Greetings!
There has been lots happening around here, so I thought I would give you a few highlights...
After much hard work on a grant, The Center recently received monies from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation to increase the capacity of our Education Department to deliver our Teens Educating Against Classmate Harassment (T.E.A.C.H.) program to middle schools in El Dorado County. Click here to check out our listing on their website.
Also, The Center was recently the recipient of a $500 gift by the El Dorado Hills Garden Club. Founded in 1965 they are a non-profit organization, with approximately 48
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Nancy Zitella, Pres. of the El Dorado Hills Garden Club presents a check to Matt Huckabay from The Center
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members. While their main objective is to learn more about plants and gardening, they also assist needy families in El Dorado County through the Head Start Program. The Club also donates to other charities and they selected The Center is very grateful to have been the recipient of their generosity.
The Center's staff has been out and about doing outreach and learning some new skills...
Prevention education is the way to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Our Community Education Coordinator, Cathy Bourland saw literally hundreds of kids at the El Dorado County Kids Expo where she handed out materials on our parenting classes and bullying programs. Apparently our lava lamp activity was very popular with the kids!
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Cathy Bourland at 2012 Kids Expo
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Debbie Appel, The Center's Criminal Justice Advocate, was recently invited to speak to the Placerville Chapter of Masons about Sexual Assault Awareness month.
Julie Sena attended a media workshop presented by the Asian American Journalist Association in coordination with Comcast. Professional journalists and public relations experts were on hand to coach local nonprofit organizations about how to get their news covered.
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Julie Sena, at media workshop with Maneeza Iqbal & Sharon Ito from NEWS10 Sacramento
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Until next month...
Peace~
Matt
Matt Huckabay
Executive Director
P.S.
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March was a Huge Success!
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"IT'S TIME...TO TALK ABOUT IT." Connect. Respect. Prevent Sexual Violence. It was a bright sunny day as folks from all over the county came out to support The Center's 10th Annual Community March to End Sexual Assault. It was a great day of fun, learning and community action! There were all kinds of fun activities for people to enjoy before the march. Certainly, no one went hungry with the Placerville Rotary in charge of food! They served all participants a super pancake breakfast so that they were ready for their big march down Main Street in Placerville!  | | Placerville Rotary serves breakfast! |
New this year, the face painting and tattoo booth was a big hit with the kids (it seems the grown-up kids liked this booth too!)
 | | Volunteers Amy & Jen help out at the face painting/tattoo booth |
There was great expressive artwork done by the
 | | Body Maps done by T.E.A.C.H. students |
students from The Center's Teens Educating Against Classmate Harassment program.(T.E.A.C.H.) The students were asked to draw Body Maps of themselves and then to decorate them with affirmations. The body maps help the students find their own inner voice and fosters self acceptance. They also help students figure out what they want their boundaries to look like. Got kids going away to college soon? Feel uncomfortable jogging alone? Want to let your friends know when you've reached your destination? There's An App for That!!! Matt Huckabay, The Center's Executive Director informed participants about 2 new iPhone apps - Circle of 6 and OnWatch. Both won the top award in the Apps Against Abuse Challenge sponsored by The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS challenged developers to create apps that empower young adults to prevent abuse and violence. (See article below for more details on these two great safety apps.) The Center's Community Education Coordinator, Cathy Bourland, helped everyone learn some chants so that participants could raise their voices against sexual violence in our community as the participants took to the street for the march. All in all, it was a fun, informative and action packed day! We hope that you'll come out and join us next year! |
End Bullying Seminar May 5, 2012
|  Lisa Ford-Berry became a social change activist after she lost her son Michael in September of 2008 (on his 17th birthday) to suicide inspired by relentless cyberbullying about his sexuality. She founded B.R.A.V.E. Society to raise awareness and inspire change to not accept bullying, or "peer abuse," as simply a part of growing up. "I have known the dark sorrow of death and that heartache gave birth to B.R.A.V.E. (Bullies Really Are Violating Everyone). We are a Sacramento based non-profit 501(c)3 grass roots corporation that is dedicated to creating peer abuse awareness that demands accountability while calling for action," says Lisa on her website. "Two years after Michael's death I stood, poised on the bluffs over-looking the Pacific Ocean, with my arm stretched towards the heavens, a prayer on my lips, clutching my son's 19 birthday balloons, which also was his second angel date. As I slowly released the ribbons that gave flight to year two, I knew in that moment as I watched the wind whip and sweep Michael's birthday balloons out to sea that I was ready to launch B.R.A.V.E. because Bullies Really Are Violating Everyone!" The Neighbors Group of Federated Church in coordination with B.R.A.V.E. Society and The Center will hold a seminar called Awareness = Action = Change Together We Can End Bullying Saturday, May 5, 2012 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Federated Church 1031 Thompson Way in Placerville Lisa Ford-Berry will tell her dynamic story and will join our Executive Director, Matt Huckabay in presenting resources and action for our educational communities, faith communities, and our community at large. The seminar is FREE and we invite all young people (aged 9+) and all of the adults who love, care and nurture them, to attend this important and powerful gathering. The Neighbors Group of Federated Church will host a reception where light refreshments will be served following the presentation. It will be a great opportunity to network with your friends and neighbors, to talk with Lisa and Matt, and to figure out how you can work to end bullying in your community. We hope that you'll join us on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 10:00 am! See you there! |
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Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
24/7 Crisis Help Line
530-626-1131
916-939-6616
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Shelter Gets a Makeover!
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The Center recently applied for a grant to remodel our shelter, and in January we were awarded $600,000 by the Emergency Housing  and Assistance Program Capitol Development program.
The shelter was originally built in 1972, and it will get a complete makeover! We are very excited to have Kerin West, President of Studio 81 International in Folsom, donate her valuable time to create the floor plan drafts!
The shelter's new exterior will be in the Craftsman style. The current scope of work includes the addition of more beds; 2 counseling offices; an art therapy room; a child therapy observation room; a new roof; electrical wiring, plumbing, expanding the community kitchen; and a new fire sprinkler system.
Upon finalization of our contract, we will be going out to bid and hope to start the remodel by this summer. We have made arrangements for shelter clients to be relocated to another safe and confidential location during the remodel.
The Center partnered with Home Aid of Sacramento to augment aspects of the remodel that are not covered in the grant and we have submitted an application to KABOOM for consideration of building a new playground.
Special thanks to our Board Member Jan Coffrini who connected us with the Elliot Family Foundation and Home Aid of Sacramento.
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There's an App for That!
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Technology is everywhere... in our homes, in our cars, at work and now in our hands. Approximately 250 million people in the U.S. are cell phone subscribers... that's a whopping 87.4% of the U.S. population! The Department of Health and Human Services decided to challenge software developers to come up with apps that empower young adults and help prevent abuse and violence. Their motivation ... college age women between the ages of 18 - 25 face the highest instances of sexual assault. 1 in 5 will report experiencing sexual assault in college. Typically students tend to turn to each other rather than their parents for help, but most will admit they do not know how to intervene if a friend needs help. Circle of 6 and OnWatch to the rescue!  | |
Circle of 6 and OnWatch mobile apps
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Circle of 6 Say you're out late and you lose track of your friends. Use Circle of 6 to send your circle a "come and get me" message- with a map using GPS to show your precise location.
You're on a date that starts to get uncomfortable. You need a polite way to excuse yourself. Use Circle of 6 to alert your circle to call you and interrupt the situation.
You're seeing someone new, but you have some doubts about how things are going. Use Circle of 6 to access a wealth of online information about healthy relationships. OnWatch OnWatch is a mobile app designed to help young adults (and older ones too) protect themselves and provide support to their peers, by instantly and discreetly connecting them to the people they trust when they need it most. In just two taps, a user can transmit critical information--by phone, email, text, and social media--to their own support network, emergency services and Campus Police. With five alert modes, seven alarm sounds and a flashlight, OnWatch is a highly customizable app that offers a safety net for the "what ifs" of life. The app also provides links (under the Resources button) to sexual assault, dating violence and domestic abuse hotlines. A corresponding website helps promote the importance of respectful and healthy relationships by raising awareness about the danger signs of dating abuse and providing links to educational materials, safety plans, bystander information and additional resources. One of the best features in OnWatch is "Watch My Back" - say you're going out to a party - you select your contacts and set a timer for the length of time you might be out. Then you type a message that will be delivered to your contact and your social network should you choose... if you don't turn timer off, OnWatch sends your preprogrammed message and your GPS location to your friends alerting them that you may need help. Circle of 6 and OnWatch are currently available in the apps store on iPhone. OnWatch will be available for Android soon. These are great safety apps for college students or anyone who wants feel safe and prevent abuse! |
Help Support The Center... Start here!
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Flip Flops N' Lemon Drops
Ladies! Come on out for this exciting poolside party hosted by The Center's Board Vice President, Barbara Bossung in her lovely home in El Dorado Hills.
Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool with your friends and enjoying delicious lemon drop libations and savory nibbles. There will also be certified massage therapists on hand to massage your cares away!
Date: Friday, May 18, 2012 4:00-6:30 pm.
Smokin' Roast
Gentlemen, get ready for an evening of smoking n' eatin' at the home of Board Member Doug Hoisington. This is a great event to enjoy with some
friends - Doug will provide fine cigars, scotch and he'll BBQ up some awesome tri-tip!
Simple and a bit rowdy, this evening promises to be a great time to hang with great friends.
Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012 6 - 9 pm.
For more details on either of these fun parties... contact Julie at julies@thecenternow.org.
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The Center for Violence-Free Relationships is dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual assault and domestic violence through education, advocacy, and services in western El Dorado County.
The Center is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All contributions are tax deductible and vital to continue our services.
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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
  
 
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IT happens in our community...
IT affects men & women alike...
IT happens every 2 minutes.
44% of IT happens to children...
The ripple effects of IT continue for years...
But how can we stop IT... if we won't even talk about IT?
Sexual Assault...talk about IT.
Donate now and help us
End IT. 
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The Center's Board of Directors
Joedda Wick
President
Client Services Manager
DST Output
Barbara Bossung, RN
Vice President
Community Activist
Jan Coffrini
Secretary
Community Activist
Francie Heim Treasurer Retired Deputy Superintendent El Dorado Office of Education Althea Hurley Community Activist Robert Geyer Senior VP Customer Operations Blue Shield of California Doug Hoisington IT Consultant John Moalli, Sc.D. Executive/Engineering Consultant Exponent, Inc. Lecturer - Chemical Engineering Stanford University Elizabeth Zacharias VP Human Resources Aerojet |
Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
24/7 Crisis Help Line
530-626-1131
916-939-6616
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| Support The Center | |
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CENTER'S SUPPORT GROUPS
Domestic Violence Support and Education Groups:
Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 pm
Wednesdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
CAP - Women's Changing Abusive Patterns
Peace First - Men's and Women's Workshops on Improving Relationships
MAAP - Men's Alternatives to Abusive Patterns
(English and Spanish)
For more information on these groups call
(530) 626-1450 or
(916) 949-4464
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THE CENTER'S CALENDAR
APRIL
Parenting from Your Heart
(8 week series)
April 2 - May 21
Mondays 6:00
MAY
Bullying Seminar
Federated Church
1031 Thompson Drive, Placerville
Saturday, May 5, 2012
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Reception from
12:00 - 1:00 PM
The Center's In-Service
Staff & Volunteer Training
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
2:00 - 4:00 PM
The Center's Survivor's Advisory Committee is scheduled to speak
Flip Flops n' Lemon Drops
A Ladies only Fundraiser
Friday, May 18, 2012
4:00 - 6:30 PM
cost $50/person
Contact Julie at julies@thecenternow.org for more details
Cigar Party
A Gentlemen only Fundraiser
Friday, May 26, 2012
6:00 - 9:00 PM
cost $50
Contact Julie at
julies@thecenternow.org for more information
JUNE
Yoga in the Vineyard!
We'll have a fabulous afternoon of yoga, wine tasting and live music at Ciello Estate Vineyard in Shingle Springs!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Cost: $40/per person
SEPTEMBER
Kacie's Ride for Hope
Saturday, September 8, 2012
For more information
please contact Julie at julies@thecenternow.org or
at (530) 626-1450
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 My Little Girl Within by Rickelle M. You were raised in a home Without proper love and affection You felt lost and alone And needing protection Abandoned by your father No affection from your mother The only touch you remember Came from another This touch was wrong And filled you with shame Your innocence was robbed But you still felt to blame You never knew the safety That every child deserves You never knew a mother's love And the safety that love preserves In silence you suffered All the guilt and the pain A piece of you was gone now That you would never regain Ignored and neglected There was no one to tell So you kept it all inside Hiding this secret so well When your mom remarried At first you were glad Your father wasn't around But at least you had a dad Sadly though, Things went from bad to worse The new parent in your life Brought with him the alcoholic's curse With the utilities turned off One thing was clear You went without food But he always had beer
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Make a vehicle donation and help The Center!! When you donate a car, truck, boat, motorcycle, or RV through Your Donations, Inc., it will directly benefit The Center and the work we do. Get rid of an unwanted vehicle and help The Center at the same time. With free towing and no hassle paperwork donating your vehicle is a breeze Not only do you get the satisfaction of helping The Center and our clients, your donation may qualify you for a possible tax deduction (consult your tax professional) Get started today and begin the vehicle donation process today! Call 1-888-736-6283 or click here to get started today!!
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