Blog

“Wherever she went, people were captivated by her warmth, energy, wit and offbeat sense of humor.” 

Join new staff member Chelsey as she learns about GreenHouse17.

Hello! I am Chelsey, the new Content Specialist at GreenHouse17!  

I have worked for nonprofit organizations since graduating college, but none have quite been like GreenHouse17. I remember first hearing about the organization while at a Kentucky Nonprofit Network event. It was 2013 and they had just won the Nonprofit Innovation Award.  

Throughout the years, I was able to meet various staff members at outreach events. I was always impressed at how the organization was growing and how passionate everyone was. Eight years later, here I am on staff, and it feels like home.  

It is a home. Our offices are located in the shelter with the residents. We can share meals in the cafeteria and talk to the women and children in the halls. We get to witness the struggles and triumphs of who we serve – these strong survivors – firsthand.  

I’m going to bring you along with me as I learn more about the survivors we serve and our programs over the next few weeks. This ‘Summering with GreenHouse17 ’ blog series will take you through more of how we do things – the food we grow and use in our cafeteria, Handmade by Survivors products, legal advocacy, and more!  

Here are a few pictures I took in my first weeks at the shelter!  

We join thousands of nonprofit organizations and government agencies in calling on U.S. Senate leadership to bring the VOCA Fix (S. 611) to the floor for vote. 

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding is in jeopardy. Millions of victims rely on the non-taxpayer source of funding for services to find safety, healing, and stability in the aftermath of abuse. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the VOCA Fix (H.R. 1562) with more than 90% of votes to sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act. Now it’s the Senate’s turn.

Wait – VOCA isn’t funded by taxes?

No, it’s a non-taxpayer sources of funding. President Ronald Reagan signed The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) into law and established the Crime Victims Fund in 1984. Millions from federal criminal fines and penalties are deposited into the fund each year, and these dollars are granted to public and nonprofit service providers to provide supportive services for victims of crimes.

Why is a fix needed?

Deposits to the Victims of Crime Fund have declined in recent years — and it’s not because of a reduction in crime. A change to how crimes, particularly white-collar criminal cases, are processed is to blame. Increased use of deferred and non-prosecution practices has diverted millions from the Crime Victims fund this fiscal year.

Although resulting in monetary penalties, funds collected from deferred and non-prosecution practices are deposited into the General Treasury. It’s estimated billions of dollars that would’ve supported services for victims have not been deposited into the fund in recent years — only because of how the crimes were processed.

What’s at stake for victim services in central Kentucky?

Reduced deposits mean the Crime Victims Fund is not being replenished. Drastic cuts already have devastated many victim service providers. Without the VOCA Fix, organizations like ours could experience catastrophic funding losses.

VOCA funding supports the operation of our region’s 24-hour crisis hotline, 42-bed emergency shelter operation, safe exchange/visitation, and almost every advocacy service we provide for victims of intimate partner abuse. This is a crisis for victims.

The Senate can turn this around.

The VOCA Fix is a no-cost solution to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (H.R. 1652 / S. 611) by amending law to deposit penalties and fines from non-prosecution and deferred prosecution agreements into the Crime Victims Fund.

Thank you to Miss Vivian Leigh for sharing her time and talent to support survivors living at the shelter.

Vivian performed as part of our summer Farm Songs series for survivors and their children. It was a beautiful evening of music and storytelling. Farm Songs is a private weekly event series organized by advocates on our staff to bring local music to survivors this summer — from the safety and confidentiality of the emergency shelter. Vivian recorded her performance, and we’re so exited to share it with you here.

As central Kentucky begins the transition to post-pandemic practices, we’ve decided to delay LUNAFEST Lexington until next year.

LUNAFEST Lexington has raised awareness and funding to support our services for survivors of intimate partner abuse for more than a decade.

Last year’s event coincided with the early pandemic response, and planning quickly shifted to accommodate a virtual model. Although participants enjoyed watching the films from the safety of their homes, much has changed during the past few months.

“Most everyone is talking about virtual fatigue and a longing for human connection.”

“Hosting a remote event while social distancing and mask mandates are expiring just didn’t make sense this year,” explains Darlene Thomas, our Executive Director. “At the same time, organizing an event for hundreds of people to gather in one space didn’t seem right either.”

After considering many options, the difficult decision was made to delay LUNAFEST Lexington during the transition toward post-pandemic practices. Instead, planning already has begun for an extra-inspiring event in 2022.

“The longtime support of event sponsors and attendees matters so much to our mission.” says Thomas. “The evening is one of my favorite of the year, and I’m already looking forward to reconnecting in person at the historic Kentucky Theater.”

LUNAFEST is a national traveling film festival established in 2000 by LUNA®, Makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women.

We are grateful to be among 21 national recipients of a $6,000 award from The American Land Title Association (ALTA) Good Deeds Foundation. All Kentucky Title, LLC nominated our services for the award.

“Our members are, and always have been, extremely involved members within their communities,” said ALTA CEO Diane Tomb. “Grants from the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation will amplify the tremendous giving and service that our members and these organizations provide around the country.”

The launch of the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation has been met with tremendous support and involvement from our members,” said Foundation Board Chair Mary O’Donnell, president and CEO of Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. “The title insurance industry has always been an integral part of their communities and we are proud and excited to support and build upon their efforts.”

This generous award will support 24-hour crisis intervention, emergency shelter, support groups, legal advocacy, housing assistance, and other services to create safety and healing for intimate partner abuse survivors in the 17 counties we serve.

“If we want to be helpful, then we need to be in partnership.”   

When Pastor Mark Davis moved from Boise, Idaho to begin his role at First Presbyterian Church of Lexington 10 years ago, he asked the search committee to connect him with a few of our community’s leaders.  

Former Fayette District Court Judge Lewis Paisley suggested Darlene Thomas. In the years since those meetings, Pastor Mark has led the congregation in meaningful survivor support.  

One example, Music for Mission, is an annual philanthropic concert series organized by the church to support our services and other nonprofit organizations. The recent concert, held online for social distancing, featured local musicians performing John Lennon’s most popular songs.  

The day after the pandemic was declared a national emergency, Pastor Mark reached out to ask what would help most. Church members also organize a holiday gift drive for children living at the shelter and donate Thanksgiving food baskets for families living in transitional housing.  

“The way we worship calls us to justice and to nurture,” explains Pastor Mark. “If we want to be helpful, then we need to be in partnership.”    

We love these beautiful posters from Nevertheless!

Nevertheless, a podcast self-described as a platform for the less-heard voices in education technology, commissioned artists around the world to create posters celebrating the contributions of women in technology.

The collection of beautiful posters is available in eight languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese Brazilian, French Canadian, Simplified Chinese, and English. The illustrators and podcasters have made the poster collection free to download:

“We’d love you to download the posters and print them out for your school or workplace. By taking part, you’ll help raise awareness of their achievements, and hopefully inspire a new generation of girls and women in STEM.”

Women featured include Rosalind Franklin, Scientist; Cynthia Breazeal, Scientist and Roboticist; Mae C. Jemison, Astronaut and Doctor; Tu Youyou, Pharmaceutical Chemist and Educator; Maria da Penha, Biopharmacist and Human Rights Defender; Gladys West, Mathematician; Juliana Rotich, Technologist and Entrepreneur; and Dr Hayat Sindi, Scientist and Innovator.