become strong again.

We explore all ways that we can help survivors of intimate partner abuse to find their own path to healing. Offering art and creative art is one. These beautiful pieces hang in the shelter’s hallways. Created by survivors.

As THEIR own way to heal.

A walk through our halls is truly an inspiration. I always try to take a moment each day to be grateful for the safety and space and time we provide for survivors….and for the healing journey they discover for themselves.

I invite you to experience this inspiration firsthand during our upcoming Open House event on Thursday, July 9 from 6:30 – 8 p.m.    

Just follow this link to send a quick note to let us know you’d like to attend. I will follow up with you soon to confirm and share driving directions.

We love community events.  One reason, of course, is raising funds to support survivors. Another reason…we get to share information about our mission and shelter and our trauma-informed approached to survivor advocacy. That’s why we’re so excited about Lexi-Fest TWO!

Lexi-Fest TWO
Sunday, May 31
1-3 p.m.
Natasha’s Bistro & Bar
112 Esplanade, Lexington

Mighty Max Corona of Classic Rock 921 WBVX will emcee the afternoon concert with this amazing line-up of local musicians:

• Ben Lacy & Corey Cross
• Caroline Copley
• Osland/Daily Duo (with Miles Osland and Raleigh Dailey)
• Mino Slick
• Carla Gover
• Mandy Ray

We count on events like this cool one being put on by David M. McLean with Skinny Devil Music Lab and LEXIawards with the support of local musicians to gather folks for a fun afternoon of information sharing, fundraising, and…in this case….some really great music! Come on out to enjoy incredible musical talents from the region, while supporting those harmed by intimate partner violence.

By Darlene Thomas
Executive Director

For seven years advocates across the Commonwealth of Kentucky have sought protections for victims of dating violence.

Late last night — just before midnight — House Bill 8 made its way to the Senate floor, where it passed with only one dissenting vote. About thirty minutes later, the House concurred with the Senate changes with a 100-0 vote! And Governor Steve Beshear tweeted that he looks forward to signing the legislation into law.

Thank you Governor and First Lady Beshear, Representative John Tilley, and Senator Whitney Westerfield for championing this critical legislation. Thank you to every legislator who leads with support of victims and survivors. And thank you to every advocate who never lost their voice.

Dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking victims were heard last night. Soon protections under the civil protective order system will be provided. Lives will be protected and saved!

Another snow day. In March?!

Snow days promise so much in the beginning. We get a little extra time to enjoy that cup of coffee while ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the beauty of nature outside the window. Oh how this moment is fleeting! By noontime it’s but a distant memory. Snow days come with a long to-do list: canceling meetings, shoveling the driveway, clearing the sidewalks, checking on family and neighbors, finding the kids’ gloves and boots…

And all this and more is happening for 36 adults and children finding safety at our emergency shelter today.

With a little help from amazing supporters in the community, our advocates and counselors have pulled together to nurture lives harmed by intimate partner abuse during the winter storm. We’re here 24-hours a day. Every day of the year. Even when there’s 15 inches of snow on the ground!

Answering calls to the crisis hotline.

Helping moms find those missing gloves and boots.

Mopping up melted snow that’s been tracked inside.

Making another pot of coffee and whipping up some hot chocolate for the kids.

Pulling out the coloring books and crayons and puzzles.

Picking up the toys (again.)

Appreciating the moments of quiet play inside and supervising the rambunctious play outside.

Helping little ones roll little mounds of snow around the yard.

Showing the littlest ones how to make their first snow angels.

Watching Frozen (again.)

Making snacks and lunches.

Chopping vegetables for a big pot of hot soup for dinner.

And we are loving every moment because the families at our shelter are laughing and smiling during such a difficult time. Healing is happening at our shelter in the middle of this beautiful winter wonderland in Kentucky. That’s worth mopping up the melted snow in the entryway a hundred times today. Do you want to build a snowman?

We are proud to partner with the Lexington Film League in this call for submissions of short films by, for, and about women in central Kentucky! A local committee will select one short film from submissions received to be screened during LUNAFEST LEXINGTON on Thursday, May 7 at the Kentucky Theatre. Proceeds from LUNAFEST LEXINGTON benefit survivors of intimate partner violence and breast cancer.

Deadline for Submissions: 
Friday, April 17 at 5 p.m.

Criteria: 
Submission is open to Kentucky filmmakers.  Submissions must not exceed 10 minute running time. Submissions must be by, for, or about women. Priority selection will be given to films made in or featuring central Kentucky.

Guidelines:

• You must own, or have permission to use, the rights to the any imagery and audio.
• You may submit multiple films for consideration.
• Each submission must include a Submission Form. See below.
• There is no submission fee.

LUNAFEST LEXINGTON is part of a national traveling film festival of award-winning short films by, for and about women. LUNAFEST is organized by LUNA, the makers of the nutrition bar for women. Submission of your short film for screening consideration is related only to our local LUNAFEST LEXINGTON event and is not affiliated with the national traveling festival of films.

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By Jessica Ballard
Farm and Family Advocate

As I am writing this post, snow is gently falling outside my window. It seems a bit ironic to be writing about flowers right now, but flowers are all I can think about as we plan our spring and summer gardens.

When I began working at GreenHouse17 four years ago, we wanted to grow a garden in order to create access to fresh produce and integrate nature-based programming into our services…

And we did that.

And we still do that…

And we’ve found that while people like our tomatoes and peppers and sweet potatoes, they LOVE our flowers. Survivors, staff, and community all connect to them.  I think maybe it’s because flowers offer something deep and special in a different way than vegetables.

Flowers symbolize beauty, gratitude, devotion, love and wonder. They are almost always given as a gift or as an offering with intention. We share them during times of celebration, sadness, ritual and prayer. There seems to be something about flowers that just makes us feel better.

Our flowers help us tell our story in a very simple way.  Our mission is to cultivate opportunities for growth and healing in all of the work we do.  Flowers are a perfect demonstration of the immense beauty and grace that can bloom from hard work, patience and love.

We think you deserve weekly flowers this summer! If you agree, follow this link to register for a full-season of  beautiful flower bouquets every week this summer! We also offer a partial-season CSA for one month during the summer.

Your purchase a flower CSA helps survivors on their journey of healing and reminds them our community cares about their well-being.

West Sixth Brewery has chosen our organization to be  this quarter’s beneficiary of their Pay it Forward Cocoa Porter!

Every time a six-pack of Cocoa Porter is sold in the central Kentucky region, West Sixth Brewery will donate 50 cents to help survivors of intimate partner abuse. And Clark Distributing will match this donation with another 50 cents. That’s a dollar for every six cans sold through December 31.

The brew is described as “a robust American porter that has been brewed with organic, direct-trade cocoa nibs” and “dominated by roasty malts and a strong aroma of chocolate.”

In addition to the taproom at West Sixth Brewery, you can purchase the Pay it Forward Cocoa Porter at select liquor retail locations throughout the area.

Our new Etsy shop opens for business today!

The shop features ten listings for body care products handmade by survivors of intimate partner abuse. We’re so excited to share this big announcement with you. It’s been many months in the making.

Survivors enrolled in our farm stipend program began experimenting with product recipes and making test batches of products at the beginning of this year. Some early recipes were spot on, and others needed a little tweaking. Through trial and error and openness to the possibilities, we managed to find the perfect formula for each product.

Along the way we also completed certification training, sought lots of advice from our community partners, and forged some exciting new relationships with regional businesses. It’s all been an amazing learning experience.

And this process of making products has a special connection to our mission.

Activities related to the production of these products add value for survivors through restorative healing, collaborative, and micro-business experience.  There is nothing more beautiful and affirming for our program than to see survivors take on the role of leaders, and we witness this as they facilitate production and teach new stipend participants.

Sales of products will add value to our organization, too. Our organization benefits from a trauma-informed program model to address barriers faced by survivors while generating revenue to support services for survivors. We wanted the marketing of our products to highlight this important connection to the mission. All packaging proudly include the phrase “handmade by survivors,” and the names for each of the products recall the healing experiences of survivors.

Please visit the shop and help spread the word. Our Handmade by Survivor products make meaningful holiday gifts for friends, family, and co-workers!  100% of your purchase from our shop supports survivors of intimate partner abuse.

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The integration of our farm and product programming with traditional services for survivors of intimate partner abuse has received the national Mary Byron Project Celebrating Solutions Award, Kentucky Nonprofit Network Innovative Nonprofit Award, and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence Pyramid Award for Social Innovation. And we’re so fortunate and grateful for the help and guidance from our friends at Grow Appalachia during this journey.

This post is part of this year’s 17 Days/17 Ways Campaign to end intimate partner abuse.