Taking Flight: WCA Newsletter Jan-March 2024

TAKING

Flight

24-HOUR DOMESTIC ABUSE & SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE

208.343.7025 720 W. WASHINGTON ST. BOISE, IDAHO 83702 208.343.3688 WCABOISE.ORG

THE BEA LINE Welcome to the first issue of our 2024 newsletter! Our goal is to keep you informed, provide insight into our programs, and let you know what is coming - all while highlighting individuals and organizations that make our work possible.

Bea Black, CEO

Transitioning into a new year provides an opportunity to look back and reflect on our accomplishments. More importantly, it motivates us to imagine how things can be even better in the future. For some reason, the sense that you can begin again inspires us to think more creatively and look at challenges in a new light.

Whatever the reason, this change in perception provides renewed energy to continue to enhance services to those who have suffered the trauma of domestic abuse, violence and sexual assault.

The WCA team is well into discussions about what that can mean for our work given the continued increase in demand for our resources. Maximizing our ability to serve clients while protecting our teams’ mental and emotional health can sometimes be a tough balancing act.

On a personal note, I had the good fortune to spend a long weekend with my husband, two grown children, their spouses and my two grandsons. We had more laughs and shared so many special moments while doing puzzles, playing games and fixing meals for each other. These simple activities rejuvenated me and reminded me how important it is to work at maintaining connections with those who are important to us. Spending time with family and friends is a goal I hope you have on your list for 2024 - it is certainly on mine!

A new opportunity for the WCA as we begin this calendar year is to occupy space at the renamed Ada County Victim Services Center.

We have worked with all of the partners in this building since its establishment in 2006, and even had team members located on-site from 2007-2017. We will now have offices in the facility once again and are looking forward to working even more closely with our partners as we serve those coming to the Victim Services Center. Individuals coming to the building may not know exactly what resources are available to them, or even what they need - that is where a warm and welcoming reception is essential. Letting clients decide how they want to proceed after a traumatic event requires someone who can explain to them what their options are, as well as the results of their decisions made.

For some, pressing charges is an important decision they may choose to make; for others, having evidence collected anonymously and being able to receive emotional and physical support is all they want and need. The Victim Services Center keeps the client at the center and can envelop them with services available from all the various providers co-located in the building, as well as from other partners located throughout the community. Being able to go to one facility to receive needed services has always been the vision of the Victim Services Center and all of the organizations that choose to co-locate there.

Being back in the building will provide both opportunities and challenges for the WCA team as we work to increase our on-site support of both clients and partners. We will keep you informed as we learn more about what that will entail!

As you read this newsletter, I invite you to share your thoughts with us. We invite you to help us make this a meaningful communication tool for you one that you look forward to reading when it pops up in your inbox. During this time of digital overload, what would make our newsletter stand out?

Wishing you a wonderful new year,

The WCA is proud to work alongside our community partners to provide services at the Ada County Victim Services Center, located at 417 S 6th Street in Downtown Boise.

FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST WCA NEWS & UPDATES:

IMMEDIATE NEEDS Your donations have a direct impact on the lives of our clients.

Donations of NEW items are gratefully accepted at our downtown location: 720 W Washington St. Monday - Thursday, 9am to 4pm.

$25 GAS/FOOD GIFT CARDS

CANNED SOUP/MEAT/CHILI

BABY MONITORS

FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS

POTS & PANS SETS

CLOTHES HANGERS

DISH SETS

BAKING PANS/SHEETS

DIAPER GENIE

INDIVIDUAL-SIZE SNACKS

VIEW OUR AMAZON WISHLIST If you are interested in organizing a large quantity donation drive, please reach out to philanthropy@wcaboise.org

“I will never be able to give enough thanks to the donors and of course you and the volunteers that are working alongside you... All of the gold in Fort Knox is but a dim light in comparison to how much this means to me and all of the girls here!”

-- Former WCA Shelter Resident

FEBRUARY IS

TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

MEET THE 2023-2024 WCA YOUTH REPS! The WCA Youth Relationship Education Program, or Youth REPs, is a program focusing on engagement, outreach and education to youth in our community.

These enterprising young people help us figure out the best way to engage them in our mission and understand the importance of healthy relationships. We seek participation from passionate, creative individuals who are not afraid to speak their mind and are willing to commit to being leaders.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A YOUTH REP HERE

CALL TO ARTISTS! PRESENT:

“ LOVE LOOKS LIKE ” A YOUTH ART SHOWCASE

SUBMIT YOUR ART TO BE DISPLAYED OR PERFORMED AT THE SHOWCASE! Scan QR Code for more details!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23RD 6PM-8PM

The Linen Building 1402 W Grove St

CORPORATE PILLAR SPOTLIGHT Lotus Communications Corp. has been a Corporate Pillar and a Freedom Level supporter of the WCA for over 10 years. Tim Johnstone and his wonderful team organize "Concert For Cause" each year as a benefit to the work we do, and we cannot thank them enough for all the planning that goes into this event.

After a brief hiatus, the concert came back in 2023 and was a massive success! Not only were we able to raise nearly $30,000, but our message and mission were spread to such a large audience and you cannot put a price on that type of outreach. We look forward to continuing this amazing work with the Lotus team and can't wait to see what the future holds!

Sydney LaCoursiere, Corporate Relations Coordinator

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Debbie Miller put in over 20 hours volunteering at the WCA during the month of January!

Debbie took on the task of sorting through the large clothing donations we received during the holidays. She also took the initiative to improve the look of our in-kind space by purchasing and donating materials. Debbie's commitment to our mission and her proactive approach to making our space look better showcase her passion for making a positive impact at the WCA. Camille Ochoa, Volunteer Coordinator

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!

CHECKING IN WITH...

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT Learn how to manage your money so money does not manage your life.

Patricia Miller Financial Empowerment Coach At the heart of financial empowerment is the work to help clients find a balance between the emotional self and the financial self.

Learning this balance after a significant trauma background or experience can take time, and that is why the program starts with four core classes: Budgeting, Credit/Debt, Savings, and Resources, followed by one-on-one coaching to meet individual client needs.

The WCA recognizes that coaching can make a huge difference as a client learns how they want to live their financial life after experiencing Financial Abuse in addition to other assaults. Building a strong financial future is key to feeling a sense of peace, joy and pride no matter how much money is being earned.

Clients can balance financial needs and feel empowered with the income they have, feeling “in control” and reducing that sense of chaos that many struggle with when looking at paychecks, debts, bills and budgets.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WCA RESOURCES HERE 24-HOUR DOMESTIC ABUSE & SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE

208.343.7025

BECOME A WCA AMBASSADOR! Ambassadors are similar to volunteers, but their focus is being community connectors that help spread the word of our services. They engage their peers and help make meaningful connections by participating in awareness campaigns, recruiting people to join mission tours, hosting educational presentations, and table hosting for our Healing Begins with Hope breakfast.

We are currently looking for passionate individuals to join this group!

Emily Rossman Donor Relations Coordinator

SCHEDULE A CHAT WITH EMILY SIGN UP FOR A MISSION TOUR

Jim and Patti Stevenson, steadfast champions for the WCA since 2012, consistently embody unwavering dedication for our mission of safety, healing, and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault. During our holiday sponsorship programs this year, ambassadors had a unique volunteering opportunity to wrap presents for the shelter holiday party. Jim, Patti, and Oliver, their charming furry companion, were able to wrap about 60 presents for the families at shelter! Their hard work made an immeasurable impact on the lives of the women and children living in our shelters.

“There is hope, and there is a way out, and the WCA is a very, very, very good beginning.”

-- Former WCA Client

OUTREACH CORNER Hi everyone, my name is Aleea Banda and I’m the new Outreach Coordinator for the WCA. I was born and raised in Caldwell, Idaho and graduated from the University of Idaho as a first-generation Latinx student with a degree in Public Relations. During my time at U of I, I worked in the Office of Multicultural Affairs as an office assistant and at the Women’s Center as an event programming and coordinator assistant. I was a part of various organizations that ranged from; a multicultural sorority Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc., the Advertising Competition team, Movimento Activista Social, Diversity Scholars, and the Multicultural Greek Council. I’m passionate about promoting services and providing information towards issues that affect underserved communities/populations.

I look forward to planning outreach events, opportunities, and awareness campaigns that will promote all the amazing services and work being done here at the WCA. Currently I’m working on events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, so stay tuned for more information regarding Denim Day, Take Back the Night, and a new event this year, Paint the Town Teal.

If you are interested in supporting our outreach efforts this upcoming month, February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and we are looking for poem submissions that reflect what “Love Looks Like,” a theme chosen by our Youth Reps. Poem submissions will be re-posted on our main Instagram page (@wca_boise) and will be used to help promote the Youth Rep’s awareness campaign around Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and their Youth Art Showcase on February 23rd.

Please send your poems through our Google form! Individuals that include their social media handle will be tagged and encouraged to share their work on their own social media platform, however submissions can be anonymous as well.

Thank you in advance, and I look forward to seeing what “Love Looks Like” to you!

SUBMIT YOUR POEM HERE!

HAVE YOU ORDERED YOUR

OUTREACH MATERIALS FOR THE NEW YEAR?

SHOE CARDS

RESTROOM POSTERS

AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES! outreach@wcaboise.org