“Planting Seeds of Hope was a nice opportunity to think and talk about why I have worked at REACH for so long. Although I feel it on a daily basis just by being here, it was different when putting it in to words and sharing that with my friends and family. Everyone has been so kind and their responses have been heartwarming. It is truly beyond…
It’s 6:35 on a rainy Monday morning. I, along with 40 others, have been practicing hard, sweaty yoga in 100+ degree heat for fifty minutes in a small room with no windows. We have finally reached the point in class where our beloved teacher, Tara, is allowing us to take our first restful pose. There are only ten minutes left of class; I can almost taste…
Looking back on a busy, difficult, inspiring, saddening, and change-filled 2018, we can see struggle and achievement, loss and resilience. We are celebrating some important successes and we see how much work there is yet to do. We started, in January, at the very beginning, thinking about consent – even with young children, and how starting young can help our kids – and us – better…
By Sylvia Murray, Becca Elwin, Camille Chuaquico, Iwona Matczuk, Kaitlyn Saruwatari, and Evan Joy McLaurin This past summer of 2018, as part of the culmination of our MBA degree from The Heller School of Social Policy and Management*, we had the great opportunity to consult for REACH. Our work addressed a key management challenge, and through intensive, collective work we provided recommendations to the Board of Directors, leadership…
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This month – and every month – your voice matters. At REACH, we believe that engaging communities to promote healthy relationships involves conversations – speaking up, and listening too. Our attitudes and behaviors are built on social norms which are shaped by what we see, hear, learn, and do; with family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues; in music, on TV, social media, and the playground; in our places…
This month we celebrate independence, and there is much to be said about autonomy and respect for individual agency. In fact, a big part of our work at REACH is helping folks get away from unhealthy, dangerous relationships where autonomy and respect are erased. However, independence doesn’t necessarily mean going it completely alone; autonomy is not isolation. It is our interdependence that sustains us as human…
by Steve Reed, REACH Board Member When Laura asked me to write a guest post about what masculinity means to me, I was caught off guard. Other than being a son, brother, husband, and father, what do I know about masculinity? To be honest, I’ve never really thought about it before. So, I did what anyone in 2018 would do, I Googled it. Turns out,…
It’s Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we at REACH could not be more grateful for our volunteers. Last year alone, volunteers contributed over 4,700 hours of service to REACH. We have volunteers who help in a number of ways, some of which may be surprising to you. If you’ve ever been to our office, you’ve probably met one of our front desk volunteers. This role is staffed…
If organizations like REACH, the police departments, and the courts were the only people who cared about domestic violence, then not much in our society would change. We do our best to help those who have already been affected by domestic violence, helping them plan for safety and get connected to resources, but until we change the social norms and systems that allow it to take…
You are worth it. You deserve this. Those short sentences contain powerful words. This week, REACH hosted an open house at our new offices. The move to new space was a long time coming and, as you have read over the past year, we are really excited about it. Our excitement stems not just from having more room and new stuff; we are most pleased with…
