{"id":591,"date":"2018-01-25T16:44:05","date_gmt":"2018-01-25T21:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reach.lndo.site\/what-laura-is-thinking-new-beginnings\/"},"modified":"2023-05-22T17:43:50","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T21:43:50","slug":"what-laura-is-thinking-new-beginnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reachma.org\/blog\/what-laura-is-thinking-new-beginnings\/","title":{"rendered":"What Laura is Thinking: New Beginnings"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

You are worth it. You deserve this.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Those short sentences contain powerful words.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> over<\/a> the<\/a> past<\/a> year<\/a>, we are really excited about it. Our excitement stems not just from having more room and new stuff; we are most pleased with the message it sends.<\/p>\n

You are worth it. You deserve this.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

When a survivor of domestic violence takes a step toward thinking about life beyond an abusive relationship, they face a vast unknown \u2013 a frightening, dangerous, possibly impoverished unknown. Taking that step can be full of ambivalence, sadness, and fear so when they open the door to that uncertain future, we want the message to be clear.<\/p>\n

You are worth it. You deserve this.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our commitment to those words guided us \u2013 with your support \u2013 in building a shelter 7 years ago for families that offers private spaces and spacious common areas, kitchens with good appliances, well-built cabinets and full accessibility. And when we finally got the opportunity to create space for change in a new office \u2013 again with your support \u2013 we did it with those words once again on our minds.<\/p>\n

You are worth it. You deserve this.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Beautiful spread of food provided by Moody’s Delicatessen for our open house, in front of the new donor wall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And Tuesday night, the visitors to our space felt those words. They repeated those words back to us as they toured the offices, meetings rooms, kitchen, training room, and children\u2019s area. They entered the reception area and exclaimed, \u201coh my!\u201d They saw a professional, stable, accessible, welcoming and safe space. And when they left, they understood more about how and where the work happens.<\/p>\n

Staff leading our tours heard questions about every nook and cranny, and we shared knowledge, insights, stories and visions. People wanted to enter every advocate\u2019s office and know more about what happens in there. One advocate shared how in our old office, she had a cubicle and had to grab whatever empty space was available for a meeting with a survivor. That uncertainty, that lack of stability, was unsettling for folks and as a result, she often met people in spaces outside the office that were more consistent. Now, everyone wants to meet at the office, in her<\/em> office.<\/p>\n

Before we opened the doors last night, I walked around and spoke with colleagues. I noticed how everyone had added d\u00e9cor \u2013 images, words, plants, and pictures. Every office was different of course. These items are important; when difficult conversations are happening, a frame or a bowl can provide a focal point, something to look at that grounds a person during the conversation. There is also a familiarity that is comforting and settling \u2013 so helpful when there is difficult work to do.<\/p>\n

Guests on tours stopped to ogle at the storage spaces \u2013 who knew? \u2013 and that sparked many conversations about \u201cwhat can I do?\u201d \u2013 paper goods or toiletry drives, backpacks, holiday gifts, diapers, and more. Visitors felt a connection to the work in new ways \u2013 and offered new ideas. Some visitors actually arrived with donations (and we had somewhere to put them!) including shampoo, paper towels, stuffed animals, and even art for the office.<\/p>\n

We had the opportunity to share \u2013 in greater depth \u2013 some of the approaches and tools we use doing education, advocacy, support groups, training and collaboration in the communities we serve. Visitors learned about our psycho-educational group curriculum \u2013 and even participated in an activity. They heard about what the group experience means, from a member of our Speakers Bureau. She shared about a time when she got very scary news about her abuser and her first thought was \u2013 I have to get to REACH! She had no idea what or who would be there when she arrived. She just knew that she wanted to be at REACH to figure out what to do next. A glass of water, a willing ear, some tissues and a hug \u2013 then some hard work to address the situation and move on.<\/p>\n

You are worth it. You deserve this.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Executive Director Laura Van Zandt leads a toast to our friends and supporters at an open house held in our new office<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Someone asked me if the space was what we had envisioned\u2026 I took a moment. So many people were part of creating the vision for this space. What I envisioned was the product of all of our hopes and dreams and intentions. This space is everything I envisioned because the people who helped create it are here with us \u2013 working, volunteering, planning, collaborating, supporting, giving \u2013 everyone is part of creating space for conversation, healing, empowerment and change. And we all deserve it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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