Commemorative Journal - 7th Annual "The Beauty of Survival"

7th Annual

The Beauty of

SURVIVAL October 20, 2016

Violence Intervention Program, Inc.

VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM, INC.

MISSION Our mission is to lead Latina victims of domestic abuse to safety, to empower them to live violence-free lives, and to reach and sustain their full potential. We pursue this mission by raising community awareness, engaging in activism, and by providing culturally competent services.

Violence Intervention Program, Inc. congratulates our

7th Annual

The Beauty of SURVIVAL honorees Amarilys Cortijo M. D.

Eufemia González

Medical Director Institute for Family Health Mt. Hope Family Practice ECHO and NYC Free Clinics

Multilingual Entrepreneur, Healthy Produce Vendor, Home Attendant…y mucho más!

Sonia Manzano

Yvonne Saavedra Limb

Actress and Writer

Executive TDX Construction

VIP is proud to honor the work of socially conscious leaders

BENEFIT COMMITTEE Annette Stewart Betsy Mallow Cecilia Gastón Claire McLeveighn Damaris Hernández EILEEN FISHER Erin Enright Francisco González Jane Byrne Jennifer P. Muñoz Loretta Vosseler Marcy Siskind Maria Cristina Latorre Uriza

Marizaida Umpierre Mayra Oviedo Mildred Tolentino Milga Morales Oliver and Maxandra Kramer Richard Hall Rita Prats-Rodríguez Robin Chappell-Golston Salome Galib Silda Palerm Susan Migliaccio Lisette Nieves

Anne Logan Karen DiPieri Elba Montalvo Katie Graziano

Pat Maloney Rita DiMartino Vanessa Ramos

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

SPONSORS

Trailblazers JP Morgan Chase MJK Family Foundation

Leaders Jane Byrne, Quinn Emmanuel Omega Phi Beta, Sorority, Inc., Alpha Beta Alumnae Chapter Advocates Casabe Housing Development Fund Corp.

James Rubin WellCare Matthew Mallow & Ellen Chesler TDX Construction Corporation Emblem Health FMTC/Uniheights

Defenders Silda Palerm Richard Hall JFK&M Consulting Group LLC Ramรณn Trenor Major Supporters Elba Montalvo Lisa Ferri Cynthia Arato Brian Brown Ellen Chesler Andrew Roffe FMTC Amy Glickman Rita Carrillo Rosenthal Fund Barbara Wynn Institute of Family Health Katie Graziano Paul Scariano

Special Thanks Senses New York Salon & Spa Laurel Glen Vineyard New York Yoga Richard Hall Oscar Toro Nocciola Ristorante Cecilia Gastón Milga Morales Rent the Runway El Barrio’s Artspace PS109 Scholastic, Inc. Betsy Mallow Margarita Martínez

OUR HISTORY 30th

Casa Sandra

Manhattan

STOP

Established as a domestic violence awareness project in East Harlem.

VIP splits from EHCHS and opens the Manhattan office to offer non-residential services.

Opens Casa Sandra, the only transitional housing program at the time to serve DV survivors.

The Promotoras initiative empowers survivors to become community health advocates and leaders.

VIP celebrates 30 Years of operations

1984

1989

2005

2009

2014

1988 Opens Moriviví, a domestic violence shelter for immigrant Latinas in NYC.

Moriviví

2001 Bronx non-residential office is opened.

Bronx

2006

2010

2015

Queens non-residential office opens to provide service to adults, children and youth.

Economic empowerment services initiative is established.

Strategic planning efforts reaffirms VIP´s mission

Queens

OUR SERVICES

Community Education & Outreach Program

Known as La Voz (The Voice), the CEO program focuses on raising public awareness about the detrimental impact of domestic abuse and sexual assault in the Latino community while promoting civil action and community partnership.

Hotline

VIP manages the only live-operated bilingual (English-Spanish) 24-hour holine in New York City. Counselor Advocates provide an array of services including over-the-phone crisis counseling, safety planning, emergency shelter information, and referrals to housing and other community based social service provioders as needed.

Moriviví Safe-Dwelling Site Residential Program VIP´s emergency shelter is an option for survivors as they move toward establishing violence-free lives. Families are housed in scattered site apartments from 90-180 days and receive a range of services including individual and group counseling, advocacy, and case management.

Casa Sandra Residential Program

VIP provides elegible families coming out of domestic violence shelters up to two years of transitional/supportive housing. Clients are referred via New York City’s network of emergency domestic violence shelters or other community based organizations.

Non-Residential Programs

VIP’s Non-Residential component operates out of our Manhattan, Queens, and Bronx locations. Here Counselor Advocates support clients by providing information, referrals, advocacy, counseling, economic empowerment and financial literacy skills buildings, children and youth services, emergency assistance and life skills building.

WHO ARE OUR CLIENTS? White 5%

Other 9% African American 13%

Latina 73%

50% 92% 65% 38% 62%

are between 30-45 years old. are female. are not US citizens. have less than a high school education. have a household income of less than $10,000 anually.

WELCOME LETTER Dear Friends, The Beauty of Survival celebrates the strength and triumph of survivors as well as of those who support them. We take this moment each year to reaffirm why we exist, and for whom. With great admiration, we recognize each survivor’s unique story as they walk through our doors. We have seen them overcome the pain of domestic abuse, from the bruises and injuries of physical violence to the internal marks left by sexual and emotional trauma. We listen, with care, and support them as they heal, develop, and thrive. VIP is committed to combating the stigma and misconceptions surrounding domestic violence by raising social consciousness and strengthening community. Through our programs and campaigns, we are changing minds and opening hearts to a different way of thinking about gender violence – one that recognizes our collective responsibility in the healing process. We also celebrate and honor those in the community who with their efforts and example, contribute to our work and make this a better City. Without them, we would not exist.

This year has been a year of insecurity, as we have seen a rise in acts and speech of hate directed at immigrants, Latin@s, and women. Nevertheless, our resilient clients continue to defy the odds on their path to safety. We have not been deterred either – in FY16 alone, we reached 20,129 individuals and received 7,305 calls on our hotline. We could not continue to ensure our clients get the services and resources they need without the help of our strategic partners and supporters and our dedicated staff. Thank you for all that you do to help us to nurture the strength in our families and communities.

Cecilia M. Gastón Executive Director

Silda Palerm

Chair, Board of Directors

HONOREES Sonia Manzano Actress and Writer

Sonia Manzano is a first-generation Puerto Rican who has affected the lives of millions of parents and children since the early 1970s, when she was offered an opportunity to play “Maria” on Sesame Street.

Manzano was raised in the South Bronx where her involvement in the arts was inspired by teachers who encouraged her to audition for the High School of Performing Arts. She was accepted there and began her career as an actress. A scholarship took her to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and in her junior year, she came to New York to star in the original production of the off-Broadway show Godspell.

Manzano has performed on the New York stage in the critically acclaimed theater pieces The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated and Love Loss and What I Wore.

Her children’s books, published by Simon and Schuster include No Dogs Allowed!, A Box Full of Kittens and Miracle on 133rd Street. In 2004 No Dogs Allowed! was selected by General Mills for their Spoonfuls of Stories series. Over one million copies of No Dogs Allowed! were given away in cereal boxes courtesy of General Mills. Scholastic has published two of her novels, The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano and a memoir Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx.

She is an advisor and reader for literary NY institution Symphony Space’s Selected Shorts, and their adult literacy program, All-Write.

Manzano has donated her services to the Bronx Children’s Museum by writing picture book, The Lowdown on the Highbridge. Book proceeds will go to the operations and efforts of an actual museum for the children of the Bronx.

She earned 15 Emmys as a staff writer for Sesame Street and was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Yvonne Saavedra Limb Executive TDX Construction

Ms. Yvonne Saavedra Limb, a successful manager of over 100 domestic and international large-scale multi-million dollar projects completed under her leadership, is a highly respected and accomplished professional. With extensive experience in all facets of the architectural, construction and real estate industry, she possesses a varied combination of technical expertise and management skills.

Currently, she is an executive with TDX Construction Corporation for the New York City Economic Development Corporation Priority Mitigation Projects for Health + Hospitals where FEMA funding has been awarded to advance New York’s comprehensive, Five-Borough resiliency plan, and is being utilized to repair and protect the City’s hospitals damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

Yvonne Saavedra Limb, a Registered Architect in New York State, graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in Architecture. Yvonne is a LEED Accredited Professional with expertise in Building Design and Construction. Ms. Saavedra Limb was on the faculty of New York University in the Real Estate Division for 10 years, and is presently a Lecturer at the Center for Architecture/American Institute of Architects for LEED Accreditations and Sustainability Courses. She is an active participant in relief missions of “Midnight Run” to provide the homeless with bare essentials needed for their survival, and has been commended by her friends and peers for her untiring mentoring efforts along her career.

Ms. Yvonne Saavedra Limb received the Businesswoman of the Year Award from the New York State Department of Economic Development, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Professional Achievement Award from Professional Women in Construction. Yvonne was featured in NBC Network TV’s “VISIONES” program on Successful Career Women.

HONOREES Amarilys Cortijo M. D.

Medical Director, Institute for Family Health, Mt. Hope Family Practice, ECHO and NYC Free Clinics Born in Cuba, Dr. Amarilys Cortijo lived under the Revolution for 8 years before emigrating. She lived in Spain, Puerto Rico, and Pittsburgh before settling in New York in 1968, where her journey in the medical field began. Before studying and practicing medicine, Dr. Amarilys Cortijo first received a post baccalaureate graduate degree in History of Religions at Fordham University (1971-1977).

Four years later she received her M.D. degree from Ponce School of Medicine with a specialty in family medicine. Dr. Cortijo completed her residency in Family Medicine Program at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. and went on to become a member of a multi-specialty medical group in Brooklyn. In 2000, in order to better serve the underprivileged populations of New York City and to assume a faculty position to educate future medical students in the field of Family Medicine, she became Medical Director within the non-profit Institute for Family Health at the Mt. Hope Family Practice Office, 130 West Tremont Ave. Bronx, N.Y. 10453. As Medical Director she oversees two Free Clinics for the uninsured in conjunction with the students of Albert Einstein School of Medicine and NYU School of Medicine in both Bronx and Manhattan respectively. Throughout these roles, Dr. Cortijo has cared for numerous immigrants and their families, showing them the compassion and respect they deserve. Additionally, Dr. Cortijo serves as Assistant Professor on the Faculty of Albert Einstein School of Medicine with direct teaching responsibilities for medical students doing rotations in Family Medicine. In 2011 she was inducted into the Leo Davidoff Society for teaching excellence by her colleagues at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

Dr. Cortijo is a true champion for health justice—not only focusing on making healthcare accessible to the uninsured she is also committed to making healthcare professions accessible to underresourced communities.

Eufemia González

Multilingual Entrepreneur, Healthy Produce Vendor, Home Attendant…y mucho más!

Eufemia courageously left Mexico and her indigenous Mixteca community seeking better opportunities in the United States. She arrived in New York speaking only Mixteco with minimal resources and without so-called formal work experience. Despite these odds stacked against her, Eufemia’s drive and tenacity pushed her to build a network within her community.

After leaving her abusive partner and father of her four children it was her entrepreneurial spirit that drove her to learn the trade of fruit and vegetable vending but, as in all aspects of her life, she went a step further and turned this venture into a thriving business through which she is now able to employ several underprivileged people in her community with whom she feels a bond of solidarity and kinship. Beyond supporting her four children she is also an anchor of support for her siblings who look to her for guidance, assistance, and inspiration.

Since receiving a full scholarship to the International Center of New York in 2011 she has been learning English which is her third language after Spanish and Mixteco. Additionally, she has obtained a U-Visa and work authorization for herself and her daughter and has her sights set on becoming a nurse in the future. Eufemia is truly the embodiment of the revolutionary possibility that exists beyond the cycle of violence, rooted is self-determination and changing the future of her family.

EMCEES Rachel Strauss-Muñiz Room 28 Comedy

A Brooklyn Native of both Dominican and Jewish-American heritage, Rachel “La Loca” Strauss-Muniz, the JewMinicana is a comedic actress with an arsenal of characters, voices, accents and realness.

Rachel’s admitted obsession with game shows has landed her as a contestant on “The Price is Right” and “The Newlywed Game”. Rachel has also had television appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman Show, Nuvo TV’s, “Latino 101” and has starred in documentaries such as HBO Latino’s “Habla Ya!” and “The Bigger the Hoop” (Latino Flavored Productions). She also served as a parttime commentator on MTV’s “FNMTV” video review program.

Rachel also has experience on the airwaves. For four years Rachel La Loca was a part of the Internet radio craze on Urban Latino Radio. She has completed multi-episodic web series’ such as “The Work Jerks “ and “Ungirly”. She has collaborated with Univision’s “Flama” channel on viral hits like “Latino Field Studies” “Dominican Uber”, “Puerto Ricans Vs Dominicans” “Abuela BnB” and “Dominican Juicing”.

Rachel La Loca thrives on performing live. On stage, Rachel was involved in two runs of “Please Hold” which was featured in The 2009 Ultimate Latina Theater Festival and “The Crazy Mexican Show” which ran during the 2010 Ultimate Latina Theater Festival. She was part of the traveling cast of “Yo Soy Latina”.

Rachel has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Latino Studies and studied improv at The Upright Citizens Brigade.

Juan Bago

Room 28 Comedy

With his high e ­ nergy physical style of comedy, Michael “Juan Bago” Diaz has evolved throughout the years into a versatile entertainer. In 2006, Michael wrote, produced and starred in his first independent film “The Story of Juan Bago.” Which was in 3 film festivals The success of the slapstick ­humored film led to Michael’s involvement with various projects as a producer, actor and host.

For years Diaz worked on Room 28 Comedy, where he served as both a producer and talent. He has studied at the famed Upright Citizens Brigade to perfect his comedy and improvisation skills.

Consecutively, it led to his next up rise as co­host on The Bochinche Bueno Show on Urban Latino Radio for two years. He then worked on various projects ranging from producing and starring in the short film, “Act of Love” to working as a personality for Nuvotv’s series Latino101,MTV Tr3s Chisme Club & HBO Latino’s series Habla Ya! Parts 1 & 2. His Parody Group “Juan Bago and O” created the viral hits “Pan con Queso”, “Dominis in the Heights”, “Hooked on Hookah”. Coverage of his videos have been featured in The New York Daily News, Telemundo, Yahoo News, Billboard. com, and the video on rotation on Mun2, MtvTr3s and Music Choice while accumulating over 2 million views. Michael worked with Lipton and Remezlca to host Brisk Bodega Chat a series traveling the country interviewing up and coming artists. He produced and starred “Studio Heads webisodes which was featured in Daily news & Splitsider.com , a co­star in the Award Winning Weberies “Henry”. You can currently check out some of his current work on Univision’s, “Flama” channel, including videos that went viral like “Puerto Ricans vs Dominicans” & “Dominican Uber” which combined for over 12 million views.

VIOLENCE INTERVENTION Cecilia M. Gastón Executive Director

Cecilia M. Gastón began her tenure as Executive Director of VIP in June 2008. She has a strong track record of service to disenfranchised groups, especially in the Latina community. In 1998, she was recognized as one of El Diario/La Prensa’s Outstanding Women of the Year for her commitment to social justice and women’s health issues. Prior to heading VIP, she worked at Inwood House, one of New York City’s leading teen pregnancy prevention programs. She has also served as program director of multiple supportive housing programs serving people living with HIV/AIDS. Currently, Ms. Gastón is an active board member of The New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and represents the Coalition of Domestic Violence Providers on the NYC Continuum of Care in the struggle for affordable housing. She has served as a board member for the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families and the New York Women’s Foundation and is a member of the New York Women’s Foundation Grants Committee. She was a National Urban Fellow and recipient of the Capstone Award in Public Administration.

Born in Havana, Cuba to a Cuban father and Mexican mother, she traveled often between the two countries. In 1961, she immigrated with her family to the United States. This uniquely bicultural and multinational background, coupled with her family’s high standard for academics and social awareness, has given her a distinct perspective in her work with Latino and disenfranchised communities.

Ms. Gastón earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s Dominican College in New Orleans and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch College.

PROGRAM, INC. (VIP) Silda Palerm

Chair, Board of Directors Silda Palerm has been the Chair of the Board of Directors of Violence Intervention Program Inc. (VIP) since 2014. She is also the CoChair of the Mayor’s Commission on Gender Equity, and since June, a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood NYC. Silda had a long legal career in New York City, that included work as Executive Vice President and Legal Director of Legal Momentum, formerly the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund;Vice President and global head of litigation at Warner Music Group; Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York; and associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Silda obtained her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.

She studied law at the University of Puerto Rico (J.D.) and at Harvard Law School (LL.M.). Silda clerked in the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico for the Honorable Federico Hernandez Denton and in the First Circuit Court of Appeals for the Honorable Stephen Breyer, now Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. From 2001 to 2007, Silda was a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Women’s Foundation. Silda has also served on the board of directors of the John Jay College Foundation and MFY Legal Services.

Silda is married to Richard Hall and together they have a daughter, Victoria Hall-Palerm.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Silda Palerm, Chair

Milga Morales

Marizaida Umpierre, Vice Chair

Susan Migliaccio

Co-Chair Mayor’s Commission on Gender Equity

Research Associate, Mount Sinai School of Medicine Dept. of Psychiatry

Loretta M. Vosseler, Treasurer Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer The Keswell School

Mayra Oviedo, Secretary Director Morgan Stanley & Co.

Robin Chappelle-Golston Vice President of Corporate Relations and Government Affairs EmblemHealth

Betsy Mallow

Executive Deputy Commissioner and COO,

New York State Homes and Community Renewal

Dean and Vice President for Student Affairs Brooklyn College

Director, Advisory, Forensic Services PricewaterhouseCoopers

Rita Prats-RodrĂ­guez,

East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc. Bilingual Headstart

Vanessa Ramos, ESQ

Director of Training and Development New York City Commission on Human Rights

Annette Stewart

Senior Programme Manager, Global Banking and Markets HSBC Securities (USA)

STAFF Executive

Casa Sandra Supportive Housing

Executive Director

Program/Property Manager

Cecilia Gastón

María E. Mondéjar Executive Assistant

Asli Ozdemir

Program Data Manager

Norma Urigüen

Deputy Director for Programs

Fiscal Department Eliazar Suriel Comptroller

Mario Martínez Bookkeeper

Fund Development Lillian Robles

Director of Development

Kelly Guajardo

Development Associate

Julia Sick

P/T Development Associate

Human Resources Natalie Borrero

Human Resources Manager

Maintenance Jhonny Virgil Porter

Morivivi Safe Dwelling Vilma Caraballo Program Manager

Christine Rodríguez Program Assistant

Christina Baquero Janet Sánchez

Counselor/Advocate

Neriluc Gómez

F/T House Monitor/Hotline Counselor

Denisse Valerio

P/T House Monitor/Hotline Counselor

Hilda Alba

P/T House Monitor/Hotline Counselor

Olga Rocha

P/T House Monitor/Hotline Counselor

Kelly D’Gracía

P/D House Monitor/Hotline Counselor

Ruby García

P/D House Monitor/Hotline Counselor

Robert Glasthal Maintenance

Bronx Compañeras María Elena González Program Coordinator

Keyla Nuñez Sr. Counselor

Deymis Baquero

Counselor/Advocate

Sharika Valerio

Counselor/Advocate

Lissette Gutiérrez Counselor/Advocate

Carina Chavarria

Counselor/Advocate

Tatiana Cardona EE Specialist

Linda Votruba

Manhattan Compañeras

Rachelle Henríquez

Program Coordinator

Sr Counselor/Advocate Counselor/Advocate

Nancy Morales

Counselor/Advocate

Kischa Negrón Maintenance

César Carrión Maintenance

Lorena Kourousias Modesta Castaño Counselor/Advocate

Diane Orengo

Counselor/Advocate

Jennifer Ruiz Díaz Counselor/Advocate

Cinthya Simisterra Counselor/Advocate

Queens Compañeras

Bilingual Hotline

Program Coordinator

Sr. Hotline Counselor

Vianey Romero Dayhana Olivo

Counselor/Advocate

Yainel Peña-Furment Counselor/Advocate

Claudia Guzmán

Counselor/Advocate

Community Outreach/EducationProgram Rocío García

Coordinator La Voz

Hilary Pérez

Outreach Specialist

Claudia Álvarez-Plaud Outreach Specialist

Julissa Ayala

Virginia Shockey Hotline Counselor

Ángela Díaz

Hotline Counselor

2015

FORMER HONOREES Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Eileen Fisher

Chairwoman EILEEN FISHER, Inc.

Reisa Brafman

Guadalupe Pérez

Natalia Martín

Miosotys Cavallo

Social Consciousness Leader EILEEN FISHER, Inc.

VIP Client & Survivor

2014

New York City District Attorney

Rosemonde Pierre-Louis

Director of Diversity Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

VIP Client & Survivor

2013

Commissioner NYC Mayor’s Office to Combat DV

Karla G. Sánchez

Executive Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice, NYS Attorney General’s Office

Julissa Ferreras

Council Member New York City 21st District

Caridad de la Luz

Poet, Actress, and Activist

Lorna Solis

Chief Executive Officer Blue Rose Compass

2012 Jacqueline Mondros

María Castañeda Secretary/Treasurer 1199 SEIU

Estela Vázquez

Executive Vice President 1199 SEIU

José Calderón President

President Hispanic Federation

2011

Dean, Silberman School Hunter College

María Hinojosa

Quenia Abreu

Susan Bartlestone

Jillian E. Joseph

Margarita Martinez

President & CEO New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce

Host Crime Prevention 101

2010

Anchor & Managing Editor, NPR’s Latino USA

Melissa Mark-Viverito Speaker NYC Council

Skadden Arps, Slate Meager & Flom, LLP

VIP Promotora

MUSIC Flor de Toloache

Latin Grammy Nominees Mariachi Flor de Toloache make New York City history as its’ First and Only AllWomen Mariachi Group. Founded in 2008, Mariachi Flor de Toloache is lead by singers Mireya I. Ramos (founder) & Shae Fiol (original member). Reminiscent of the early days of mariachi the group started as a trio, Harp, Violin and Vihuela. Today, Mariachi Flor De Toloache performs as a full Mariachi ensemble. The members hail from diverse cultural backgrounds such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Australia, Colombia, Germany, Italy and the United States. This defines their unique flavor and sound. The result of this cultural bouquet is an edgy, versatile and fresh take on traditional Mexican music. They coalesce as would a band of sisters, with a grace and vibrant beauty that casts a spell over their audiences not unlike the legendary Toloache flower still being used in Mexico as a love potion. While working to preserve centuries old traditions of Mariachi, their melange of the traditional and the modern pushes the boundaries of the genre and brings Mariachi music to new audiences.

Mariachi Flor De Toloache’s critically acclaimed self-titled debut album received a Latin Grammy nomination for “Best Ranchera Album” of 2015. Sharing the podium with legends Pedro Fernández and Aida Cuevas meant an embrace from the Latin Music Community. The group’s live performances were praised by Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, The New Yorker, GQ Magazine, The New York Times. Following a highly praised NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert”, their collaboration with rock supergroup The Arcs landed them on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and BBC 2’s Later with Jools Holland.

STUDENTS The Voice for The Voiceless

Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) As part of a school project last year, ninth graders at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) researched social issues that impact their local community and the organizations that help. Twentyfive student groups, comprised of over onehundred students, developed and delivered presentations on various issues including domestic violence, food and environmental justice, homelessness, drug abuse, support for undocumented students, and more with the goal of spreading awareness for the issues they care about. In partnership with Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), the student group with the most compelling presentation earned a $5,000 grant to deliver to a deserving organization on behalf of the school community.

Last year, The Voice for The Voiceless - comprised of Ashley Rodriguez, Sujeiry Santos, Brian Uceta, and Cayleen Polanco - was the winning team and earned the $5,000 grant for VIP Mujeres. These students, committed to learning more about how domestic violence affects their local community, found VIP through a fellow student whose mother volunteers there. Over the course of several weeks, these students conducted online research, in person interviews, and spoke with people in the community about the impact of domestic violence in Washington Heights and the work VIP does to help. They then developed a ten-minute presentation that earned them the top spot in the competition.

PROGRAM 1.

Welcome & Opening Remarks Emcees Rachel Strauss-Muñiz and Juan Bago

2.

The Voice for The Voiceless Teacher Anthony Voulgarides and 9th grade students from Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS): Ashley Rodriguez, Sujeiry Santos, Brian Uceta, and Cayleen Polanco

3.

2016 Beauty of Survival Honorees Award Presentations Dr. Amarilys Cortijo Yvonne Saavedra Limb Sonia Manzano Eufemia González

4.

Closing Remarks Cecilia Gastón, Executive Director

5.

Presentation Mariachi Flor de Toloache

6.

Networking

WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT

THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM’S

NY035743_CAD_ADV_ENG ©WellCare 2016 NY_10_16

79139

ANNUAL BEAUTY OF SURVIVAL BENEFIT OCTOBER 20, 2016

TDX Construction Corporation is proud to support the Violence Intervention Program 7th Annual The Beauty of Survival

TDX

CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 212 279 1981 212 279 1983 FAX

w w w . t d xc o n st r u c t i o n . c o m

Thank you VIPMujeres for providing services that lead Latina victims of domestic abuse to safety and empowering them live violence-free lives.

Commitment and dedication inspire successful communities. Thank you for your inspiration.

emblemhealth.com