Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1485952
This is an especially tough time of year for survivors of domestic violence. Please give if you can. The mission of Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center is to end cycles of trauma, support lifelong learning, and promote healthy relationships with oneself and others. A 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) p u b l i c b e n e fi t o rg a n i z a t i o n please donate AT WAFWC.org Violence PreVention requires community-wide efforts I've been thinking about complexity recently. Rarely is anything as simple as we imagine or want it to be. This is true of choices folks are making in national politics, which has many of us holding our heads in despair (i.e. it's not as simple as "us versus them"). It is also true in the field of violence prevention and intervention. Despite the fact that most people have good intentions, most parents are doing their absolute best with the resources available to them, most gun owners are not murderers of other humans, and most intimate relationships do not involve physical violence or psychological maltreatment…despite all that, we still have an egregious problem in our society, which is that in the places one should be most safe (i.e. our homes and schools) we are not always safe. The Sentinel reported on the last day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 343 domestic violence incidents were reported in the month of October in Santa Cruz County. It is estimated that only 56% of incidents get reported, so we know actual numbers are far higher. This is a call for humility, compassion, curiosity, and participation. Not that accountability is not also a necessary piece of this puzzle, but we cannot effectively enact accountability without first opening our minds to the complexity of the problem, admitting we don't always have the answer yet, and acknowledging we can't fix it in silos. It is my privilege to serve as the Executive Director of Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center, an organization with 89 years of experience doing grassroots advocacy for local families and individuals. We believe that because children & youth are literally our future, investing in their wellbeing promises the best return on investment possible. Our efforts are certainly not meeting all the gaps, and it is not at the scale we might like due to limited resources (please donate on our website); but they are wholistic by design because the reasons folks end up in violent situations as either the one being harmed or as the person doing the harm, is incredibly complex. Truly preventing violence necessitates complex solutions to meeting basic needs. It requires addressing poverty,food insecurity,and the lack of affordable housing.It requires early intervention for families experiencing adversities, including affordable and accessible, high quality physical and mental health treatment in parallel with eliminating the stigma associated with seeking help. It requires affordable and accessible high quality early education and care for our youngest community members (ages 0-5) for their own robust development, but also so parents can pursue their goals, feel supported, and adequately resourced. It involves empowering youth, despite often contradictory messages in the media, in their neighborhoods and sometimes in their own home, to identify and embody healthy relationships, and to safely respond when abuse is present. It requires confronting societal norms, questioning our own lack of action, and not accepting any form of violence as an acceptable solution to complex problems. Living, parenting, and working in this community has allowed me multiple opportunities and perspectives with which to explore the various human services available. I have plenty of frustrations, but also I have witnessed and participated in numerous "collective impact" endeavors striving to design "trauma-informed", effective & efficient approaches to remove barriers to thriving in this community. During this holiday season, we know you have many choices how to spend your time and money. As co-chair of the Human Care Alliance and the ED of a local nonprofit, I attest that this community is full of amazing programs and incredible thought-leaders and change agents working daily to meet the needs.This holiday season, if you are able, I encourage you to donate your time and money generously so we as employers can pay living wages and provide the high quality, safety net services our community has come to depend on.The need is great, and we can't meet that need without the community's support. Julie P. Macecevic, PhD Executive Director at Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center From Camper to Camp Buddy A Grief Journey By Sally Green When you meet Julia, you're struck by her bright spirit and grounded nature. She's clear about the impact she wants to make in the world and is on the path to making it happen. But Julia hasn't always been this way. At age 10, Julia lost her dad to cancer, leaving her and her younger sister to face life without him. Their dad, Shannon, was larger than life. "He was so smart, was a total breakfast guy, and loved to ride dirt bikes. Dad was really active — on land and in the ocean — he was up for anything," reflected Julia through a smile. After her father's death, she felt lost and alone. "It affected me physically. I had stomach issues, anxiety, and didn't know how to cope," shared Julia. "I felt lost in what used to be familiar settings like school." While her grief ebbed and flowed, she felt out of place and numb. She felt stuck. By the time she turned 15, Julia knew something had to change. That's when her mom suggested she attend Camp Erin Santa Cruz. "At first, I was nervous. I had no idea what to expect," said Julia. "When I started to meet others who knew what it's like to lose someone, I felt comfortable. The energy, people, and activities made me feel better." Forging connections and having dedicated time to talk about her feelings, and truly be listened to, are the hallmarks of her experience. As a lover of nature, the outdoor setting felt like home. "I met one of my best friends at Camp," shared Julia. "Camp is now such a big part of my life." At 18, Julia aged out of the program, which serves children 6-17. She was approached about becoming a Cabin Buddy, a trained Camp Erin volunteer who works directly with young campers. "Camp was an influential time for me; I want to create that for others," said Julia. "It is such a wholesome experience. It's so comforting." At Camp Erin, there are activities focusing on remembrance. Campers decorate and light a luminaria and post pictures on a memory board in honor of their loved one(s). As a Cabin Buddy, though the focus is on campers, Julia still can honor her dad in these ways. "It's cool to be able to honor him and acknowledge others' losses." These ceremonies create an unspoken bond between campers and their Buddies. "My dad's death and my grief don't define who I am. I'm taking my hardship to make something meaningful. This has all taught me how to keep going," reflected Julia. Now a student at California State University Monterey Bay, Julia is studying social and behavioral science and plans to complete a Master's in Social Work to realize her goal to help teens and young people navigate their difficulties Camp Erin Santa Cruz is a free camp for youth aged 7-17, grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Hosted by Hospice of Santa Cruz County, it is led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers. If you'd like to sponsor a camper, contact Jennifer Drummond, Director of Development, (831) 430-3082, jdrummond@hospicesantacruz.org. Julia at age 19, a Camp Erin Cabin Buddy volunteer Julia as a toddler with her father Shannon TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022 SANTACRUZSENTINEL.COM | | 3 C