‘What Does DVAM Mean to You?’ – Our Fall Festival 2025 Participants Respond
For the participants of our 2025 Fall Festival, DVAM means building community and supporting one another.
Category: How We Do Our Work
Where Community Grows: Stories of Volunteers Nurturing Care, Hope, and Possibility
REACH Volunteer Coordinator Maria Castañeda shares stories of how small acts of kindness from volunteers have a significant impact on the lives of survivors.
The Invisible Benefits of Being a REACH Volunteer
Special thanks to Lisa Daigle who wrote the following piece based on her experience as a REACH volunteer. For those who may be unfamiliar with the Invisible String Theory (first presented in the children’s book ‘The Invisible String’ by Patrice Karst), it basically posits that people can be connected to other people or organizations by an unbreakable, invisible string. At some point, destiny prevails, the stars…
Women’s History Month: Remembering the Women Who Inspired Us
March is recognized as National Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the often-overlooked contributions women have made to American history, culture, and society. Each year also features a unique theme for Women’s History Month, with 2025’s theme being Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations. Here at REACH, we wanted to build off the ‘Inspiring Generations’ part of this year’s theme by remembering the…
Reflecting on Actionable Values Can Help Us Embrace Change
Deborah Heimel and Amarely Gutiérrez Oliver at REACH’s 2024 ‘Reach for the Stars’ fundraising gala. After nearly 20 years at REACH, our Associate Executive Director Deborah Heimel is moving on to continue the values-based work which has made her such an invaluable part of our ongoing mission to support domestic violence survivors. We’re sad to see her go, but we also know she’ll shine bright in…
Overcoming the Fear of Failure – Reflections from a REACH Intern
*Written by Maggie Mieczkowski, former REACH intern and student at Hamilton College As I reflect on my time at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, I am struck by the profound impact it has had on me personally and professionally. When I first discovered REACH, I was moved by the stories of courageous women and resilient children facing unimaginable challenges. I remember questioning my own ability to help…
How Can We Support Domestic Violence Survivors? Let Them TALK
If someone in your life has been subjected to domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or intimate partner violence), it can be hard to figure out how best to support them. Do you keep your distance and give them space? Do you put in extra effort to stay close in case they don’t want to be alone? Do you try and ask them about their…
Improve the Child Protection System to Truly Help Families and Children
After reading the recent article in the Commonwealth Beacon calling for improvements to Massachusetts’ child protection system, I was reminded of the work that REACH advocates do every day, and of a situation I encountered several years ago that highlights what the article is talking about. ======================= At a previous job, I worked with a family that had limited English proficiency and were affected by domestic…
Maya’s Journey with REACH
How your year-end gift makes a difference in countless ways. My name is Pam Jordan, and I am the Director of Community Advocacy at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence. I cannot begin to thank you enough for your ongoing support. You make it possible for REACH to help survivors transition from that first, brave call to our hotline, through safety planning and sometimes a stay in a…
10 Years/10 Lessons: A Personal Journey with REACH
Lauren Nackel, Human Resources Manager, shares her thoughts and wisdom gained throughout ten years of service on behalf of domestic violence survivors at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence. I recently celebrated my 10-year anniversary of working at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence. As I reflect on what this means, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude that I’ve had the unique privilege to work not only in this vitally…
