the power of resilience Violence Intervention Program, Inc.

Commemorative Journal April 4, 2019 Museum of the City of New York

violence intervention program, inc.

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

Dear Friends, This year, we were proud to honor Cecilia Gastón for extraordinary contributions on behalf of Latina/o/x survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Cecilia served at VIP’s Executive Director from 2008 until 2018. In those ten years, VIP achieved tremendous growth that would not have been possible without her leadership. Cecilia came to VIP at a critical time in our history and brought the passion and drive necessary to bring stability to an organization in transition. To ensure that her career and commitment will be recognized for years to come, VIP has established the Cecilia Gastón Award in her honor. This year’s benefit, entitled The Power of Resilience, was also a celebration of VIP’s 35th anniversary. Founded by women’s rights and anti-violence movement leaders in the 1980s, our activist legacy continues to inspire and underpin our work. Thanks to your solidarity and support, VIP has evolved from a grassroots East Harlem-based response to domestic violence to become one of the most trusted culturally specific organizations supporting survivors throughout NYC. Thank you for being part of our journey. Margarita Guzmán Executive Director

Silda Palerm Chair, Board of Directors

Violence Intervention Program, Inc. congratulates our honoree

Cecilia M. Gastรณn Former Executive Director Violence Intervention Program, Inc.

co-chairs Anne E. Delaney Abigail E. Disney

benefit committee Robin Chappelle Golston Kyle Dandelet Erin Enright Dr. Rosa Gil Amy Glickman Betsy Mallow Elba Montalvo Milga Morales

Mayra M. Oviedo Silda Palerm Jonathan Park Vanessa Santiago Erika Soto Lamb Linnaea Tillett Manuel J. VĂŠlez Angie Wang

sponsors Underwriter

Anne E. Delaney

MJK FAMILY FOUNDATION

Co-Underwriter

Sponsor

Betsy Mallow & Jeremy Robbins

Jamie Rubin

Supporter

Ellen Chesler & Matthew J. Mallow

Friend

Judy Hall

Lissette Nieves-Gund

Special Thanks

Quality Italian

Cecilia Gastรณn

Thanks to our supporters Ashley Antler Josué Argüelles Zenon Arribálzaga Amy Barasch Andrew Baroody Lindsay Brienza Anna Carbonell Rita Carillo Ana Cepin Barbara Chesler Aiyoung Choi Kathleen Clarke Brynne Craig Kate Danzinger Erik Eckholm Diane and Peter Escher Lisa Ferri Jill Fink Julian Fisher FTMC Corporation

Salome Galib Michael Gallin Mariana Gastón Miles Gideon Rosa Goldensohn Douglas Grover Linda Guerrero Danielle Guindo Cindy Handler Carolien Hardenbol Mary Haviland Chrissy Hines Madeline Holder Lisa Holton Pamela Huling Juan Ibarra Juan Carlos Ibarra Alla Jesmir Frank Johnson Scott Kennedy

Ruth Kreitzman Valyrie Laedlein Sandra Lamb Karen Lazarus Ruth Levine Lawrence Li María Lizardo Priscilla Ma Sally MacNichol Ernesto Malavé Jon Mallow Susan Migliaccio Stephanie Nilva Nora Oberfield Ramón Peguero César Perales José Pérez Osterman Pérez Rosemonde Pierre-Louis Rita Prats N.A. Prince Vanessa Ramos

Elsa Ríos Rachel Robbins José Rolón Franklin Romeo Denise Rosario Yvette Russell Digna Sánchez Sara Lee Schupf Mary Scott Niketa Sheth Jamie Stafford-Hill Annette Stewart Alan Teo Linnaea Tillett and A.V. Ryan Barbara Tulliver Manuel J. Vélez Ruth Anne Visnauskas Loretta Vosseler Quentin Walcott Carmen Rita Wong Adrianne Wright Daniel Wright Barbara Wynne

our services Residential Programs The Residential Programs provide confidential and secure housing to survivors and their children fleeing violence. Our Moriviví Emergency Shelter houses families in scattered site apartments for up to 180 days and at Casa Sandra, we provide eligible families coming out of domestic violence shelters one year of supportive housing.

Non-Residential Programs The Non-Residential Programs operate out of our Manhattan, Queens, and Bronx locations, to provide immediate crisis support and referrals in emergency situations along with ongoing counseling.

Hotline The Hotline team acts as VIP’s first responders providing 24/7 crisis support, immediate safety planning and referrals in Spanish and English with access to language interpretation services for speakers of up to 200 other languages. When survivors reach out through the hotline, our compassionate, highly trained counselors answer their calls. Additionally, the hotline team operates a real-time chat option via our website for survivors that have questions about our services but may not be able or ready to call. The chat feature also serves as a resource for advocates, service providers, and people who are concerned about someone in their lives.

Economic Justice Program The Economic Justice Program (EJP) addresses issues of economic inequity that survivors of domestic and sexual violence face and which undermine their safety. Our economic justice work is rooted in the principles of a solidarity economy that brings the community together through a shared vision of economic security and safety for all.

Communications & Outreach Program The Communications and Outreach team engages all community stakeholders to deepen their understanding of domestic and sexual violence within Latina/o/x and communities of color. Our outreach strategy includes a one-of-a-kind community health worker model lead by survivors in our Promotora program.

Brightly East Harlem

Members of Brightly East Harlem, VIP’s ďŹ rst ever cleaning cooperative exclusively owned and operated by Latina survivors of domestic and sexual violence, were recognized at the event for their innovative work. The cooperative business model gives the power directly to the worker-owners who together establish fair wage and labor practices. Brightly East Harlem opens for business this summer!

honoree Cecilia M. Gastón Cecilia M. Gastón as Executive Director at VIP from June 2008 to June 2018. 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. Ms. Gastón been a board member of The New York State Coalition against Domestic Violence and represented 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, Inc. and the New York Women’s Foundation and has been 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. Right now, she is member of the NYC Mayor’s Office Commission on Gender Equity, funding member of the Gender Justice Task Force and member of the Mayor’s Office Task Force on Domestic Violence. She was recently selected by UN Women New York as a Change Maker. 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.

board of directors Silda Palerm, Chair Vestry Laight

Betsy Mallow, Vice Chair NYS Homes & Community Renewal

Susan Migliaccio, Treasurer BNY Mellon

Manuel J. VĂŠlez, Secretary Mayer Brown LLP

Robin Chapelle Golston Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts

Mayra M. Oviedo JP Morgan Chase & Co

Kyle Dandelet Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Vanessa Ramos NYC Commission on Human Rights

Linda Schechter Manley NYS Homes and Community Renewal

Vanessa Santiago Aspira of New York

Milga Morales Brooklyn College (Retired)

Erika Soto Lamb Comedy Central

Mayumi Okuda Benavides Columbia University Medical Center

staff Margarita Guzmán Executive Director Quality Assurance & Compliance Asli Osdemir Director Julia Sick Data & Research Manager

Mariana Salazar Outreach Specialist Ángela Bustamante VISTA Fellow Promotoras María Bárbara López Matilde Solano Esmeralda Galindo Victoria Leal Priscila Galindo

N˘˗-Rˎ˜˒ˍˎ˗˝˒ˊ˕ P˛˘ː˛ˊ˖˜

Finance Eliazar Suriel Director

Rosaana Conforme Director

Viviana Steinberg Senior accountant

Katia Amaya-Salinas Coordinator

Human Resources Diane Ojeda HR Associate

Perla Hidalgo Counselor/Advocate

Development Jonathan Park Director Communications & Outreach María Eugenia Mondéjar Design Manager Kelly Guajardo Communications Manager Karla Mejía Community Organizer Hilary Pérez Senior Outreach Specialist

Bronx Non-Residential

Maxiobelly Díaz Counselor/Advocate Yenni Pompa Counselor/Advocate Oscar López Counselor/Advocate Edson Arzu Economic Advocate Manhattan Non-Residential Luz Cruz Madera Counselor/Advocate Modesta Castaño Counselor/Advocate

Michelle Cameo Coordinator

Casa Sandra Supporting Housing Michelle Pérez Program/Property Manager

Yesenia Cortés Counselor/Advocate

Carina Chavarría Social Worker

Claudia Guzmán Counselor/Advocate

Lissette Gutiérrez Housing Justice Advocate

Economic Justice Program

Janet Sánchez Senior House Monitor

Queens Non-Residential

Lorena Kourousias Director Lauren Osoria Economic Justice Advocate Sexual Violence Project Jennifer Ruíz Díaz Coordinator

Christina Stubbs House Monitor 24-Hour Bilingual Hotline Yainel Peña-Furmet Coordinator

Rˎ˜˒ˍˎ˗˝˒ˊ˕ P˛˘ː˛ˊ˖˜

Olga Rocha Hotline Counselor

Daniel Ortiz Director

Ángela Díaz Hotline Counselor

Moriviví Safe Dwelling Christine Rodríguez Administrative Supervisor

Maintenance

Kelly D´Gracia Supervising Counselor/Advocate Nancy Morales Counselor/Advocate Joannaly Familia Counselor/Advocate

Kischa Negrón Supervisor Johnny Virgil Maintenance Huffman López Maintenance César Carrión Maintenance Robert Glasthal Maintenance

event souvenirs All of our guests received one-of-a-kind earrings designed and crafted by three survivors in our Economic Justice Program. Through their participation in our ArteSanando (Healing Arts) initiative, survivors like Martha, AngĂŠlica and Ana are supported in developing their creative passions while building business models that help them reach their goals. If you would like to support these survivors directly by commissioning more of their artwork feel free to contact them.

Martha Carriel 347-651-0530

Ana Ramírez 347-304-6613

To learn more about

Artesanando visit our webpage

vipmujeres.org

Angélica Ramírez 347-841-3426

ancestors

We hold with great reverence all those who came before us and whose sacriďŹ ces made brought us greater freedom, greater quality of life, and have shown us how to be warriors.

Back row, left to right: Mexican Soldaderas, 1910 Felisa Rincón de Gautiere, Puerto Rico 1897-1994 María Elena Moyano, Perú 1958-1992 Mirabal Sisters, República Dominicana 1960 Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, México 1648-1695 Front row, left to right: Marielle Franco, Brasil 1997-2018 Berta Cáceres, Honduras 1971-2016 Frida Kalho, México 1907-1954 Eva Perón, Argentina 1919-1952 Julia de Burgos, Puerto Rico 1914-1953 Violeta Parra, Chile 1917-1967

Cecilia: From the beginning you’ve been a rare and passionate social justice warrior; one of the first to recognize the impact of violence against women. We see you and are with you. Love, Your sisters at the New York Women's Foundation

MJK FAMILY FOUNDATION Proudly supports the work of

Violence Intervention Program, Inc.

Congratulations

Cecilia M. Gastรณn

This recognition is very well-deserved!

We congratulate

Cecilia M. Gastรณn and

Violence Intervention Program, Inc.

Compassion, Integrity, Courage, Perseverance. We proudly celebrate Cecilia’s values and accomplishments.

Con mucho amor,

La Familia

Congratulations We are pleased to support the Violence Intervention Program and its mission to empower Latina victims of domestic violence.

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Big thank you to the entire VIP staff for all your hard work and dedication. with much love, Betsy Mallow

Congratulations to

Cecilia M. Gastรณn and

Violence Intervention Program, Inc. Jamie Rubin

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OMEGA PHI BETA SORORITY, INC. Proudly supports

Violence Intervention Program, Inc. and congratulates

Cecilia M. Gastón

We congratulate our daughter

Betsy and the

PROUDLY SUPPORTS

Benefit Committee

VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM, INC.

for their amazing work on

the power of resilience

We proudly support

Need Help?

Violence Intervention Program, Inc.

Ellen Chesler & Matthew J. Mallow

¿Necesita Ayuda? 24-Hour Bilingual Hotline Línea Bilingue 24 Horas al Día

1-800-664-5880 Violence Intervention Program, Inc.

#IAmVIP

#YoSoyVIP

At the event we served a signature drink:

“The Gastón” Pineapple Juice Rum Fresh Lime

Enjoy!

See you again next year!