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This month we highlight Black leaders in the Anti-Violence Movement, we learn more about Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), we interview our staff member Elaysha Darden, and spotlight one of our community partners, Kissy’s Stay Put Services (KSP).

Staff Feature

Elaysha Darden

Elaysha Darden works as the Intervention and Prevention Program Specialist with DAP and the Domestic Abuse Service Center (DASC) in Hennepin County. Read on to learn more about the amazing work she is doing to support participants that are navigating the legal system.

DAP: This year DAP has begun a partnership with the Domestic Abuse Service Center (DASC). You are currently embedded in that DASC office. Can you share what your role is?  

Elaysha: My role is a newer position that was created as a collaboration between DASC and DAP with the goal of being a resource for individuals who have used harm. Resources can include explaining in detail what an order for protection is, what the individual can and cannot do to avoid violations, providing resources about which organizations provide domestic abuse programing, etc. It's important that folks know what their boundaries are within the court system so that they stay informed. 

DAP: How does it serve victims to provide information about navigating the court system to individuals that use violence?

Elaysha: A big way it serves victims is when it comes to guns. So, there is a section of the order of protection that says, “Do you want to prohibit the other from having guns?” This is something you can ask for. It does trigger a hearing, but if that’s all you’re asking for, we like to tell people that in general, if there is an order of protection against someone, they can’t own guns. So just having that further education piece is important.

One more thing is making sure both parties aren’t surprised when navigating through the court system. Having one person to help my clients navigate the court system is so important so they don’t get too confused. So they know what to expect. It’s confusing for most folks.

DAP: It’s Black History Month. How do you think historical and racial trauma impacts domestic violence in the African American community?

Elaysha: I love this question because there are just so many ways to answer it. But I think really what it comes down to when the legal system is at play, is seeing the different types of charges that minorities will get stacked against them vs their non-minority counter parts. And then, seeing what their home situation is like.

So, I was raised by a single mom, and she had to be out of the home often. That’s a common story amongst Black folks, that there’s one parent in the home. So folks in the community often seek teachings from others. Whether it’s on their own and making mistakes, or peers that might not be the healthiest. Ultimately, I think historical and racial trauma impacts the lack of support that the Black community has, which can lead folks down different paths, and that might lead you into the legal system.

DAP: It’s Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). What are the ages that you work with? Have you done any orders or protection with younger women? Are there any themes you’ve noticed?

Elaysha: The minimum age to schedule with me is 18, then there have been people that I’ve worked with to schedule orders of protection that have been 80 years old. If you’re 18 and under, someone would have to file on behalf of you, if you’re experiencing domestic violence. In terms of themes, it turns out that of the 70 clients I’ve served thus far, only 18 of them have been in the 18-30 range. I noticed that although it’s a smaller number, the clients that I have worked with that are older do have a history of domestic violence. Maybe when they were younger, they didn’t feel confident and safe enough to say something. But now that they’re older, they are tired of it and say something. It takes a lot for someone at a young age to say “something’s not right here.”

DAP: What do you like about working at DAP?

Elaysha: My favorite thing I love about DAP is the sense of community. Everyone is so warm and welcoming. The agency really promotes self-care. I love the monthly wellness meetings that prompt critical thinking and self-care. I don’t think self-care is endorsed at other places as much. Many other places are business only, head down. I love DAP as an employer because they see us as humans. Whether you’re an employee or client, DAP doesn’t see you as just a number or transaction.

DAP: If you could get to know somebody who existed before you were born, who would it be?

Elaysha: Maya Angelou; when I was younger I was really into writing specially poetry. Even today I thoroughly enjoy writing. Maya Angelou one person that I remember very vividly having connections with my mom about, so I have a very fond place in my heart for her. I love that her poetry tells a story, yet it’s so artistic.

ACTION ALERT

VOCA Funding

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund is in danger! Right now, $700 million (40%) of VOCA funding is set to be cut during the 2024 federal fiscal year. This will impact thousands of survivors across the U.S. and mean that those who reach out for help, may not be able to receive the critical support and services they need to be safe. It is essential that lawmakers understand the devastating impact a $700 million cut to the Crime Victims Fund will have on survivors and programs throughout the US and in Minnesota.

Your support and support from funding like VOCA makes our work possible. DAP was able to provide services through out therapy, advocacy, case management and First Call programs to 2,397 participants in 2023. We eliminated waitlists across programming which means that those impacted by domestic violence are receiving the life-saving services they rely on to establish safety and begin healing. With 40% of VOCA funding on the line, we need your support to ensure those impacted by domestic violence have reliable access to services.

Wondering how you can support victim-survivors of domestic violence right now?

Contact your representatives — It takes less than a minute to contact your local representatives and advocate for VOCA funding.

Raise awareness — Share information with your network via email or social media to let them know about the threats to VOCA funding. Share our posts on Facebook or Instagram to help spread the word.

Support our work — With your donations, we are able to continue to provide essential services to families impacted by domestic violence in Minnesota. Donate to support our work today!

Learn About Black Leaders in the Anti-Violence Movement:

The Combahee River Collective

The Combahee River Collective (CRC) was a Black feminist lesbian socialist organization active in Boston, Massachusetts from 1974 to 1980. Their work brought attention to the violence experienced by Black women, which was otherwise ignored. They are cited with laying the groundwork for intersectional feminism, and writing the Combahee River Collective Statement centering Black women in the anti-violence movement.

SAFE, Britannica & Boston Center for the Arts

Anita Hill

In 1991, Anita Hill provided testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding her accusations of sexual harassment against Supreme Court justice nominee Clarence Thomas. Despite her testimony, the committee members dismissed her claims and did not believe her. However, Anita’s testimony paved the way for other women to come forward about their experiences of workplace abuse which lead to legislation protecting people from workplace harassment.

Since then, Anita has continued to be an advocate, teaching about gender, race, and law at Brandeis University and leading the Hollywood Commission, an organization dedicated to combating harassment in the entertainment industry. In 2021, Anita authored "Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence," addressing the ongoing prevalence of gender violence in American workplaces, schools, and households.

Polictico, The New Yorker & SAFE

Tarana Burke 

Since childhood, Tarana has had a passion for activism and community organizing. After college, she landed in Alabama, where she began working closley with women who experienced sexual assault and abuse. As a survivor of sexual abuse herself, Tarana was motivated to provide resources, safety and spaces for victims to share their stories. In the late 1990s, Tarana encountered a women whose story of sexual abuse impacted her profoundly. So in 2006, moved by the story she heard a decade earlier, Tarana founded the #MeToo movement. The hashtag was used to acknowlege and address the inequity of the resouces available to marginalized women experiencing violence. To this day, #MeToo sheds light on the epidemic of sexual violence, creating a community for survivors around the world to be seen and heard.

SAFE & National Women’s History Museum

In addition to Black History Month, February is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). Learn about the relationship spectrum from Love Is Respect.

Community Partner Feature

Kissy’s Stay Put Services

Over the course of 14 years, Kissy has served as a Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate and a Re-Entry Case Manager for various nonprofits. Her deep empathy and commitment to understanding the unique circumstances of her clients have unveiled the glaring disparities faced by women within the justice system. Recognizing the urgent need for change, Kissy established Kissy’s Stay Put Services in 2020, leveraging her wealth of experience to address these pressing issues head-on. Moreover, beyond her professional endeavors, Kissy's political engagement underscores her determination to effect meaningful change. As the first African-American woman elected to the Minnetonka City Council in 2019, she has actively worked on criminal justice policy reform, collaborating with organizations like the Second Chance Coalition and TakeAction MN's Justice 4 All Campaign to advocate for fairer hiring policies and legislative initiatives in Minnesota.

Kissy offers essential supportive services to women who have been charged, convicted or incarcerated with domestic abuse and have experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse in Minnesota. We are so inspired by the work that Kissy is doing in the community and are grateful to have her as a community partner in creating communities free from domestic violence.

To learn more about the amazing work KSP is doing, visit KSP’s website.

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