New Visions Blog

From City Limits Gov. Needs to Restore Money for Domestic Violence Victims By: PAUL FEUERSTEIN A recent New York City Council report found that incidents of domestic violence in public housing operated by NYCHA had doubled since 2009. And yet at the same time, our elected officials are cutting funding to groups that help domestic violence victims access legal services, receive counseling and find safe transitional housing. When Governor Cuomo and state Budget Director Robert Megna… read more

Born and raised as part of a large deaf family in Brooklyn, Michelle Reyes set her sights on giving back to the community after graduating from Gallaudet University. This year, she joined Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden Domestic Violence program as a social worker, counseling both Deaf/HOH and hearing individuals. We caught up with Michelle to talk about her first year with BFL. How did you learn about Barrier Free… read more

Manhattan Legal Services, the host agency for the Upper Manhattan Domestic Violence Services Collaborative, brings the Shine the Light On Domestic Violence message to  Harlem on the evening of October 27, 2014. Four Walks are being organized, one from each direction in Harlem.  The Walks will start at 5:30pm and convene at the State Office Building for a Speak Out.  Lights go purple at 6pm.  The event promises to raise the community’s level of awareness on the prevalence and insidiousness of domestic violence while also… read more

When Kira Kazantsev (Miss New York) was crowned Miss America 2015, it was not only a win for the Big Apple, but for survivors of domestic violence nationwide. Kira chose domestic violence as her platform and together with the Miss America Organization has launched a bold #VOWtoEndIt campaign during October’s Domestic Violence (DV) Awareness Month. Barrier Free Living caught up with Kira to talk about her platform, her passion… read more

Private Violence is a feature-length documentary film and audience engagement campaign that explores a simple, but deeply disturbing fact of American life: the most dangerous place for a woman in America is her own home. Every day in the US, at least four women are murdered by abusive (and often, ex) partners. The film debuts on HBO on October 20. Learn more.… read more

During this October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev and the Miss America Organization launched the #VOWtoEndIt campaign. Learn more.… read more

The  BFL Speaker’s Bureau held its  Moving Beyond Shame special Domestic Violence Awareness Month event on Oct. 7, celebrating survivors of domestic violence who have moved beyond shame and found hope. Spearheaded by Speakers Bureau founder Theresa McIntosh, special guests included  Victor Calise, Commissioner, Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities;Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence; along with humanitarian/advocate Brett Scudder; and writer… read more

The  BFL Speaker's Bureau will host Moving Beyond Shame a special Domestic Violence Awareness Month event on Oct. 7, celebrating survivors of domestic violence who have moved beyond shame and found hope. Special guests include Victor Calise, Commissioner, Mayor's Office for People With Disabilities;Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence; along with humanitarian/advocate Brett Scudder; writer Claire Cappetta; BFL CEO Paul Feuerstein; and Speaker's Bureau founder Theresa McIntosh. The BFL Speakers Bureau was founded in May… read more

The National Network to End Domestic Violence reports: In a press conference today, Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated the need for the NFL to “get it right” and work to shift how society responds to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. In response to media inquiries about the National Football League’s (NFL’s) plans to do this, Commissioner Goodell announced that NFL funds will be donated to the National Domestic Violence Hotline to aid in responding to the increased call volume. These funds… read more

The Guardian Reports:In Victoria, more than one victim of domestic violence dies every fortnight. There are no quick fixes, but there are some ‘best practice’ pointers which should be followed. On Monday, a group of leading Victorian family violence organisations laid 29 red roses and eight white rosebuds on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne, as a memorial and a challenge. They marked the number of women and children who died through family violence in the state last year. More than one… read more

Blogger Jenni Cowley is a former social worker who, after a career sabbatical to raise her two youngsters, decided to begin blogging about about mental health topics. Emotional Abuse – Can It Cause Longer Lasting Damage than Domestic Abuse? Statistics show that approximately one in four women living in America will suffer from domestic abuse at some point in their lives. Sadly, many women stay in abusive relationships long after the first violent act has been committed against them.  This is a… read more

Jana Mackey left a legacy of courage and strength. She spent her entire life fighting for justice and equality for all. Jana dedicated her life to social change and making this world a better place. Jana’s Light Will Shine was written to encourage every one of us to carry on where Jana left off and find the courage to defeat injustice. We don’t have to let the world tell us who to be. We can be the feet and hands of change… read more

The New York Times reports: AFTER spending two years studying services for domestic violence survivors, I was surprised to realize that one of the most common barriers to women’s safety was something I had never considered before: the high value our culture places on two-parent families. Read the article.… read more

The award winning indie film titled 1 in 3 about domestic violence hopes to have a screening at the AMC Loews in Kips Bay on June 30. 1 in 3 relates to the fact that 1 in 3 women have or will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. The film looks at that staggering statistic. Ophelia Metz is one of those… read more

BFL's Secret Garden staff and participants gathered for the Celebration of Women on May 8. Dame Lori Sutherland (pictured at right with Secret Garden Director Georgette Delinois), hosted the Soulfull Closet event this year which benefited Secret Garden, and was the featured keynote guest. Sutherland wowed the crowd and the participants enjoyed lunch and activities.… read more

Hearts of Gold, which sponsors BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter,  was featured on the May 6th TODAY Show (NBC) in a special segment in honor of Mother’s Day entitled HOPE TO IT. The Hearts of Gold mission is to “foster sustainable change in lifestyle and levels of self-sufficiency for homeless mothers and their children. ” Learn more.… read more

Police Commissioner William J. Bratton was the keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Denim Day NYC Rally on April 23. The event is a citywide initiative to raise awareness about sexual violence. Events are held in all five boroughs and included a panel discussion on "Empowering Men To Speak Out Against Sexual Violence" at Fordham College. More info.… read more

Dare To Dream, a Spring Boutique showcasing products created and sold by Freedom House Emergency Shelter Residents drew an overflow crowd of supporters on April 17. This special invite only event, attended by residents of the domestic violence program as well as BFL Board Membes and Community Partners, was the finale of an entrepreneurial workshop and could be the first step towards a lifelong business dream. Guest speakers included New York University… read more

Generous donations throughout the year (like the toys pictured, from supporter Rachel Adams) bring joy and hope to the children of Barrier Free Living's (BFL) Domestic Violence programs. To learn more about how to support, volunteer or participate in BFL events email [email protected].… read more

RedRover, a national nonprofit organization based in Sacramento, California, and Amie’s Place Foundation, a Foundation that funds organizations that create programs dedicated to keeping families and pets together in times of crisis, have partnered to create co-sheltered housing for families and pets at domestic violence shelters across the country. This first-of-its-kind grant from Amie’s Place Foundation will provide $6,000 to RedRover’s Safe Housing grants program in 2013 and $3,000 to each family violence shelter that applies and qualifies for an… read more

Adopt A Mom will deliver gifts to mothers at Barrier Free Living's domestic violence programs this May, bringing joy and hope to the residents and consumers. Adopt a Mom is dedicated to raising awareness of domestic violence against mothers and supporting efforts to better their own lives and those of their children. The Adopt a Mom program started in 2010 as a grassroots effort to raise money to… read more

The Commons Online reports: Here in the U.S., one in five employed adults is the victim of domestic violence, and 74 percent of employed battered women say they’re harassed by their partners while at work. In fact, in a recent national survey, 44 percent of all employees reported that their workplace was impacted by domestic violence, mostly because a coworker was a victim. Read the article. The Business of Me offers a FREE White Paper titled “Domestic Violence Goes… read more

Grace Drums began a four-part drumming workshop for participants of Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden Domestic Violence program this March. Gabriella Dennery, Founder and Artistic Director of Grace Drums,  (pictured) along with Arlene Hall, facilitate the workshop where participants  learn about drums, rhythm and ultimately provide an outlet for expression. Formerly a practicing primary care physician, and now a full time performer and music teacher, Gabriella says she had… read more

In The Name of Love is an international art exhibition that brings awareness to the issues of gender-based violence. The exhibit is currently on display in Hays and in Lawrence, Kansas and the online version can be viewed here. This powerful exhibition is the product of a partnership between two violence prevention organizations, one from Kansas, USA and one from Namibia, Africa. Despite the geographical differences, Jana’s Campaign and Victims2Survivors agree that ‘In the Name of Love’… read more

V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery. ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to… read more

Board Resource Reports: Abuse of People with Disabilities: A Silent Epidemic is a public service video produced by the Board Resource Center (www.brcenter.org) to encourage people with disabilities to speak up about abuse. Molly Kennedy and Kecia Weller are well known peer advocates in California who are taking a stand to stop abuse. Please join them by sharing the video with your network. View the video.… read more

Philadelphia state Rep. Brendan Boyle to introduce legislation to strengthen domestic-abuse laws in a state that tallied 141 domestic-violence deaths in 2012, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Read more here.… read more

The first annual Soulful Closet Sale was held Jan. 23, with a portion of proceeds going to BFL’s  award winning Secret Garden program for people with disabilities who have experienced domestic violence. Event organizer Lori (Dame) Sutherland, pictured at right with Secret Garden Assistant Director Denise Baker (center) and Secret Garden Director Georgette Delinois (left) was thrilled to create the event featuring one of a kind sale items. Yael Yekutiel was… read more

Kessler Foundation sponsored a coat drive for BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter, donating warm coats to the families at the facility. Several hundred coats were received, said Occupational Therapy Coordinator Patricia Motus, who added that "It was amazing. Residents came and everyone found a coat that fit them perfectly. It looked like the coats were made for them." Freedom House is nationally recognized as the first fully accessible emergency shelter for disabled victims of domestic violence and their families. Kessler… read more

A Winter Wonder Land event, funded by Events by Secrets catering and the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) was held at BFL's Freedom House emergency shelter. Events by Secrets provided Freedom House families brunch, a  hot dog cart,  popcorn cart and gifts. Harlem Children Zone provided gifts,a  cookie decorating table and arts and craft for the children as well.… read more