March 19, 2020 | 12-1pm HT / 3-4pm PT / 6-7pm ET
Strengthening Communities of Care for Survivors: A COVID-19 Response Emergency Call for BIPOC + LGBTQ Direct Service Providers
Message below forwarded from alicia sanchez gill; learn more about her leadership here.
Dear friends,
As advocates, survivors and organizers, we are feeling the weight and anxiety of this moment just as many of you are. For those of us working to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, family violence and child sexual abuse, we know that the possibility of managing more time at home with abusive partners, in-laws, parents due to COVID-19 is an additional layer of harm that we could not have accounted for. The imperative for community care even in a time of increased social isolation is so clear and we are asking ourselves:
What are the impacts of COVID on survivors?
What are the impacts of COVID on advocates of color who are also often struggling with housing instability, wage insecurity, white supremacy and xenophobia within mainstream organizations, trauma and family care responsibilities?
What can survivors (and our communities) do to safety plan during heightened isolation?
How do we practice social distancing while keeping the doors open for life-supporting services?
What online resources and crisis services are available?
What are the long term policy implications for our communities in the wake of COVID-19?
Freedom Inc., Black Feminist Futures, WOCN, Inc., Asian Women's Shelter, M4BL and I are hosting a community call to gather together, hear from advocates on the front lines and experts in the field, and share tips and tools we've been using. This call will center the experiences and voices of Black, Indigenous and people of color survivors and advocates, especially those of us who identify as LGBTQIA+.
And soon after, we'll be launching a virtual "Collective Help Desk" to share information-- advocates/survivors to advocate/survivors. Our goal is to create a practice space for folks working in direct services where folks can discuss best and promising practices, ask questions and learn together. In the spirit of mutual aid, we're clear that we keep us safe! A flyer is coming tomorrow, but we knew that this personal invitation to you couldn't wait!
Will you join us?
THIS THURSDAY:
6pm-7pm EST/3pm-4pm PT
https://bit.ly/SurvivorCOVIDCall
We'll hear from:
Orchid Pusey of The Asian Women's Center in San Francisco
Tonya Lovelace of the Women of Color Network, Inc.
Grace Huang of Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence
Bianca Bianca Gomez of Freedom Inc.
Hope to have you and your networks there-- please share with folks you think may be interested!
PS, if you haven't seen the safety planning tool that The National Domestic Violence Hotline Put out today, find it here!