AWUM 2015-2016 Annual Report

2 015- 201 6 ANNUAL REPORT

FISCAL YEAR:

JULY 1, 2015 – JUNE 30, 2016

PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS

“I would like to thank you…for guiding me through the whole process of getting my family back together and for your excellent knowledge. I felt that you really understood me and my situation. I’ve been stressing for months how to get my daughter back and keep me and my children safe from my ex. You gave me comfort and gave me confidence. You prepared me ahead of time for my hearings and told me what to expect. Your company made me feel stronger and braver. I am extremely thankful to have you stand by me. Your company was great. Thank you so much for all the advice you have given me. My daughter is here with me today thanks to your help. You are great at what you do and your service was excellent. I believe you will be very helpful to many women/ families out there.”

Asian Women United of Minnesota will end domestic violence by promoting safe and healthy relationships within the Asian-Pacific Islander community.

We are the leader in eliminating violence in the Asian-Pacific Islander community, and share the expertise of our best practices with others.

Using the strengths of the API community, AWUM will uphold an environment free of violence, promote self-sufficiency for women, and foster nurtured and healthy children and families.

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-------- FISCAL YEAR 2015-16 (JULY 1, 2015–JUNE 30, 2016) -------Dear Supporters and Friends: Each year, we like to share with you something special that enhanced or complemented our perennial work.

AWUM’s contribution to the overall health of our local community is our ability to provide culturally sensitive services to women facing among the most difficult and frightening circumstances in their lives.

When AWUM’s advocates sit with women in meetings with lawyers or in the courtroom or in the shelter, our goal is to provide a calm presence and a comforting atmosphere.

During the last fiscal year, AWUM was honored to receive a grant to support an idea that has been germinating for quite some time.

We have embarked on an initiative to train people who speak several key languages (Chinese, Karen, Hindi, Cambodian, to name a few) to become part-time advocates. These staff members are trained in a customized curriculum with an emphasis on patterns and trends that are common in the Asian community with regards to family violence.

These additional team members are called “language advocates,” and function as translators during intake meetings, support groups, and other situations in which a woman receives AWUM’s advocacy services. This grant, therefore, equips us to maintain calm and comfort when working with women, regardless of English proficiency.

We look forward to continued partnership with you in this work. The next months and years promise to offer even more reason to forge strategic connections and entrepreneurial spirit as we keep working toward ending domestic violence by promoting safe and healthy relationships within the Asian-Pacific Islander community, and beyond.

Sincerely, Ruby Nguyen, Board Chair Claudia R. Waring, Executive Director

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FY 2015-16 HIGHLIGHTS

AWUM FROM THE HEART 20

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On October 1, 2015 AWUM hosted its annual fundraiser, AWUM from the Heart, at the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis to support women and their children fleeing domestic violence. The evening included a special performances by Sabrina Townsend (Chinese Opera) & Katha Dance Theatre. Deepest thanks to all our guests and donors! (Photos: Ramesh Harjani, Jasmin Kemp & Paul Lee)

FY 2015-16 HIGHLIGHTS

AWUM volunteers & staff gathered February 20, 2016 Saturday afternoon for a group selfie as the full day Volunteer Orientation & Training closed with positive energy. The group posed in front of art work created to reflect on “sheroic” qualities that our volunteers bring to their service at the House of Peace. We rely on our volunteers and appreciate each person’s offer of service. Thank you, AWUM volunteers!

VOLUNTEER & INTERN ORIENTATION/ TRAINING

A big “Thank You!” to Girl Scout Troop 55268 for their donation of toiletry items - four grocery bags filled to the top! These girls donated shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, lotion, and more for our House of Peace 24 hour emergency shelter residents.

Thank you, Girl Scouts, for their kind and thoughtful efforts to help others in need! (Photo: Bao Moua)

GIRL SCOUT TROOP DONATIO

ON

TOGETHER VIOLENCE FREE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL In 2015, at least 34 Minnesotans were killed due to violence from a current or former intimate partner. On March 29, 2016, AWUM partnered with Alpha Phi Gamma (UofMN) to hold a candlelight vigil to remember those who have lost their lives & to honor those who have survived domestic violence.

The vigil was held at the University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Union outdoor front plaza. This event was held in conjunction with the Minnesota Action Day March & Rally on March 30. (Photo: Ramesh Harjani)

TESTIMONIALS

ERICKA BERGQUIST VOLUN T EER

“I’m so glad that I decided to do my service learning requirement at AWUM, because I’ve had so many great experiences! It’s been an honor getting to work with all of the advocates and the work they do is amazing.

I’m glad I was able to help out even just a little bit. Thank you so much and I wish you the best of luck with things to come!”

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN STUDENTS’ COMME NT S F ROM AN AWUM CL A SS PRES ENTATION

“The Asian culture has always been kinda hard to understand for me. Your presentation was very helpful in understanding Asian culture along with domestic abuse. Thank you so much!”

“I truly appreciated your insight on the concept of relationships being on a scale. The idea that it’s not helpful to think of abusers as monsters was very helpful to me in thinking about relationships. Thank you for speaking to that.”

SERVICES

HOUSE OF PEACE (HOP) Temporary emergency shelter Women’s support group & ELL (English Language Learner) classes Assistance in obtaining an Order for Protection (OFP) or Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) Assistance in filing for financial assistance & reparations claims Legal referrals for family and immigration law 24-hour multi-lingual crisis line Safety planning Children’s group activities

Legal (criminal & civil court) advocacy Sexual assault advocacy Assistance with immigration services On-going follow-up services Violence prevention & outreach in the API community Support groups in schools Training for service providers Community dialogues & education on domestic violence within the API communities

COMMUNITY ADVOCACY PROGRAM

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F I N A N C I A L I N F O R M AT I O N

SUPPORT AND REVENUE Government Grants Contributions Other income (various sources)

$ 779,133 $ 128,525 $ 7,341

Total

$ 914,999

85% 14% 1%

EXPENSE Program Services $ 821,517 Management and Administration $ 80,607 Fundraising $ 11,338

LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS

ASSETS

Total

$ 913,462

Current Assets: Cash Accounts Receivable Pledges receivable Prepaid Expenses

90% 9% 1%

$ 65,815 $ 80,973 $ 30,000 $ 45,392

Leasehold Improvements & Equipment - Net

$ 108,082

Total Assets

$ 330,262

Current Liabilities: Accounts Payable Accrued Expenses Accrued Salaries & Vacation Refundable Advances Total Current Liabilities

$ 5,757 $ 11,672 $ 47,065 $ 22,230 $ 86,724

Net Assets: Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Total Net Assets

$ 198,538 $ 45,000 $ 243,538

Total Liabilities & Net Assets

$ 330,262

GRANTS, CONTRACTS, FOUNDATIONS City of Minneapolis: GTEAP (Grants to Encourage Arrest and Enforce Protection Orders: Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice) FR Bigelow Foundation Hennepin County - Domestic Abuse Service Center (DASC) HRK Foundation Hennepin County Bar Foundation Otto Bremer Foundation Saint Paul Foundation State of Minnesota Office of Justice Programs WCA Foundation

INDIVIDUAL CASH AND IN-KIND DONORS Usha Meghani Abramovitz Acme Comedy Company Alpha Phi Gamma UMN Kristine Arneson Graham Barnes Mary-Clare Bates Andrew W. Beck Breadsmith Chanhasssen Dinner Theatre Jamie Chai Pritika Chowdhry Regina Chu Color Me Mine Suzanne Cook Sonia Davila-Williams Arundhati Deo Veena Deo Sumei DeVet Siv Dobrovolny Michelle Dyer Duane Egstad Sherry Elwell Lida Etemad Maureen Faber Angela Jones Flanaghan Susan Frenzel Sunita Gangopadhyay Dana Gillespie Girl Scout Troop 55268 Janet & Hartono Halim Savita & Ramesh Harjani Daisy Haung (Shuang Hur)

Stephanie Hawkinson Angeline (Sokunthea) Heng Amy Her Gaoly Her Lou Her Mong Her Panu Her Khara Hesse Lynda Hinrichs James Hodges Christine Howard House of Peace residents Jordan Humble David Ingham Helen Ingham Amy Isenor Hana Jang Cheryl L. Jensen Nayana Jha Sipra Jha Yamini Jha-Korman & Dan Korman Bhagwati Karki Jasmin Kemp Amber Kerr Jennifer Kim-Ardakani Connie M. Korman Katelyn Korman Sajla Aggarwal Koul Kristi Lahti-Johnson Carolyn Larson Jim Lee Paul Lee

Phoua Lee Joan Linck Kristine Lizdas Mui Ly Patrick McNattin Yasmin Mehrotra Resmaa Menakem Matt Meyer (CrossFit Sabertooth) Mid-America Festivals, MN Renaissance Festival Mike Davis (Burlesque of North America) Rebecca Milanovich Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Minnesota Orchestra Minnesota Vikings Tanni & Bhabani Misra Afagh Mohajeri Ann Moore Mai Moua Stacy Moua Mu Performing Arts Lucas Munn Rita Mustaphi (Katha Dance Theatre) Rupa Nair Willard W. & Jeanne Nelson Ruby Nguyen Yvonne Olsen Ben Pabich Sharmistha Patnaik Monique Patterson Penumbra Theatre Pillsbury House & Theatre Phoua Lee (Phoua’s CupCake Creations) Kamala Puram Vikas Puri Rouge Urban Salon Grace Rybak

The Saint Paul Hotel St. Paul Saints Baseball Club Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream Molly Schwartz Diane Seep Deepa Sethi Sigma Psi Zeta UMN Sneha Saxena Singh Neelam & Arun Singh Soderberg’s Floral & Gifts Kris Solz Gerald J. Stahl Joseph Stahl Ann Sullivan Surly Brewing Co. Duraikkannan Sundarackannan Amudhu Sundarackannu Drs. Robyn Tabibi & Dain Meyer Ma Thao Sheng Thao Kathryn Mary Tierney & David Tierney Kim A. Tong Sabrina Townsend Elaine Vue Bea N. Vue-Benson Kathy Walen Deborah Walters Grace A. Wang Anne & Michael Waring Claudia R. Waring Ada Wong Grace & Paul Wong Nancy Wong Pete K. Wong Bau Yang Emily Youngdahl Wright Valerie & Ken Wurster

LEADERSHIP: BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kris Arneson Regina Chu, Secretary Sue Cook, Treasurer Ruby Nguyen, President

LEAD STAFF Sipra Jha, Shelter Director Lucas (Louie) Munn, Facilities Supervisor Shoua Kong, CAP Lead Claudia R. Waring, Executive Director Nancy Wong, Communications Manager

Asian Women United of Minnesota, P.O. Box 6223, Mpls, MN 55406 24-Hour Crisis: 612-724-8823 Office: 612-724-0756 Fax: 612-729-0660 awum@awum.org, www.awum.org Designed by Nan Sinchai