New Visions Blog

Lauren Luke, YouTube Makeup Star, is featured in a Domestic Violence PSA (click to view) that is getting a lot of attention. London agency BBH enlisted Luke for the PSA, which is rolling out on YouTube as though it were another of her makeup tutorials—showing Luke covering up cuts and bruises ostensibly inflicted by an abusing partner. The video depicts the domestic violence situation in an eerily realistic light, ending with onscreen copy that reads: "65% of… read more

The firm has set up a Team Citi Athletes facebook page, where supporters can choose an athlete to cheer for and support on their road to represent the U.S. at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games… read more

On June 26th, The Leadership Conference and the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women are uniting to promote the National Day of Action to push for VAWA.There will be a rally on Capitol Hill as well as lobby visits and calls. We urge you to invite your friends to this event, spread the word, and call/email/tweet your representatives so that we can pass the REAL VAWA.  If you are in Washington, D.C.: RALLY TIME: 11:30 a.m… read more

Verbal Description and Touch Tours are offered at the Rubin Museum of Art on the second Thursday of every month. Museum guides help participants who are blind or partially-sighted form visualizations by offering highly detailed, verbal descriptions of artworks. Participants are invited to touch art objects including sculptures, woodblocks, and ritual implements. Incense and traditional music complete the Himalayan experience.To reserve a spot on an upcoming public tour or to book… read more

The Initiative for Women with Disabilities will hold its Spring Into Wellness Open House on Monday June 25 from 10am-2pm at 359 Second Avenue, NYC.  Activities include a fitness class, meditation, reiki circle, door prizes and more. RSVP 212 598 6429… read more

The Special Olympics kicked off nationwide. New York currently serves more than 51,000 athletes throughout the state. They train for weeks and months to prepare for local, regional and statewide competition. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of skills and friendship with their families, Special Olympics athletes and the… read more

Residents of BFL's Transitional Housing program, under the guidance of editor and former resident John Aliseo (pictured), released the summer 2012 Moving Forward newsletter. View the Pdf. Moving Forward Spring Summer 2012 Newsletter- The FINAL Edition… read more

Art Connects New York (ACNY) launches "Made You Look: Hidden Narratives Unveiled" on May 9, 2012 at Spattered Columns, 491 Broadway, 5th Floor, NYC. Art Connects has a permanent art exhibit at BFL's Transitional Housing program. In homage of the Hatch-Billops Collection, this new group exhibition features site-specific installation by artists whose practice involves archiving the underrepresented and overlooked aspects of contemporary culture.… read more

Freedom House director Isa Martinez presented at the Organizational Development Session of the HRA Non-Residential Director's meeting on May 4, highlighting the success of the programs Financial Clinic for residents. The clinic, facilitated by Becky Smith, Director of Strategic Initiatives, The Financial Clinic, is made possible through a grant from the United Way. Ms. Martinez has been invited to do another presentation at the June 1 meeting… read more

BFL's May 2 website launch party was a smash hit. Highlights included the premiere of filmmaker Blake Drummond's BFL Mission film, live music by the duo Jake and John and mingling with the dynamo web development team from Coa Design.… read more

This issue of the OPDV Bulletin catches everyone at a busy time: it is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and April 22 – April 28th is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week… read more

For our first New Visions blog post, President/CEO Paul Feuerstein explores two new initiatives meant to strengthen the agency “as we face the continuing challenges of domestic violence and homelessness with (at best) the same level of financial resources that we have had in past years.” Mission Based Management Six years ago, we began a transition to Mission-based Management, a system developed by Peter Brinkerhoff who has dedicated his career to making not-for-profit organizations more mission-productive. I was introduced to… read more

The internationally hailed new Dialog in the Dark exhibit at South Street Seaport leads visitors through a series of New York City environments in complete darkness, relying on blind and visually-impaired guides. Exhibit-goers will "see NYC" and visit well know landmarks without the sense of sight while armed with an authentic walking cane… read more

The non profit group Next Step launches its first annual Wheelchair for a Day challenge this May. The campaign asks able-bodied folks, including celebrities and athletes, to spend a full day in a wheelchair and experience first-hand the reality of living with paralysis. Wheelchair for a Day kicks off in conjunction with National Physical Fitness… read more