1 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend. 2 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Each and every week right here, we come together, we 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: talk about all the topics important to you and the 4 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: place where you live. It is great to have you 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: back with us this week. I'm Nicole Davis. October is 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when the public conversation 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: turns to education, action and justice. This year's theme for 8 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: the month is with Survivors Always in Boston. That is 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:35,959 Speaker 1: a motto the team at Jane Doe Inc. Channels each 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: and every day. They represent a coalition of organizations, advocates, 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: and resources for those who are struggling with intimate relationship abuse. 12 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: I do want to have a content warning here before 13 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: we start. We will be talking about different types of 14 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: domestic violence, be it mental, physical, financial, emotional, and other ways. 15 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: Hey Musaran Siminski is the executive director of Jane Doe Inc. 16 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: She is here now to talk with us. It is 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: great to have you on the show, hey man. Tell 18 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: us more about what your mission is over at Jane 19 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: Doe Inc. And what you do for survivors. 20 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 2: Sure. 21 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 3: Yeah. Jane Do Inc. Is the federally recognized state coalition 22 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 3: both domestic violence and sexual assault programs were otherwise known 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 3: as the Massachusetts Coalition against Sexual Assaults and Domestic Violence. 24 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 3: And what that means is really our role is one 25 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 3: of a convenor of as many of the direct service 26 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 3: programs across the state who want to be part of 27 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:38,559 Speaker 3: the coalition, and also many other partners both within state 28 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 3: agencies and other nonprofit organizations that are collectively doing a 29 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 3: lot of the responsive work to support survivors of intimate 30 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 3: partner violence and sexual harm. And so every state has 31 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 3: a coalition where the dual Coalition for Massachusetts, and our 32 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 3: primary ways of doing our work are through policy and 33 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 3: legislative advocacy systems, reform work looking at the courts and 34 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 3: housing systems, DCF various systems that impact survivors, and then 35 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 3: also doing a lot of education and prevention work to 36 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 3: raise awareness about the issue. 37 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: Now, let's talk about the issue itself, because I feel 38 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: like there's no one type of domestic violence obviously, and 39 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: I even know that if we bring technology into the situation, 40 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: that expands it even more so for people who might 41 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: be thinking, Okay, well, what exactly is domestic violence? What 42 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,359 Speaker 1: counts as domestic violence? What would you say to that? 43 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 2: Sure? 44 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 3: I think that the most important thing to understand about 45 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:50,559 Speaker 3: domestic violence or sometimes referred to as intimate partner violence 46 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 3: or intimate partner abuse is exactly what you said. There 47 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 3: is no one size fits all definition of what M 48 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 3: looks like. Unfortunately, historically in the media, what's most visible 49 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 3: is often physical harm or sexual harm, and the way 50 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 3: we look at that is sort of the outer circle. 51 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 3: It's the most visible, But the reality is at the 52 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: heart of all forms of intimate partner abuse or domestic 53 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: violence is really power and control, and it is an 54 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 3: effort by one partner to exercise power and control in 55 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 3: abusive ways over another. And what you see is really 56 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 3: one person's world or life becoming smaller in whether it's economically, physically, socially, spiritually, 57 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 3: and the other person's world or life becoming bigger in 58 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 3: those same ways. So that's kind of a basic understanding 59 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 3: of what that can look like. Use it takes many forms. 60 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 3: It can be in the form of financial abuse, it 61 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 3: can be in the form of physical or emotional abuse, gaslighting, 62 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 3: controlling someone's movements, tat Like you said, technology is a 63 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 3: huge issue right now. Surveilling where someone goes, who do 64 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: they talk to, even what if they're allowed to talk 65 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 3: in their language of comfort. What does it mean if 66 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 3: someone feels most comfortable in culturally specific community and their 67 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 3: partner says, sorry, you can't have access to that. Most 68 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 3: recently in the news, there's been conversations about course of control, 69 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 3: and that's really looking at the less visible forms of abuse, 70 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 3: and thankfully in Massachusetts now we have protections from that 71 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 3: kind of harm and we're really excited to have been 72 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 3: part of that advocacy effort with some incredible survivors who 73 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 3: brought that issue to light. 74 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: It's important to note that gender or sexual identity, none 75 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: of that matters when it comes to domestic violence. I 76 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: feel like often we hear a lot about you know, 77 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: men versus women or so on and so forth, but yeah, 78 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter how you identify domestic violence or intimate violence. 79 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: Is intimate violence absolutely. 80 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 3: I think that's so important to highlight, especially right now 81 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 3: in this culture and climate that we are amidst. For 82 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 3: so long, the only kind of if domestic violence was 83 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 3: even acknowledged, it was really focused on men's bolence against women, 84 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:41,119 Speaker 3: and we know that the rates of harm are really 85 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 3: cut across. Like you said, general identity expression, sexual orientation, 86 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 3: immigration status, age, so it's economic status. And because of that, 87 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 3: what is so important right now is that we as providers, 88 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 3: us as a community, we continue to lift adopt the 89 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 3: realities that yeah, LGBTQ survivors can experience intimate partner abuse 90 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 3: in the same way as survivors who may be in 91 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 3: straight relationships, right and yeah, just really, I think we're 92 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 3: in this time of so much erasure of identities right now. Unfortunately, 93 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 3: some organizations nationally and otherwise who are falling in line 94 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 3: with some of the demands of the present administration and 95 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 3: climate and erasing from their websites or materials or even 96 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 3: referral sources information about what a survivor might need if 97 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 3: they're transgender or in a same sex relationship, or a 98 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:53,799 Speaker 3: survivor with a disability, or a survivor with uncertain immigration status. 99 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 3: So we want to turn that tide here in Massachusetts 100 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 3: and really make sure that all survivors know that there 101 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 3: are support and services available for them and that no 102 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 3: one needs to be alone as they navigate these really 103 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 3: really hard situations. 104 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: They are very difficult situations, and when you put it 105 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: like that, it sounds like such a massive problem because 106 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: you're looking at relationships from all over the spectrum. How 107 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: do we tackle this as just a society, but also 108 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: in your work at Jane Doe, you talk a lot 109 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: about work on Beacon Hill and legislative work and advocacy work. 110 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: I mean, how do we handle this? 111 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the biggest thing we can do right 112 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 3: now is to really pay attention to the relationships we 113 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 3: do have, and that goes for intimate, harder relationships would 114 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 3: also beyond. Let's really we need to lean into one 115 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 3: another right now, there's a real this is a moment 116 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 3: where the power of community is really necessary and apparent. 117 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 3: And when we do that, then we begin to stay curious, 118 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 3: ask questions in non judgmental ways, letting one another know that, 119 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 3: you know, despite how busy our lives can get, despite 120 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: our you know, exhaustion from day to day activities, that 121 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 3: we're still around to pay attention to show up. I 122 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 3: actually saw quote recently today about how everybody wants a village. 123 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 3: It's kind of sometimes hard to be a villager because 124 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 3: you have to show up. Yes, you don't want to, 125 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 3: but you still do. And I think that's really I 126 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 3: think right now one of the most powerful ways, and 127 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 3: this is evidence based of preventing harm is to connect 128 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 3: with our communities, to be in community with one another, 129 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 3: in relationship with one another, to show up, become a 130 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 3: trusted person, and whether it's a young person's life, for 131 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 3: your friend's life or your parents life, or remember your sibling, 132 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,839 Speaker 3: to let folks know that we can listen and that 133 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 3: we're not alone, and reaching out for resources. So that's 134 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 3: the starting point. I know there's many directions to go 135 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 3: from there, but I just don't want to undercut the 136 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 3: importance of this does not need to be reduced to 137 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 3: an academic problem. This is a human relationship and connection problem, 138 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 3: and that's where the solutions lie. Solutions lying. 139 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it can be really difficult, I feel sometimes, 140 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: especially again for young people, for people who may not 141 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: know somebody that well. But when you notice the symptoms, 142 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: you know, you notice your friend pulling back, or you 143 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: notice your family member not acting the same, or even 144 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: if it is physical, you notice bruising where you hadn't before. 145 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: It can be really overwhelming to try to find a 146 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: way to talk to that person about it, because of 147 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: course you don't want to be like, well, I think 148 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: that your relationship is abusive, because who wants to be 149 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: the one to say that, but it is important that 150 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 1: we say something, even if it is going to make 151 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 1: life a bit more uncomfortable between you two for a while. 152 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Yeah, I mean, I think that that is one 153 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 3: of the hardest and most valuable scenarios that might come 154 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 3: up in someone's life. When you're in the position to 155 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 3: hold someone disclosing to you that they are experiencing harm 156 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 3: or like you said, that you're noticing something and you 157 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 3: might want to ask a question or two about what's 158 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 3: going on. And sometimes the most important thing to do 159 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 3: is to if someone is disclosing to you that they're 160 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 3: going through something, is to really listen and validate their experience. 161 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 3: Just let them know that you're hearing them, and that 162 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 3: you know that they're going through a hard time and 163 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 3: that you're here to support. And it's a human tendency 164 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 3: to want to try to solve. 165 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 2: Problems quickly. 166 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: Built and to the extent that we can resist that 167 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 3: a little bit and instead stay open to the possible 168 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 3: ability that every survivor knows their situation best, every survivor 169 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 3: knows how to survive really really harmful settings and contexts, 170 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 3: and so you know that resilience, that ability to navigate, 171 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 3: to figure out, you know, how to find a few 172 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 3: minutes of safety, to have a conversation with a trusted person. 173 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 3: Those are powerful survivors survival skills, and as friends and 174 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 3: community members. If we can remember that and as someone's 175 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 3: disclosing and not go into that kind of trap of 176 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,359 Speaker 3: thinking about someone who's going through this as helpless or powerless, 177 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:51,079 Speaker 3: but actually quite powerful, that can be really, really supportive 178 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 3: to a survivor. I think if you spil to have 179 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 3: some resources around, many organizations, including JDI, have things like 180 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 3: market cards, just having some around at some point, many 181 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 3: of us who were part of various organizations like these, 182 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 3: you know, would just take a handful and we'd have 183 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 3: them around, whether it was in our bathrooms or like 184 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 3: at workplaces or leave them at coffee shops. Just how 185 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 3: to give help and how to get help. 186 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: You might just want to, you know, run into their 187 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: house and pull them out, and you know, but then 188 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 1: what next, right the emotional trigger that you feel you 189 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: want to help this person, and you know, for survivors, 190 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: I think it's also important to note people say, well, 191 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: why didn't she leave earlier? Why didn't they leave earlier? 192 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: It can be really, really difficult, especially if you've got 193 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: children or pets involved, older family members living in the home. 194 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: I mean, there are so many factors that keep people 195 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: in these abusive relationships, and it doesn't make them a 196 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: bad person. They're just kind of backed into a corner. 197 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: That is probably one of the biggest misconceptions I feel 198 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: when it comes to survivors. 199 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 3: Right, I mean, if we eat each thought about how 200 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:09,319 Speaker 3: we could leave our present living situation, community, children's school setting, 201 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 3: and how long it would even begin to think about 202 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 3: uprooting our own life for whatever reason, right, we'd be 203 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 3: looking at a long home there. And so that coupled 204 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 3: with the realities of we're in Massachusetts, there's a housing crisis. 205 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 3: How does an individual uproot themselves, maybe from a relationship 206 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 3: where they are being economically supported by their partner, even 207 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 3: for the basics, what does that look like to disengage 208 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 3: and try to seek help. It's a lot of vulnerability 209 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 3: and resources are available. We do have a lot of 210 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 3: state investment in Massachusetts in domestic balance and sexual assault 211 00:13:56,520 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 3: services and support. There are emergencies, alters available, support of counseling, therapy, 212 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 3: and a range of other services that are available, and 213 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 3: of course, the need always exceeds what resources exist, and 214 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 3: that's just a reality that unfortunately, far too many survivors 215 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 3: may need to confront as they move through that process. 216 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: I would imagine that right now, in this political climate, 217 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: in this economic climate, those resources are eroding even more. 218 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. 219 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean we. 220 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 3: As I'll talk about both the state and the federal context, 221 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 3: both are pressing on survivors right now. You know, in 222 00:14:53,520 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 3: the federal context, we're facing a really targeted effort, really 223 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 3: power and control at the federal level over all of us, 224 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 3: so over survivors, over survivor serving organizations, over honestly every 225 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 3: resident in the United States right now, so many of 226 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 3: us are experiencing that kind of abusive power and control. 227 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 3: And so as we think about that, what we see 228 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 3: how that shows up in specifically in some of the 229 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 3: grand streams that go to programs, are a lot of 230 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 3: restrictions on what can be said, what values are at 231 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 3: the heart of the work, what is allowed to be funded, 232 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 3: how can you what survivors are even allowed to support? 233 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 2: And so. 234 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 3: JDI is part of Jane Knowing is part of a 235 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 3: number of number of coalitions who join together in a 236 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 3: lawsuit against the administration to really shine a light on 237 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 3: how harmful conditions. 238 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 2: On the funding are for all survivors. 239 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 3: So that's one of the backdrops to what programs are 240 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 3: facing because many programs, you know, we have LGBTQ specific 241 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 3: programs in Massachusetts, we have immigrants serving programs in Massachusetts, 242 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 3: and honestly, any of us who are wanting to have 243 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 3: inclusive and supportive spaces for all survivors in line with 244 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 3: Massachusetts values and law, we're in this position wondering if 245 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 3: we take this money, are we going to somehow be 246 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 3: subject to backlash, false claims Act suits. You know, there's 247 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 3: there's some really scary consequences that are facing not only programs, 248 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 3: but then by extension survivors. So against this federal landscape 249 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 3: of you know, trying to control funding streams, perhaps not 250 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 3: even refunding some of the funding streams, we have a 251 00:16:55,640 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 3: lot of concern among programs in massive choose it's about 252 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 3: what the next couple of years are going to look like. 253 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 3: While we do have state investment, unfortunately, some of the 254 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 3: pressures at the federal level have resulted in a seven 255 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 3: million dollar cut in services for FY twenty six, and 256 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:21,639 Speaker 3: so we're just waiting for details on how that's going 257 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 3: to impact programs right now. You're actually catching us during 258 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 3: our week of action this week with a rally at 259 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 3: the state House and press conference on Thursday. We're really 260 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 3: excited about that to just raise awareness about the impact 261 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 3: of cuts right here. I mean, and this is from 262 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 3: our own state. Again, we're so grateful for the level 263 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 3: of investment in services in Massachusetts, buy our legislature, buyer administration, 264 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 3: and even amidst tough times, we're really hoping that this 265 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 3: particular issue can be seen for what it is, which 266 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 3: is we prevent further harm from happening. It's actually has 267 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:10,719 Speaker 3: longer cost savings implications for the commonwealth. We keep each 268 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 3: other safer, right, and healthier in Massachusetts. So that is 269 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 3: the books some of the state context as well as 270 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 3: you know obviously, as we are amidst of government shutdown 271 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 3: and wondering what appropriations will hold for some of the 272 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 3: federal funding streams, trying to do whatever we can to 273 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 3: keep the values and all of the expertise that has 274 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 3: really been the product of decades of work in this 275 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 3: field intact. 276 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 1: Sure the uncertainty of not knowing where the money is 277 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 1: coming from. What are you hearing from people on Beacon Hill, 278 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: Because clearly you've had a lot of support in the past, 279 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 1: and I can't imagine how difficult that's got to be 280 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: a for lawmakers on Beacon Hill who are now dealing 281 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,199 Speaker 1: with all these federal cuts that are so that funding 282 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: is so important keeping our state going. But then also 283 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: what are you hearing from individual organizations about how to 284 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: deal with this uncertainty as well? 285 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, the uncertainty is brutal. It is. 286 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 3: You know, programs are in a place of contingency planning, 287 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 3: but not able to fully gather or grasp what all 288 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 3: of the factors maybe in the coming few months or 289 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 3: certainly years ahead. What we are most concerned about right 290 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 3: now from programs are the ability to continue to provide 291 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 3: adequate sheltering services. We know some of the state cuts 292 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 3: will impact residential programs in Massachusetts again amidst a housing crisis. 293 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 3: Where will survivors go? Know, we're also really concerned about 294 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 3: the ability to continue to provide culturally specific services here. 295 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,679 Speaker 3: That is a big concern as well, especially given some 296 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 3: of the attacks on those services at the federal level. 297 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 3: Will we be able to continue to employ honestly a 298 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 3: survivor UH, a workforce that's filled with survivors. 299 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 2: That's that's who we're we're drawn to help. 300 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 3: And the special sol and Domestic Violence workforce in Massachusetts 301 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 3: is comprised of brilliant advocates, so many of whom are 302 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 3: bringing their own lived experience to this work. And so 303 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 3: we sit in this place of wondering again, how do 304 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 3: we move together to preserve the expertise that survivor led 305 00:20:55,000 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 3: wisdom that really is, you know, so essential for keeping 306 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 3: other survivors safer through really difficult times. 307 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:08,440 Speaker 1: I just want to make it clear though, that if 308 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: somebody is listening and they're finding themselves or realizing that 309 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: they're in an intimate abuse relationship, all of this uncertainty 310 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: should not stop them from reaching out for help. I 311 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: want to make that very clear. 312 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:26,439 Speaker 3: You know, what is really really important to remember is, 313 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 3: you know, hotlines are open. Hotland stayed open through COVID, 314 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 3: through really through so many ups and downs. And this 315 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 3: is not the first time this field has faced challenges 316 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 3: by any means, and so even through these challenges, what 317 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 3: we are advocating for are enough or even more resources 318 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 3: to meet the complex needs of survivors, but absolutely there 319 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 3: is help available. Advocates are available to talk to, listen, 320 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 3: shelter still available, and so certainly if you are in 321 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 3: a situation or you know someone in a situation who 322 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 3: needs help, those resources will continue to stay open and available, 323 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 3: and in order to be as responsive as possible for 324 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 3: all survivors, we need this level of investment to continue. 325 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: Well, where can people then find out more about the 326 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,239 Speaker 1: advocacy work you're doing, not just person to person, but 327 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: with organizations on Beacon Hill? And where can they just 328 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: connect with you to keep in touch with what's going on? 329 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 3: Sure, yeah, we have you can connect with us on 330 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 3: social media is a very sorts. 331 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 2: So we have Instagram. 332 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 3: There's so many, so many, so Mandy, so you find 333 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 3: us on social media. Our website is undergoing a transition, 334 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 3: but I'll hope soon to be soon to have any website. 335 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:02,399 Speaker 3: But we do have a website at Jane Doo dot org. 336 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: And if somebody is listening again, if there is a 337 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: listener who's listening right now, who happens to want help 338 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 1: but isn't sure where to go about it, what is 339 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 1: the best way for them to go about that? 340 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 3: You can go to Jando dot org slash find help okay, 341 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 3: and that will offer a list of a searchable database 342 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 3: programs near you. If there is an emergency, certainly, we 343 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 3: have a safe link hotline in Massachusetts that can be contacted, 344 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 3: and of course, if it's safe to do so, folks 345 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 3: can choose to call in one line as well. 346 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 1: Hey Ma, this is great information, and thank you for 347 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,679 Speaker 1: the just the look in the insight into what's happening 348 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: with your organizations. I appreciate all your work on this. 349 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 2: I appreciate Thank you so much. 350 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join me again 351 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 1: next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole 352 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.