Dear Meg,
Our graduation from IMPACT just concluded and I needed to write a note of appreciation while this moving experience is still fresh. Your staff and the other collaborators which for us included Harbor Communities Overcoming Violence, Homes for Families, and the Domestic Violence unit at DTA have again earned our gratitude as residents and staff of House of Hope now better understand issues of self protection in many areas of their lives.
At today’s graduation I witnessed the meekest and the most assertive of residents role play scenarios of self protection that included physical self defense as well as self advocacy utilizing newly learned negotiating skills. I am also aware that participants engaged in economic literacy learning that was grounded in their common experience of financial scarcity, competing demands and at times, demanding families/boyfriends.
Judging from the encouraging yells and thunderous applause, I would say that House of Hope participants felt empowered and successful. We are very grateful to the good people who staff the organizations that enabled this experience and we look forward to next opportunity to provide our families with the practice and teaching that they need to achieve increased personal safety and improved financial standing.
Very Sincerely,
Deb Chausse
Executive Director
House of Hope, Inc.
Editor's Note: click here for more information about the Project SAFE Collaboration)
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