--------- MY NAME IS ERIN MURPHY, AT-LARGE CITY COUNCILOR AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. TODAY IS APRIL 24TH, 2025 AND
THE EXACT TIME IS 959. THE HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON DARK BACKSLASH CITY. DASH CANCELED DASH TV IN
BROADCAST ON XFINITY A RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT C C C
DOT S.W. F C AT BOSTON.COM AND THEY WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD IN AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING AND INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED IN AND THEY WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON. PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER IF YOU'RE
LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON MEGHAN KAVANAUGH AT MGE EIGHT AND K AVIATION AG H AT
BOSTON.COM FOR THE LINK IN YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST . TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET 0887. MESSAGE AN ORDER AUTHORIZING
THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $4,149,200 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE YOUTH WORKS GRANT AWARDED BY THE MASS EXECUTIVE
OFFICE OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND A SUMMER
AND SCHOOL YEAR JOBS PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SKILLS TRAINING AND CAREER EXPLORATION FOR LOW INCOME AT AT RISK YOUTH AGES 14
TO 25. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE AT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 16TH 2025.
TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCIL FLYNN DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS. I JUST WANT TO THANK ADMINISTRATION TEAM FOR BEING HERE FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THEY DO AND LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS GRANT MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW THIS GRANT AND HOW THIS MONEY WILL BE ADMINISTERED DIFFERENTLY
FROM ALL THE OTHER GREAT WORK WE DO AND THE EXPANSION THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN OUR SUMMER YOUTH AND SCHOOL YEAR JOBS FOR YOUTH AND THEN YOUNG ADULTS. BUT I'D LIKE TO NOW TO
INTRODUCE THE PANELISTS. WE HAVE JOSEPH LEE WHO IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND AND A SHARE ON A SHARE ASSISTANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR GRANTS MANAGEMENT OFFICE
OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO I KNOW YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION AND IF YOU COULD START. THANK YOU. WELL THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE GRANT AND YOU KNOW THE GREAT WORK
THAT THE MAYOR HAS DONE AND THE COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE IO AND OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY HAND IT OFF TO TO ON AND ON HERE TO GO THROUGH THE SLIDE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE AND THEN ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILORS MAY HAVE ABOUT MORE SPECIFICS OF THE GRANT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING A BIT ABOUT OUR YOUTH WORKS PROGRAM.
AS I SAID, MY NAME IS AN USHER. I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR GRANTS MANAGEMENT WITH THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE WORKER EMPOWERMENT CABINET HERE TODAY TO TALK WITH YOU ALL ABOUT OUR YOUTH WORKS
GRANT. THIS IS A SUBSIDIZED YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AT RISK AND LOW INCOME
YOUTH AGE 14 TO 25 AND I WILL GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF SLIDES, SEE THERE WE GO. SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS FUNDING.
THIS IS A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM. IT'S IN THE STATE BUDGET LINE ITEM SO THERE ARE NO FEDERAL FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR GRANT OPPORTUNITY. THE FUNDS ARE AWARDED BY THE
MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGED BY COMMONWEALTH CORPORATION WHICH IS A QUASI GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. THEY SET POLICIES AND
PRIORITIES FOR THE USE OF THESE DOLLARS. AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO ABOUT SOME OF THE FRAMING THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED AROUND HOW THIS PROGRAM SHOULD BE DELIVERED AND THE REQUIREMENTS
AND REALLY SETTING SOME EXCELLENT STANDARDS BASED ON EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES OF HOW THESE DOLLARS SHOULD BE UTILIZED TO BENEFIT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. ONCE THE FUNDS ARE MADE
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH CORPORATION, THEY'RE DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARDS. BOSTON IS ONE OF 16 OF THOSE
REGIONS AND WE APPLY ANNUALLY FOR THESE FUNDS ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE OF THE REACH OF BOSTON AND WANTING TO PROVIDE DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE HAVE FOUND IT BENEFICIAL TO ADMINISTER THESE PROGRAMS THROUGH THESE PARTNERS AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE WORKING
WITH US TO ACTUALLY ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMING. THIS YEAR WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED $4,149,200 EXCUSE ME AND THAT
WILL SERVE JUST OVER A THOUSAND YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. AS WE'VE SORT OF TALKED ABOUT ALREADY, THIS IS TO SUPPORT TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN DEVELOPING SKILLS AND
EXPERIENCES TO HELP THEM IN THEIR CAREER JOURNEY AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS. THESE ARE SOME REALLY AMAZING PROGRAMS AND I JUST PULLED A QUICK PICTURE FROM THIS SUMMER
ACTUALLY THIS IS ONE OF THE STUDENTS THAT WAS EMPLOYED THROUGH PROGRAMS AT THE BOSTON PIC. THIS IS A DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE PLACING THEM
AS PARAPROFESSIONAL ROLES IN THE HORACE MANN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF IN THEIR EXCUSE ME ELEMENTARY SUMMER PROGRAM. I BELIEVE THIS IS THEM OUT ON A FIELD TRIP SO THIS IS JUST A
BREAKDOWN OF HOW THESE FUNDS ARE UTILIZED. AS I SAID, WE HAVE ABOUT $4.1 MILLION THAT'S BEEN AWARDED. THE MAJORITY OF THIS FUNDING GOES DIRECTLY TO OUR SUB
RECIPIENTS WHO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS AND GO TOWARDS YOUTH WAGES AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND OTHER KEY PARTS OF THE ACTUAL PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THERE IS A SMALL PORTION OF THESE DOLLARS THAT GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GRANT WITHIN THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE WORK WITH NUMEROUS PARTNERS AND WANT TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROGRAMING AND THE USE OF THESE
DOLLARS AS THEY'VE BEEN DIRECTED. WE DO HAVE A GRANTS MANAGER WHO SUPPORTS THIS WORK, PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OUR PROGRAMS, PROVIDES TRAINING AND
ALSO IS JUST A KEY LIAISON TO HELP WORK WITH BOTH OUR FUNDER AND OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THIS YEAR THESE DOLLARS WILL BE
USED LIKE I SAID, TO SERVE OVER A THOUSAND YOUNG PEOPLE IN BOSTON. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WILL BE PART OF OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS ALTHOUGH THERE ARE ALSO SOME SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMS TO ALLOW FOR SOME REALLY WONDERFUL
CONTINUITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MOVE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND IT BECAUSE IT SERVES A WIDE RANGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM 14 TO 25 THAT ENABLE STUDENTS TO KIND OF START IN THE EARLIER
AGES WITH THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND MOVE THROUGH DIFFERENT JOB PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY ADVANCE WITHIN THEIR CAREERS AND DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE PLACEMENTS THAT ARE AGE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM.
IN ADDITION, I THINK AS COUNSELOR MURPHY HIGHLIGHTED THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES WITHIN THE CITY AROUND THE FUTURE BASED PROGRAM AND ECOSYSTEM AND THIS IS REALLY VERY MUCH INTEGRATED WITH THAT WORK.
SO THE OFFICE OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND OPPORTUNITY IS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS IN THIS WORK AS WELL AND HELP SUPPORT KIND OF THIS BROADER ECOSYSTEM. SO THESE FUNDS ARE BRAIDED WITH
THOSE DOLLARS TO ALLOW BROADER REACH AND SERVING ADDITIONAL YOUNG PEOPLE OLDER AGES AS WELL . THESE ARE THE SUB RECIPIENTS THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH US IN THE APPLICATION IN THE
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS THAT WE HAVE APPLIED FOR. I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM AS THERE'S MANY AND THE PROGRAMS ARE QUITE DETAILED AND DIVERSE BUT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT ONE THAT I THINK IS
PARTICULARLY INTEREST AND UNIQUE TO THIS PARTICULAR PORTFOLIO IS THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE HERE WITH WENTWORTH. THEY RUN AN INDUSTRY CORE PROGRAM.
IT'S A CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM HELD AT WENTWORTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTHBUILD BOSTON THAT YOUTHBUILD STUDENTS ARE TAKING CLASSES AT WENTWORTH. DOING KIND OF HANDS ON SKILLED
BASED LEARNING MEETING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ALSO BUILDING ON STAFF SKILLS THROUGH THE SIGNAL SUCCESS CURRICULUM AT YOUTH WORKS AND THEN MOVING EITHER INTO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
AND NOW THAT THEY EXPERIENCE CLASSES THAT YOUTH WORKS OR JOB PLACEMENTS IN THE BUILDING TRADES. AND FINALLY A BIT MORE ABOUT
HOW THE YOUTH WORKS GRANT PROGRAMS ACTUALLY RUN. AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS A FAIRLY STRICT I GUESS CLEARLY
OUTLINED I GUESS PROGRAM THAT HAS A SPECIFIC CURRICULUM ASSOCIATED WITH IT THAT UTILIZES SIGNAL SUCCESS CURRICULUM. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK BY COMMONWEALTH CORPORATION TO FURTHER DEVELOP THIS AND MAKE
IT ACCESSIBLE IN VARIOUS VIRTUAL AND ASYNCHRONOUS FORMATS AS WELL AS THROUGH IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION. SO OUR PROGRAMS ALL ADMINISTER THIS CURRICULUM AND AS I MENTIONED IT IS REALLY STRICTLY
DEFINED FOR SERVING YOUNG PEOPLE AGE 14 TO 25 WHO ARE LOW INCOME OR AT RISK. THERE IS A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON SERVING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOSTER YOUTH,
YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. SO THAT IS DEFINITELY A PRIORITY FOR THIS POPULATION UNIQUELY WITH THE YOUTH WORKS DOLLARS WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE OUR
YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION 18 TO 25 YEAR OLDS AND THIS PROGRAM EMPHASIZING USING USING THE LEARN AND EARN MODEL TO SUPPORT THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN ENTERING POST-SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES. SO JUST TO EMPHASIZE AND KIND OF HIGHLIGHT HOW THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM SOME OF THE FUTURE BOS FUNDING AND HELPS TO COMPLEMENT THAT ECOSYSTEM IT REALLY ALLOWS FOR
THAT TRANSITION FOR THESE SLIGHTLY OLDER TEENS AND AGAIN IT DOES REALLY LIKE I SAID ENHANCE THAT PATHWAY, CREATES OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK
EXPERIENCE, CAREER EXPLORATION, EMPHASIZING HIGH NEED INDUSTRIES WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON. AND FINALLY JUST A LAST PICTURE THAT WE HAVE KIND OF SHOWING SOME OF THOSE POST-SECOND DAIRY PATHWAYS.
THESE ARE SOME STUDENTS IN THE DIGITAL READY PROGRAM DOING A COURSE IN BIOTECH SO THEY BRING ON APPRENTICES AND HAVE INTERNSHIPS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO EARN COLLEGE
CREDITS, TAKE A COLLEGE COURSE AND PRACTICE THOSE SKILLS. SO THESE ARE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE LAB DOING SOME I BELIEVE IT WAS GENO MAPPING SO SOME
COOL STUFF AND I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL WE HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A FABULOUS SUMMER PROGRAM FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ARE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THESE WORKFORCE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR CITY OF BOSTON YOUTH. THANK YOU. THAT WAS INFORMATIVE. I APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCILOR FLYNN.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK GOVERNOR HEALEY IN THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR BEING A WONDERFUL PARTNER AS WELL. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNSELOR MURPHY FOR SHARING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING.
SUMMER YOUTH JOBS AND SCHOOL YEAR JOBS I THINK THEY PROVIDE AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NOT JUST TO EARN INCOME BUT ALSO TO LEARN ABOUT LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY. I ALSO AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE IS THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TO HELP STUDENTS
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT AND I KNOW YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE HORACE MANN SCHOOL. GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
I I DO A LOT OF WORK IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BUT I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM. YEAH. SO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IS ONE OF THE
PRIORITY POPULATIONS THAT COMMONWEALTH CORPORATION FRAMES FOR THE USE OF THESE DOLLARS. THE SPECIFICS AROUND KIND OF HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SERVED I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO AND CAN DEFINITELY GET
BACK TO YOU WITH SOME MORE INFO. WE DO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WORK SITES SOME OF THEM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES BUT BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A RANGE THERE'S
HUNDREDS OF WORK SITES I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO WITH THOSE DETAILS BUT HAPPY TO DO SO. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I I'D LOVE TO SEE PROGRAMS THAT
ARE HELPING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH WHAT DISABILITIES GET INTO TRAINING PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INTO INTO A CAREER AND
THEY HAVE A LOT TO OFFER. THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT FROM US, A LITTLE BIT OF COMPASSION. BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE AS CAPABLE AS ANYBODY TO DO THE JOB
EFFECTIVELY. BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE I I HAVE SEEN THEM AND
I KNOW THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO SOCIETY AND WHAT I REALLY LOVE SEEING IS THE JOY THAT THEIR FAMILIES EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY
SEE THEIR SON OR THEIR DAUGHTER OR THE NEPHEW AND NIECE ARE INTO A CAREER PROGRAM OR A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM AND THEY'RE DOING SO WELL THERE AND THAT THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING AND
MAKING MAKE A MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE WORK YOU DO HERE IS HELPING A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. SO THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US. AND YOU SHARED LAST YEAR'S
AMOUNT TO HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN GETTING THIS GRANT OOH ,AT LEAST I DON'T KNOW IT AT LEAST FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN
FLUCTUATED THE AMOUNT HAS CHANGED. THERE WERE YEARS WHERE I WAS GREATER TO THINGS LIKE ARPA DOLLARS THAT WERE ABLE TO BE INVESTED FROM THE STATE. YEAH BUT NO THIS YEAR OR LAST
YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE FINALLY WENT BACK TO WHAT I GUESS WE CAN CALL A LEVEL THE LEVEL OF FUNDING. OKAY. AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE
EXPECTATIONS THE PRIORITY POPULATION FOR THE COMMONWEALTH CORP LAYS OUT TARGET A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT I KNOW YOU
DON'T IGNORE IN OUR CITY YOUTH JOB OPPORTUNITY BUT IF YOU COULD JUST EXPLAIN THAT PARTNERSHIP AND IF STUDENTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES OR WOULD FALL INTO THE CATEGORY LIKE YOU
MENTIONED LOW INCOME DO WE GEAR THEM MORE TOWARDS A JOB THAT'S BEING FUNDED THROUGH THIS MONEY AND NOT TAKING UP IN THE SUMMER IF THEY WOULD FIT LIKE IF YOU COULD TALK ME THROUGH THAT
THAT'D BE HELPFUL. EXACTLY THAT SO SO DO IT WORKS AS YOU AS BOTH COUNSELORS KNOW OR NOT YOU TALK SORRY SO SUCH LINK THAT'S THE 17 GIVE OR TAKE
MILLION DOLLAR CITY INVESTMENT THIS IS LEVERAGED FUNDS AGAINST THAT SO JUST EXACTLY THAT AS YOU SAID COUNSELOR IF THERE ARE YOUTH THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THOSE CRITERIA THAT
COMMONWEALTH CORP PUT WE WILL TRY TO USE THESE FUNDS FIRST JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HITTING WE'RE GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND WE'RE NOT TAKING WE'RE NOT KIND
OF PRIORITIZING ANYTHING SO WE HAVE THAT. SO THIS IS KIND OF LEVERAGE FUNDS TO HELP US ASSESS THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS LOW INCOME AT RISK AND OR POTENTIALLY HAVE DIFFERENT
ABILITIES. SO IF I'M AN APPLICANT, DO I SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT? YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING. IT'S JUST HOW YOU PAY THESE SUB RECIPIENTS DIFFERENT FUNDING SO
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO. SO IF I'M A STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY OR A LOW INCOME STUDENT AND I GO ON MAY 10TH SAY YEP AND I APPLY BUT WHAT IF I APPLIED TO ONE OF THESE JOBS
THAT'S NOT LISTED AS A SUB RECIPIENT THEN YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE FUNDING BUT IF THEY DO APPLY TO ONE OF THESE SO SO THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. SO WE TOLD A BDC FOR EXAMPLE
THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE THEY GET IF I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE ONE OF THE SEVEN THEY GET SEPARATE FUNDING SO THEY CAN RUN THEIR OWN, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SEPARATE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM BUT THE MILLION OR SO THAT GOES
TO SUCCESS LINK YEAH BECAUSE I SEE THAT WE ALSO GIVE OURSELVES YEAH SO THAT GOES OUT TO SOME OF THE RECIPIENTS AND THOSE SUB RECIPIENTS I GET THAT HAVE TO FOLLOW THE COMMON CAUSE I GUESS
WE'LL CALL THEM PILLARS. YEAH ON THAT SO YOU AS AN APPLICANT SO IF ERIN MURPHY 14 YEAR OLD GOES TO THE FUTURE WIFE'S WEBSITE AND APPLIES YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE
ANYTHING DIFFERENT OTHER THAN ON OUR SIDE. THERE IS A FILTER THAT SAYS HEY, I NEED SOMETHING THAT IS BILINGUAL AS I'M SURE YOU HAVE PERUSED THE SITE YOURSELF SO THEY'LL FILTER INTO THAT WHERE
THEY KNOW WHAT ORGANIZATIONS CAN TAKE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS BUT WE DON'T THERE'S NO FILTER THAT WILL SAY THESE ARE YOUTH WORKS. THOSE ARE NOT RIGHT BECAUSE WE
DON'T AND AS I MENTIONED WE MENTIONED IN OTHER RESPONSES WE DON'T QUOTE UNQUOTE TELL OUR RECIPIENTS HOW MANY JOBS THEY
HAVE TO IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE 100 JOBS, WE ASSUME THAT WITHIN THAT POPULATION THERE IS A NUMBER OF JOBS THAT IS DEDICATED TOWARDS THESE NEEDS.
IT COULD BE ALL HUNDRED, IT COULD BE 25 AND THOSE 25 WOULD GET ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL DOLLARS FROM THE COMMON CORE THROUGH SUCCESS LINK JUST BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE WOULD
BREAK IT OUT. SO HOW DO THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS WORK TOGETHER? OBVIOUSLY YOU WORK WELL TOGETHER BUT YEAH, HOW IS THAT COMMUNICATION WE COMMUNICATE
VERY CLOSELY PARTICULARLY WITH WITH YO AS THE SUB RECIPIENT HERE WE PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF THE FUTURE BOSS ECOSYSTEM MEETINGS AND HAVE JUST AN OPEN
LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR TEAM BOTH THE DIRECT SERVICE STAFF AND LEADERSHIP AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BEST UTILIZE THESE DOLLARS. ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE DO THAT
FOR EXAMPLE IS THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME STRICT REQUIREMENTS AROUND DEMONSTRATING THESE BARRIERS OR LOW INCOME STATUS IF A YOUNG PERSON IS INTERESTED IN A
SUMMER JOB BUT DOESN'T HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION, WE MIGHT SAY THIS WOULD BE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCE BUT CAN STILL SORT OF RECEIVE THOSE SUPPORT AND THAT LEVERAGED ASSISTANCE
THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH CORP FUNDS IN PARTICULAR THESE DOLLARS HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORTS AND
COSTS THAT OTHER DOLLARS DON'T ALWAYS ALLOW FOR AND SO WE CAN KIND OF ENHANCE THE PROGRAM INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDE THOSE ADDITIONAL ALL FORMS OF ASSISTANCE OR CURRICULUM
THAT'S NEEDED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE FACING SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS WITH THESE DOLLARS AND THE POPULATION OF UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH, DO THEY
FALL IN ONE OF THESE PRIORITY OR IF NOT HOW DO WE CAPTURE THEM AND THEY ARE THEY ALSO ALLOWED OR ABLE TO APPLY TO A YOUTH SUMMER JOB? SO THAT IS DEPENDENT ON THE
ORGANIZATION AND THAT WE WOULD FUND I DON'T HAVE CLEAN I KNOW WE DO PARTNER WITH MOYA AND THEY DO HAVE A NUMBER OF JOBS THAT THEY DO WORK WITH OTHER NONPROFIT GROUPS BUT SPECIFICALLY I DON'T HAVE A
KIND OF IF THEY APPLIED TO A CITY OF BOSTON DEPARTMENT WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO OR NOT? THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK FURTHER INTO BECAUSE EVERY ORGANIZATION HAS THEIR OWN PROCESSES ON HANDLING THAT AND THESE DOLLARS FOR YOUTH
WORKS CANNOT BE USED FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS. THAT'S THE GUIDANCE THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE STATE. OKAY. AND ONE LAST QUESTION WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
COMMONWEALTH CORPORATION IN THE BOSTON PIC? OKAY SO COMMONWEALTH CORPORATION ADMINISTERS THESE
FUNDS THE PIC AS PART OF OUR WORKFORCE BOARD AND CLOSE PARTNERS SOMETIMES PARTICIPATES IN THOSE MEETINGS WITH COMMONWEALTH CORPORATION AS OUR
FUNDER WE HAVE A LIAISON AT CONCORD THAT WE MEET WITH ABOUT MONTHLY. THEY ATTEND SOME OF OUR SITE VISITS BUT THERE IS NO DIRECT
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCORD AND THE PIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF THESE YOUTH WORKS DOLLARS OUR OFFICE SERVES AS SORT OF THE INTERMEDIARY AND POINT OF CONTACT JUST TO SORT OF STREAMLINE THINGS BUT WE
VERY MUCH WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PIC TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK IMPACT AND INPUT AND PROGRAM PLANNING TO ENSURE THAT IT'S ALIGNED WITH THE BROADER WORK AND ECOSYSTEM.
I MEAN GREAT QUESTION. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU KNOW THEY'RE THE LEADER ON ONE SIDE BUT THEN THE RECIPIENT THIS IS THE RELATIONSHIP.
THIS IS THE 11I WOULD SAY PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS WHERE THE PIC IS TREATED AS DIRECTLY IT'S JUST A SEPARATE RECIPIENT. YES, WE GO TO THEM FOR REPORTING NUMBERS AND YOU KNOW,
UNDERSTANDING WHAT WORKS FOR THEM, WHAT DIDN'T WORK SO THAT WE CAN REPORT BACK TO COMMONWEALTH COURT IN OUR QUARTERLY AND MONTHLY REPORTINGS. BUT THEY OTHER THAN MAYBE BEING AT A MEETING WHILE WE'RE IF THEY'RE ASKED THEY'RE NOT
ACTUALLY A PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM VERY CONFUSING BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED 97% OF YOU KNOW ALL THE OTHER DOLLARS WE HAVE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PIC ADMINISTERS THE FUNDS RIGHT
SUCH AS THE WE OVER DOLLARS THAT WE'VE MET OVER BUT OVER HERE, YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S FULLY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THEN THE PIC IS ONE OF THE SEVEN SOME
RECIPIENTS AND THAT'S HOW WE TREAT THAT RELATIONSHIP EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE WATERS ARE A LITTLE BIT MURKY SOMETIMES BUT THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY A WILLING PARTICIPANT. YES YES AND NEAL VERY MUCH YEAH
THAT'S GREAT AND IT ALLOWS US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO SO BEING ALTHOUGH IT'S COMPLICATED AND CERTAINLY NOT EASY TO NAVIGATE, IT JUST ALLOWS US TO REALLY DO MORE WITH THESE DOLLARS AND WHEN THE FUNDING AMOUNTS
FLUCTUATE IT ALLOWS US TO, YOU KNOW, BE FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THAT AND STILL ENSURE WE'RE KEEPING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CENTER AND PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES. AWESOME. THANK YOU. BUT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR ORAL CONTROL.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE. I GUESS I'LL START MY QUESTION
OFF WITH IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE GRANT IT SAYS THE GRANT WILL FUND THE SUMMER SCHOOL YEAR JOBS PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
SKILLS TRAINING AND CAREER EXPLORATION FOR LOW INCOME AT RISK YOUTH AGES 14 TO 25. HOW ARE WE DEFINING AT RISK SO
OH SO ONE OF THE SEVEN RECIPIENTS COUNSELOR IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE PACKAGES ARE WHY ARE YOU PROGRAM SO THAT'S OUR YOUTH OPTIONS UNLIMITED PROGRAM THAT WE ADMINISTER TO AT RISK YOUTH BETWEEN 14 TO 25
SO THAT'S ONE ARM OF OF THAT IN THAT GROUP IS A INTERNAL PROGRAM WITHIN AUTHORITY THAT WORKS WITH ISAAC DIABLO AND HIS COMMUNITY SAFETY TEAM AS WELL AS BPD MORE THAN WORDS AND A
COUPLE OF OTHER GROUPS THAT IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY REQUIRE THOSE SERVICES AND IT'S A FULL WRAPAROUND. SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY GETTING CAREER EXPLORATION, THEY ALSO GET A CASE MANAGER TO HELP THEM
WITH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FOOD INSECURITY, HOUSING INSECURITY. RIGHT. SO THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS IS USUALLY THROUGH A RECOMMENDATION FROM AN ORGANIZATION TO IOU AND IT CAN
KIND OF BREAK DOWN. BUT THAT'S HOW WHILE YOU WORK ON THE ONE OF THE SEVEN RECIPIENTS BUT FOR A BDC AND IN OTHERS AND IT HAS A BETTER GRASP OF THAT YEAH THERE'S A
NUMBER OF POPULATIONS THAT THE FUNDER SORT OF CALLS OUT AS PRIORITIES. SO AMONG THOSE THE ONES I THINK WE MOST COMMONLY FOCUS ON AND SEE REPRESENTED AMONG OUR
PARTNERS WOULD BE YOUNG PEOPLE FOSTER YOUTH, INDIVIDUALS EXITING OR WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM COURT INVOLVED YOUTH DOES AS JOSEPH
OUTLINED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES MINORITIES AND LGBTQ YOUTH. SO IT'S REALLY A HONESTLY A BROAD RANGE OF POTENTIAL
BARRIERS AND I THINK THE IDEA IS TO JUST ENSURE THE RESOURCES ARE THERE AND THAT THAT POPULATION AND THE NEEDS ARE BEING ADDRESSED RATHER THAN NARROWING THE FIELD OF LIKE WHICH PARTICULAR BARRIERS THESE
DOLLARS ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS. AND YEAH THIS HOW HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE RECEIVED THIS GRANT? SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THE
CITY IS DIRECTLY RECEIVING IT BECAUSE OF THE TRANSITION THAT OCCURRED FROM THE CDC TO THE CITY. BUT AS COUNSELOR MURPHY HAD ASKED FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE SEEN THESE DOLLARS AND THE NUMBERS HAVE ALWAYS
FLUCTUATED DUE TO, YOU KNOW, ARPA DOLLARS BEING IN PREVIOUS YEARS AND THEN AS I MENTIONED LAST YEAR REALLY KIND OF GETTING BACK TO LEVEL FUNDING GOT IT. AND IN OTHER PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGES I KNOW THE NUMBER
OF CHANGES RIGHT LIKE THE AMOUNT THAT WERE AWARDED BUT IN TERMS OF LIKE HAVE OUR PARTNERS GROWN AND THEN IF OUR PARTNERS HAVEN'T GROWN HAS THE
PERCENTAGE OF THE GRANT BEEN THE SAME FOR ALL OF OUR SEVEN PARTNERS? OUR PARTNERS HAVE GROWN. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THERE WAS A PRETTY BIG EXPANSION OF THE
YOUTH WORK FUNDS THAT WERE SUPPLEMENTED THROUGH ARPA DOLLARS AND WE ADDED SEVERAL PARTNERS. WE'RE NOW SEEING THIS FUNDING KIND OF RETURN BACK TO SORT OF A LEVEL FUNDING OF WHAT WE SAW BEFORE COVID.
MOST OF OUR PARTNERS HAVE STAYED RELATIVELY AT THE SAME PERCENTAGE BUT IT DOES FLUCTUATE PARTICULARLY AS WE'VE ADDED PARTNERS AND AS THE FUTURE BOSS ECOSYSTEM AND
SUCCESS LINK HAS EXPANDED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE COVERING ANY GAPS OR ADDRESSING DIFFERENT NEEDS AS A REGION. BOSTON HAS RECEIVED A SIMILAR PERCENTAGE OF FUNDS SO
TYPICALLY THAT'S BEEN AROUND 30% OF THE FUNDING THAT'S GONE TO THE STATE HAS COME TO BOSTON AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR VERY STRONGLY AS THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR THESE
DOLLARS ESPECIALLY AS THE WORKFORCE FUNDS DIMINISH AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE RESOURCES BECOME A BIT SCARCE. GOT IT. AND GO TO WHY ARE YOU BOSTON
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAS THERE PORTION OF THE GRANT INCREASE DECREASED OR STAYED FLAT? SO THEY HAVE DECREASED AND THAT'S JUST DUE TO OPERA
DOLLARS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. BUT IF WE LOOK PRE-COVID THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE COVID. SO THAT SO A LOT OF THIS AND I MENTIONED WE HAD WHEN WE HAD WHEN THE STATE WAS ABLE TO GIVE US OPERA DOLLARS THROUGH THIS
FUND YOU KNOW WE'VE ADDED MORE PARTNERS BECAUSE THE PERCENTAGE IS GREATER THAT YOU KNOW, NOTHING CHANGED WITH THE AMOUNT 30% OF OF THE AMOUNT IS GREATER. WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE MORE DOLLARS BUT WE HAVE NOW LIKE I
SAID, RETURN BACK TO KIND OF PRE-COVID NUMBERS RIGHT. SO WELL WHY WERE YOU A GREAT PROGRAM? YOU KNOW, THEY WERE GETTING MORE DOLLARS BECAUSE WE HAD MORE DOLLARS TO GIVE BUT
PERCENTAGE WISE IT'S IT'S IT'S RELEVANT GOT I THINK THAT AND DO WE KNOW AND I'M GOING BACK TO WHY ARE YOU JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE ARM THE PROGRAM OFFERS
SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUTH WHO ARE CAUGHT INVOLVED GETTING INVOLVED OR AT RISK. YES AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WRAPPING OUR ARMS, OUR
RESOURCES AROUND THIS POPULATION JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THERE'S OTHER YOU KNOW, PATHS AND OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR THEM.
SO DO WE KNOW HOW MANY LIKE WHAT'S THE SIZE OF STUDENTS THAT WANT A JOB AND THEN HOW MANY JOBS HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE OVER OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OVER
AT WHILE YOU BOSTON AND HOW MANY JOBS ARE THERE ALLOCATED SO WHILE YOU DOES IT TO PROGRAM SYSTEMS SO THEY HAVE A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR THE SAME THAT THAT'S THE SAME DURATION AS OUR
SUCCESS PROGRAM AND THEN THEY'LL DO A WINTER A FALL SLASH WINTER COHORT THEY'LL PROBABLY SEE BETWEEN AND THESE ARE ALL REFERRALS SO THERE ISN'T LIKE BRIAN WANTS TO SIGN
UP IT'S MORE REFERRAL BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HITTING THAT TARGET POPULATION . THEY'LL PROBABLY SEE ABOUT 80 TO 85 KIDS DURING THE SUMMER AND ALL 85 WILL BE BROKEN UP INTO COHORTS.
SO THERE'S A DJ COHORT, THERE'S A CONSTRUCTION COHORT IF WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HAIR YOU KNOW, HAIR AND MAKEUP THERE'S A COHORT FOR THAT AND THEY ALSO DO TAKING THE INTENTIONALITY
OF MAKING SURE THAT THE COHORTS ARE SAFE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW IF THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN'T BE TOGETHER OR THEY JUST CAN'T BE IN OUT, THEY OFFER VIRTUAL AS WELL SO THAT
INTENTIONALITY IS THERE AS WELL. SO THEY'LL SEE 80 OR SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THEY'LL PROBABLY SEE CLOSE TO 200 WHEN WE ADD IN THE SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM WHICH IS THE SAME MODEL
YOU KNOW THIS PAST YEAR WE'VE HAD KIDS TAKE THE DJ COHORT AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY GET ON THE RADIO AND DO A SET. WE'VE HAD KIDS WHO WERE IN OUR ENTREPRENEUR TRACK AND THEN
BECAME OUR VOTER TAX PREPARERS WHICH IS OUR FREE TAX PREP PURVEYOR PROVIDING THROUGH THE TEXTBOOK COALITION. SO WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY START PREPARING TAXES AND THEN THEY CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID YOU KNOW, I CAN'T
COME BACK NEXT SUMMER BECAUSE I'M MOVING. I'M NEXT TAXES BECAUSE I'M MOVING OUT OF THE AREA BUT I'M GOING TO BE SETTING UP MY OWN LITTLE SHOP SO THAT WAY YOU KNOW I HAVE MY IRS
CERTIFICATION SO NOW I CAN GIVE TAXES AND I'M GOING TO GO TO MY FRIEND, MY NEW FRIENDS OR MY FAMILY AND CHARGE THEM A LITTLE BIT AND SEE THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT BUILD UP. BUT YEAH, I WOULD SAY 80 AND 80
OR SO IN THE SUMMER AND THEN OVERALL AROUND THAT 200 TO 50 NUMBER KIND OF COME THROUGH OUR DOORS AND SOME KIDS AS YOU KNOW ARE MORE READY THAN OTHERS SO SOME ARE QUICK TOUCHING POINT
JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND OTHERS THEY'RE WITH US FROM JULY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END OF THE END OF MAY AND TYPICALLY THE YOUTH WORKS
DOLLARS ARE FUNDING ABOUT 60 SEATS AT WIU FOCUSING ON THE SUMMER SLOTS. GOT IT. AND I THINK WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THESE DOLLARS IS THAT WE DON'T
HAVE A SET COST PER STUDENT THAT WE HAVE TO STICK TO. SO IN THE CASE WHERE WE'RE SERVING A YOUNG PERSON WITH JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT WHO MIGHT NEED THOSE ADDITIONAL YOU KNOW, SUPPORTS THAT REALLY WRAP
AROUND AND PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL SERVICES WE CAN DO THAT WITH THESE YOUTH WORKS DOLLARS AND PROVIDE A DEPTH OF SERVICE FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.
NICE. SO BUT IT DOES SOUND LIKE THERE'S A NEED FOR MORE INVESTMENT AT WHY ARE YOU
BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING THIS 200 PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE OVER THERE THERE'S ONLY 60 SEATS THAT THE YOUTH WORKS THERE'S OTHER FUNDING THAT IS BRAIDED IN WITH THE YOUTH WORKS TO HELP
COVER THE ONE TO COVER ALL THE WAY UP TO THE 200. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. SO THERE'S THERE'S DONATION DOLLARS THAT COME IN THERE'S OPERATING DOLLARS FROM THAT THAT HELP KIND OF SUPPLEMENT THEY ARE APPLYING FOR GRANTS
CONSTANTLY AS WELL. SO YOUTH WORKS IS JUST ONE OF MANY FUNDING SOURCES I GUESS DO THE CHAIR I WOULD LOVE TO GET LIKE A BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE FUNDING THAT GOES INTO WHY
WHILE YOU KNOW WE CAN WE CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT OVER TO THE IDR TEAM TO GET OVER TO COUNSELOR MY TIME'S UP. NO KEEP OUT. NO, YOU'RE GOOD.
I WAS SAYING THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. YEAH, I'M I THINK I ASK THAT ONE. YEAH. FOR NOW NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, CHAIR THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR FLYNN DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND AGAIN THANK YOU TO YOU FOR
SHARING THIS IMPORTANT COMMITTEE MEETING AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR. WE'RE ALL FOR HIS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AS WELL.
I ASKED ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION EARLIER BUT MAYBE IF I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION AND IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE ME THE ANSWER LATER MAYBE NEXT WEEK OR SO BUT I
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT THE HORACE MANN SCHOOL DOES IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE TRAINING EDUCATION THAT THEY PROVIDE STUDENTS. AT SOME POINT I WOULD LIKE TO
VISIT AND AND SEE FOR MYSELF. I VISITED THEM BEFORE BUT I ALWAYS HAD GREAT RESPECT FOR THE THE MISSION OF THE SCHOOL. BUT IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW
MAYBE NEXT WEEK OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THEY OFFER I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE AND AT SOME POINT I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT SOMETIME LATER THIS SUMMER.
WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE A FEW COUNCILOR IN THAT DIRECTION. WE DO SITE VISITS FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE COMMON CORE COMMON COM CORE TEAM. SO THERE YOU KNOW ONCE WE GET
THAT SCHEDULE IF HAUSMAN IS ONE OF THOSE SITES WE CAN DEFINITELY SHARE THAT WITH WITH YOU AND OTHER COUNSELORS IF THERE ARE SITES THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO TO SEE. SO THAT WAY WHEN YOU GET TO SEE IT IN ACTION.
RIGHT. SO WE SEE THE DOLLARS ACTUALLY WORKING BUT ALSO THERE ARE SOME DEPTHS AROUND OBVIOUSLY THE PILLARS THAT COMMON CORE PUT INTO PLACE THAT WHILE WE CAN TRY TO WE CAN TRY OUR BEST TO ANSWER MIGHT BE EASIER.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU ASK THE HORSE DIRECTLY I THINK WOULD SAY YEAH, NO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. I LIKE AND IT'S A GREAT RECOMMENDATION GREAT SUGGESTION I, I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH
DISABLED VETERANS ACROSS REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT CERTAINLY HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS . BUT I DO LIKE TO TALK TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY OR TALK TO THEIR
TEACHERS AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND HOW WE COULD BETTER HELP THEM OR SUPPORT THEM I SHOULD SAY. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO AN EVENTUAL TOUR AND VISIT AND
AGAIN WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THEY'RE DOING. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CLOSING? NO, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, JIM. THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ATTENDING. THANK YOU ANNA AND JOSEPH. YOU HAD GOOD ANSWERS. IT'S ALWAYS NICE WHEN WE HAVE PANELISTS AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET US SOME OF THE
OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS BUT THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS AND ALSO THE WORK YOU DO. OBVIOUSLY THIS FILLS A VOID THAT ARE FOR A POCKET DIFFERENT
POPULATIONS THAT REALLY NEED THAT SUPPORT AND IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING THAT EXTRA THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SUB RECIPIENT UNDERSTANDS AND IT SEEMS LIKE
THE PARTNERS THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, MADE THESE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ARE REALLY DOING GREAT THINGS FOR OUR YOUTH. SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING THIS FORWARD AT OUR NEXT
COUNCIL MEETING SO IT WILL GET TO YOU AS SOON AS IT COULD SO WITH THAT BEING SAID THE HEARING ON DOCKET 0887 IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU Part: 2
GOOD AFTERNOON. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS AARON MURPHY, AT-LARGE CITY COUNCILOR AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
. TODAY IS APRIL 24TH, 2025 AND I GUESS THEY WANT THE EXACT TIME IS 2:08 P.M.. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED .
IT IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON DOC GOV BACKSLASH CITY DASH COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON ITS MINUTI CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS
CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL ME AT C CC D'ARTE CPR AT BOSTON.COM AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL
COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING AND INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARRIVED AND THEY CAN SIGN UP AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER AND
YOU WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON
CORA MONTRANT AT C0RA DOT M0 AND TR0 AND D AT BOSTON GLOBE FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST.
TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET 0183 IN ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING THE CITY OF BOSTON RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND RELATED
RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE GABRIELA COLETTA ZAPATA AND CONSULATE DURKIN AND WAS REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON JANUARY EIGHT. TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR BREADON AND COUNCIL FLYNN.
WE WILL START OFF WITH OPENING REMARKS FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND THEN I WILL INTRODUCE THE FIRST PANEL. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. SO I WILL START WITH AN ORDER
OF ARRIVAL ALSO CUT. YOU CAN START. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I'M COUNCIL PRESIDENT RICH LOUIJEUNE AND AT-LARGE CITY
COUNCILOR AND THIS IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR WORK. I'M NERVOUS HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A DIFFICULT ISSUE AND I KNOW
THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TRIGGERING FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE FORUMS TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS SO THAT WE CAN DO THE WORK OF ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING WELL,
WHERE WE CAN ALLOCATE RESOURCES BETTER TO HELP VICTIMS AND HOW WE REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING ON COMMUNITY ORIENTED SOLUTIONS. I WANT TO ROUTE TODAY'S
CONVERSATION IN SAFETY AND COMPASSION. SO IF ANYONE NEEDS A BREAK, IF ANYONE NEEDS AN EXTRA MOMENT, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO TAKE IT. WE CAN ALWAYS WITH THE CHAIR'S PERMISSION WE CAN ALWAYS TAKE A
SHORT BREAK IF ANYBODY NEEDS SO THAT FOLKS THAT EVERYONE CAN RECENTER THEMSELVES. MY HOPE IS THAT BY BRINGING US TOGETHER WITH SURVIVORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES WE CAN DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING AND STRENGTHEN THE COLLABORATIVE SAFETY NET THAT SO MANY OF US RELY ON DOING THE MOST VULNERABLE MOMENTS. THIS HEARING IS MORE THAN JUST
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS. IT'S A CHANCE TO LISTEN, TO REFLECT AND REIMAGINE A SYSTEM THAT TRULY SERVES SURVIVORS NOT JUST ABOUT CRISIS RESPONSE BUT
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED WITH. AND I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE HERE FROM THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES HOW WE'RE TRULY SUPPORTING SUPPORTING HEALING, ADDRESSING
ROOT CAUSES AND DISMANTLING BARRIERS CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL THAT PREVENT SURVIVORS FROM BEING SEEN, HEARD AND HELPED. SYSTEMS DON'T OPERATE IN A
VACUUM AND IF WE'RE NOT INTENTIONAL THEY CAN REPRODUCE THE SAME HARMS WE SEEK TO END. THAT'S WHY I CENTERING SURVIVOR VOICES AND EVERYTHING WE DO AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SURVIVORS HERE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY THAT
THEIR VOICES ARE IMPORTANT DESIGNING SERVICES, ALLOCATING RESOURCES, SHAPING OUR LAWS AND HOLDING INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE. SURVIVORS ARE NOT AS A STATISTIC OR A POLICY POINT.
THERE ARE NEIGHBORS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES MUST GUIDE OUR PATH FORWARD. YOU KNOW, AS A YOUNG GIRL GROWING UP HERE IN THIS CITY,
YOU KNOW, I MYSELF WAS A VICTIM. YOU KNOW WHERE IN APRIL OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SEXUAL ASSAULT MONTH AND SO MANY OF OUR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN ARE
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE I KNEW NOTHING OF HOW TO REALLY DEAL WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND FIND MYSELF IN THAT FAMILY
SITUATION WHERE I WAS REALLY HAVING TO INTERVENE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION. AND THEN AS A LAWYER IT REALLY BECAME VERY CLEAR TO ME AND TO A LOT OF MY HOUSING CASES THAT
WHERE THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF DOMESTIC ABUSE OF THE MANY, MANY REASONS WHY PEOPLE IN INTIMATE PARTNER WHO EXPERIENCE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, WHY
THEY FEEL LIKE AND WHY THEY OFTEN HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STAY IN THOSE SITUATIONS. SO I AGAIN APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND HOPE TO LEAVE THIS HEARING
WITH SOME CALLS TO ACTION FOR US AS LEGISLATORS TO REALLY WORK BETTER IN PARTNERSHIP DOING THE WORK OF EDUCATION AND SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THESE HARMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR BREADON.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE LEAD SPONSOR CANCER COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIS LOUIJEUNE FOR
CALLING FOR THIS HEARING AND THE OTHER TWO COUNTRIES WHO ARE NOT HERE ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU TO THE THE SURVIVORS WHO ARE HERE TO GIVE
TESTIMONY AS WELL. I THINK THIS IS A HUGELY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I THINK IT FEELS LIKE A BIT LIKE AN ICEBERG. WE JUST SEE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AND THERE'S SO MUCH
MORE THAT WE DON'T SEE GIVEN THE SORT OF STIGMA AND THE THE NOTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GUARD THEMSELVES AND NOT REALLY TELL AND TELL THEIR STORY AND
SO THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION THIS AFTERNOON AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY SOME PLACES WHERE WE CAN
IMPROVE THE SITUATION. I KNOW FROM JUST DEALING WITH CONSTITUENT CALLS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT AND I DID FIND OUT FROM BP WHICH I RECENTLY THAT YOU KNOW IT'S BRIGHTON
DISTRICT DISTRICT 14 THAT THAT PARTICULAR AREA HAS A HIGHER THAN AVERAGE INCIDENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHICH WAS IT WAS VERY NEW TO ME.
I HADN'T I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. AND THEN THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE HEAR ABOUT IS FOLKS WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY IN THEIR HOUSING SITUATION BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A NEW APARTMENT BUT
THEY'RE THE ABUSER FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE AND CAUSES COMES BY AND CAUSES CAUSES TROUBLE AND THEN THE NEIGHBORS ARE UPSET AND YOU FIND THEMSELVES
IN THIS CONSTANT CYCLE OF BEING DISPLACED THROUGH OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHICH IS JUST REPEATING THE TRAUMA SO I THINK IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED AND COMPLICATED ISSUE AND I REALLY
HOPE THAT WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION THIS AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR FLYNN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU HAVE DONE, MADAM
CHAIR, ON THIS ISSUE. ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE. THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE BUT ALSO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM SURVIVORS AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AS WELL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THEY ARE DOING SUPPORTING SURVIVORS. I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH ISSUES RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT SINCE SERVING ON THE COUNCIL SEVEN YEARS AGO. I HELD HEARINGS IN 2018, 2019, 2021 WHAT THEN? CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND NOW
ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL WORKED ALSO CLOSELY WITH COUNCIL FINALLY ON THIS ISSUE. BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FORMER COUNCIL PRESIDENT
CAMPBELL, WE HAD A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HEARING AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL AND SHE BOTH OF US SPONSORED IT. SHE DID SHE DID MOST OF THE THE
ORGANIZING AND IT WAS BY FAR THE BEST HEARING I'VE BEEN TO IN THE CITY COUNCIL IN ALMOST EIGHT YEARS. AND SHE REALLY BROUGHT TOGETHER
THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENED AND CAME UP WITH SOME PLANS AND POLICIES THAT I KNOW ARE HELPFUL NOW ACROSS THE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. BUT SHE REALLY RELIED ON THIS ISSUE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER . I HAVE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASS
AMERICA TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF MY MOTHER WHO DID A LOT OF WORK ON THIS ISSUE. SHE SUPPORTED SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN SHE WAS THE FIRST LADY AT BOSTON.
ACCORDING TO THE 2024 YEAR END CRIME STATS REPORT RELEASED BY THE BOSTON POLICE. THERE WERE NOTABLE INCREASES IN PART ONE CRIME ESPECIALLY CATEGORIES OF DOMESTIC IN NON
DOMESTIC ASSAULT UP BY 43 AND 23 INCIDENTS RESPECTIVELY DURING THE START OF THIS YEAR. I ALSO TRIED TO ESTABLISH A
STANDALONE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S STILL A PRIORITY FOR ME ALTHOUGH THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR ALL
OF US TO TALK ABOUT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO COME TOGETHER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT REALLY TO LISTEN TO SURVIVORS AND HOW WE CAN BE MORE HELPFUL.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IMPACTS EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS BOSTON AND THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY IN WHICH I REPRESENT A LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN OUR
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHICH I HAVE A LARGE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AS WELL. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK
TOGETHER AND SHOW THAT WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO TRY TO INCREASE AWARENESS EDUCATION, SUPPORTING SURVIVORS, OFFER RESOURCES, REPORTING OPPORTUNITY HOW WE REPORT THOSE
TO THE BOSTON POLICE AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I FOLLOW CRIME STATS VERY CLOSELY AND I DO KNOW THAT
THERE WAS A RECENT ARREST OF A YOUNG GIRL MAYBE 14, 15 YEARS OLD BEING TRAFFICKED HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR FOR PROSTITUTION REASONS I GUESS
FOR MANY NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROFESSIONAL WORK OF THE BOSTON POLICE INVESTIGATORS IN MAKING ARRESTS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY AND JUSTICE
CENTER OUT OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT MANY TIMES LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING GOING BACK THERE AGAIN SOMETIME THIS SUMMER TO LEARN MORE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID BY MY COLLEAGUES. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I OFTEN SAY OUR MOST IMPORTANT
JOB AS A COUNCILOR IS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND I WOULD PUT THIS IN A CATEGORY OF LIKE SURVIVAL OF LIFE. RIGHT. AND FOR MANY OF THE VICTIMS IT'S LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS
FOR THEM AND I'M GLAD WE'RE FOCUSING ALSO ON THE RESOURCES BECAUSE WE ARE A RICH CITY AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES BUT WE OFTEN LACK FOR MANY
DIFFERENT REASONS NOT FOR THE WILL OR THE HARD WORK OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES. BUT WE DO LACK OFTEN CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE RESOURCES. SO I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT IF WE LEAVE HERE WITH MORE OF A
KNOWLEDGE FOR MYSELF AND MY ROLE TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THOSE WHO NEED THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE AND I'LL INTRODUCE THE PANEL BUT I DO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU KIM.
I KNOW WE MET LAST WEEK IN MY OFFICE YOUR NEW YOU HAVE A NEW ROLE NOT NEW BUT YOU HAVE A NEW ROLE IN THE CITY. SO WHEN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SPEAK I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT TO SHARE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES BUT JUST ALSO THOSE WHO ARE HERE IN THE ROOM THAT YOU KNOW THE IMPORTANCE THAT I KNOW THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION PUTS ON THIS ISSUE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUR ROLE
IS ALSO, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTED BY US ON THE COUNCIL AND HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE AND ALL OF THE OTHER NONPROFITS. AND I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NON ADMINISTRATION PANEL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF AMAZING WORKERS WHO ARE OUT THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND JUST REALLY GET IT AND KNOW KNOW WHAT THE SURVIVORS NEED. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THEM ALSO. SO WE WILL START WITH I'LL
INTRODUCE YOU GUYS ACTUALLY YOU COULD START HERE, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND THEN I KNOW BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH WILL GO FIRST. THANK YOU TO I COMMEND THOSE
DATA DIRECTOR OF THE DOMESTIC SEXUAL GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION. THANK YOU, MARK SCOTT INTERIM DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER MARK SULLIVAN I'M THE SERGEANT DETECTIVE WITH THE BOSTON POLICE HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT. JOSE TEIXEIRA LIEUTENANT
DETECTIVE AT THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT UNIT TERRY THOMAS SCOUT AND DETECTIVE AT THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
VICTOR EVANS, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FROM THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES. AWESOME. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. YOU CAN START. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNSELORS FOR HAVING
US. I AM AGAIN MARC SCOTT. I SERVE AS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION. THE FIVE PROGRAM TEAMS AND THE
OFFICE WORK WITH RESIDENTS MOST IMPACTED BY AND ENGAGED IN GUN VIOLENCE WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO GUN VIOLENCE AND TO
PROVIDE TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING TO AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PREVENT VIOLENCE TO DOMESTIC SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE
IS THE MOST RECENT EFFORT OF THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION. IT SUPPORTS AND BUILDS ON THE WORK OF THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER. WE ARE THRILLED THAT KIM HAS
ACCEPTED PROMOTION FROM THE EXCELLENT WORK WITH THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING INITIATIVE TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP OF THIS INITIATIVE. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF WATCHING KIM'S COMMUNITY HEALTH TRAINING FACILITATION AND ANTI-VIOLENCE CAREER SINCE THEIR EARLY WORK AT THE WHITTIER STREET HEALTH CENTER.
KIM WAS A PROUD LIFELONG RESIDENT OF EAST BOSTON WHO HAS DONE AND WILL DO MUCH TO MAKE BOSTON A SAFER CITY FOR ALL ITS RESIDENTS.
SO WITH THAT, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO KIM TO SAY MORE ABOUT WHAT THE INITIATIVE IS ABOUT AND WHAT SHE'S DOING AND THANK YOU DID A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN I WOULD OF INTRODUCING KIM. WELL, THAT WAS NICE. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR MURPHY COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR BRITTON COUNCILOR FLYNN MY NAME IS KIM MENDOZA AND I AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE DOMESTIC SEXUAL
AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TODAY I'LL BE SHARING ABOUT OUR NEW INITIATIVE ITS ORIGIN AND ITS EVOLUTION THROUGH COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND HOW WE WILL COLLABORATIVELY WORK WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON AS WELL TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF BOSTON RESIDENTS PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST
TARGETED BY RACISM AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES WHILE STILL ENGAGING IN FEEDBACK FROM OUR PARTNERS. THE DRAFT GOAL OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE
ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO AND PREVENTION OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A FLIER BEING HANDED OUT RIGHT NOW OR
AGO OF THE DEFINITION OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. THIS IS WHAT YES, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. THAT IS THE DEFINITION THAT THIS INITIATIVE WILL BE USING TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
FORMS OF VIOLENCE THAT AFFECT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS WELL AS SEXUAL SEX, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. SO ALL OF THAT IS UNDER THE
UMBRELLA TERM OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. SO AS I'M TALKING AND I MENTIONED GENDER BASED VIOLENCE THAT IS WHAT I'M REFERRING TO.
THE INITIATIVE WILL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS INTERACTING AND INTERSECTING WITH SURVIVORS, PARTICULARLY THOSE MADE MOST VULNERABLE BY SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES SUCH AS BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LGBTQ FOLKS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WOMEN, GIRLS, YOUTH, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INCARCERATED OR RECENTLY
RELEASED. WHILE THIS INITIATIVE WAS OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY OF 2025, THE ROOTS OF IT GO BACK MUCH FURTHER IT BUILDS UPON THE VITAL WORK
OF THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AND IT EXPANDS BOSTON'S APPROACH TO PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. IT WAS ALSO SHAPED BY RESIDENT
VOICES DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN TO END VIOLENCE ALONGSIDE THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY HERE AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WE ENGAGED OVER 500 RESIDENTS IN BOSTON PRIMARILY FROM MATTAPAN AND
ROXBURY, EAST BOSTON AND DORCHESTER THROUGH 16 COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS. WE HAD SURVEYS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADULTS. WE ALSO MET DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
DEDICATED TO RESPONDING TO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THEIR VISION FOR A SAFER BOSTON AND THROUGH THIS ENGAGEMENT ONE COMMON THREAD KEPT COMING UP OVER AND
OVER HOW CAN WE PREVENT VIOLENCE BEFORE IT STARTS? HOW CAN WE INTERVENE BEFORE VIOLENCE ESCALATES AND HOW CAN WE RESPOND TO RESIDENTS NEEDS RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION AND WHAT WE CALL IN PUBLIC HEALTH THOSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH NEEDS OVER AND OVER AGAIN WE HEARD
THAT PREVENTION MUST BEGIN WITH EDUCATION PARTICULARLY WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, EMPATHY,
BOUNDARY SETTING CONSENT, AWARENESS OF HEALTHY UNHEALTHY AND ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS WERE SEEN AS ESSENTIAL STARTING POINTS. WE ALSO HEARD A CALL TO SILO THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION FIELD.
ONE POWERFUL CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH A MOTHER IN EAST BOSTON CAPTURED THIS. SHE DESCRIBED THE FEAR OF HEARING OF NOT ONLY HEARING GUNSHOTS OUTSIDE HER HOME BUT ALSO FROM THE SHOUTING MATCHES
BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORS INSIDE THEIR HOMES. THE FEAR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPILLING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY IS REAL. THE CYCLES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE ARE DEEPLY INTERTWINED.
BUT TOO OFTEN OUR RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUES ARE SILOED AND REMAIN SEPARATE. THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO BREAK DOWN THESE WALLS AND TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO RESPONDING TO GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER THE WARREN DANIEL HARRISON PROJECT WE HAVE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR CROSS-TRAINING COMMUNITY
VIOLENCE RESPONDERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES TO TO ENSURE THAT ALL VIOLENCE RESPONDING PROFESSIONALS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED TO RECOGNIZE AND ADDRESS MULTIPLE
AND INTERCONNECTED FORMS OF VIOLENCE. WE HOPE TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DEVELOP A RISK ASSESSMENT IN A SAFETY TOOL PLANNING TOOL FOR BOTH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ENABLING US TO PROVIDE MORE TARGETED AND EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS. THIS THEME ALSO SPEAKS TO ANOTHER KEY FOCUS AREA FOR OUR INITIATIVE STRENGTHENING DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND TRANSLATING THIS DATA INTO ACTION AS A PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE.
THE DOMESTIC SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO COLLABORATE ACROSS SECTORS ACROSS AGENCIES. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR VERY OWN
BOSTON EMS HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS PPD CITY AGENCIES TO BUILD A SAFER TO BUILD A SAFE AND CONFIDENTIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL
ALLOW FOR US TO UNDERSTAND AND THE BETTER SCOPE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND MAKE ACTION OUT OF THAT. WE ARE ALREADY LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR DATA COLLECTION AND INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION WITH PPD.
I GIVE THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR LIZ CURTIS AS A PANELIST FINLEY CAMP SERGEANT EMILY ENGLISH AND OF COURSE TO THE ALL OF THE FGC UNITS.
THIS INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION AND DATA SHARING WILL NOT STOP AT BPD. WE KNOW THAT MANY INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE GO UNREPORTED AND WE KNOW THAT MANY AND TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND
THIS CAN CONFIDENTIAL DATA SHARING TO ANY CITY COMMUNITY OR HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION IS THE GOAL. THIS IS BECAUSE WE NEED A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
SCOPE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN THE CITY AND BY WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR DATA TEAM AT BPC WE WILL EQUITABLY ANALYZE AND SHARE FINDINGS IN A CONSISTENT AND SURVIVOR CENTERED AND
ACCESSIBLE MANNER THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, PRIORITIZE RESOURCES AND BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. LOOKING AHEAD I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE POSITIVE IMPACT THIS
INITIATIVE WILL HAVE ON OUR CITY AND COLLABORATION OF COURSE WITH THE FOLKS IN THE FRONT LINES DOING THIS WORK THROUGH THE STRENGTHENED AND COLLABORATION IMPROVED DATA COLLECTION AND A MORE
COORDINATED RESPONSE, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL CREATE A SAFER AND HEALTHIER BOSTON FOR ALL AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO FOSTERING COMMUNITIES WHERE RESIDENTS CAN THRIVE FREE FROM VIOLENCE AND FEAR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WERE YOU GOING TO ADD ANYTHING, MARK TO THAT AUDIT? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. DO YOU HAVE OPENING STATEMENTS
FROM THE POLICE? I'D BE GREAT. YEP. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMITTEE CHAIR MURPHY COUNCILORS AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. I AM DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT VICTOR EVANS FROM THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES AT THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I OVERSEE THE BOSTON POLICE FAMILY JUSTICE DIVISION.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS, DETECTIVES AND ADVOCATES DO EVERY DAY TO RESPOND TO INVESTIGATE AND
PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND OTHER RELATED OFFENSES. ALL THE CRIMES THAT I HAVE JUST MENTIONED ARE HEINOUS CRIMES
THAT IMPACT FAR TOO MANY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS OUR CITY AT THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE UNWAVERING IN OUR COMMITMENT TO A TRAUMA INFORMED
SURVIVOR CENTERED APPROACH THAT PRIORITIZES SAFETY, JUSTICE AND HEALING FOR THOSE AFFECTED. RESPONSE TO ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE A PRIORITY FOR ALL PERSONNEL WITHIN THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITY BASED VICTIMS SERVICE PROVIDERS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS CAN HELP
ENSURE CULTURALLY INFORMED RESPONSES AND ASSISTS TO MEET THE VICTIMS NEEDS. THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY JUSTICE VISION IS CENTRAL TO THIS WORK.
IT ENCOMPASSES THE SEXUAL ASSAULT UNIT, THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT, THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT AND THE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN UNIT. THESE UNITS ARE STAFFED BY SPECIALLY TRAINED DETECTIVES
THAT CAN ADVOCATES AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WITH EXPERTISE IN WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE INCLUDING THOSE FROM OUR CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
SEVERAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM THIS DIVISION ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY TO ASSIST IN ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS. CAPTAIN DETECTIVE TERRY THOMAS . LIEUTENANT DETECTIVE JOSE TEIXEIRA AND STARTED DETECTIVE
MARKS ALL WITHIN THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PARTNERS WITH THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION AND MANY NONPROFITS SERVICE PROVIDERS. THESE COLLABORATIONS SUPPORT
SURVIVORS AND IN ACCESSING IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM SUPPORT INCLUDING LEGAL SERVICES, COUNSELING, CRISIS INTERVENTION, ADVOCACY AND SAFETY PLANNING. I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THE
WORK THAT WE DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMISSION AND OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS. MANY OF WHICH ARE REPRESENTED ON THE EXTERNAL PANEL PANEL AND IN ATTENDANCE TODAY. THANK YOU AND WE WELCOME YOUR
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL GET RIGHT INTO QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES. WE'LL START WITH YOU. THANKS EVERYONE AND THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR TAKING SOME TIME DURING YOUR AFTERNOON TO BE HERE TO ADDRESS THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. I THINK IT'S A QUESTION THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS TO EVERYONE
STARTING WITH YOU DIRECTOR MENDOZA EVER HAD BUT REALLY ALSO FOR BPD DIRECTOR YOU MENTIONED AND WHEN WE SPOKE YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF DATA AND I ALSO AGREE THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW THEN WHAT'S OUT THERE IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO RESPOND. ADDITIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ARE EVEN TRICKIER AND ISSUES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE EVEN TRICKIER BECAUSE OF REPORTING. I KNOW WHEN I WAS ASSAULTED I DID NOT REPORT IT AND THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON DECIDE NOT TO REPORT.
I'M WONDERING WHAT TRENDS YOU ARE SEEING IN THE DATA. HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE COMFORTABILITY OF PEOPLE REPORTING INSTANCES OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE,
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ESPECIALLY IN THE ERA OF THE PANDEMIC WHERE WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND IN SEXUAL ASSAULT? WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THAT
TIME PERIOD AND HOW IS IT INFORMING HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THE WORK TODAY? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR ASKING. WE'LL START WITH SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THE
DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AS A BIG NEED FOR THIS INITIATIVE WAS BECAUSE IT IS VERY HARD FOR US TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE AS A CITY AND
IN REGARDS TO THE THAT THE STATISTICS OR THE PREVALENCE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. I KNOW RIGHT NOW THE CLOSEST THAT WE HAVE TO HARD DATA IS
THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE FROM BPD AND WE KNOW OF COURSE THAT'S JUST A VERY, VERY, VERY TIP OF THE ICEBERG BECAUSE THAT'S ONLY THE INCIDENTS THAT
ARE MOST EGREGIOUS, THE MOST LIKELY THAT ARE REPORTED AND MANY GO UNDERREPORTED OR UNREPORTED. AND SO WHEN WE THOUGHT OF THE
DATA INFRASTRUCTURE IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS VERY HARD TO FIND AND IT CONTINUES TO BE HARD TO FIND DATA. I KNOW JUST BY CONVERSATIONS
WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND IN COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT DURING COVID THERE WAS A HIGH UPTAKE OF CALLS COMING INTO
HOTLINES AND SHELTER BEDS WERE OF COURSE ALWAYS IT IS ALWAYS SUCH A CHALLENGE FINDING THAT BUT THE UPTICK OF FOLKS TRYING TO CALL TO GET THOSE RESOURCES
WENT UP WHEN WE ARE ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE STATUS OF THE RESOURCES ARE. WE KNOW THAT AFTER COVID THEY
HAVE CHANGED AND WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW ONE OF THE SORT OF DATA POINTS WE ARE TRYING TO GATHER RIGHT NOW IS A GENDER BASED VIOLENCE LANDSCAPE SURVEY. THIS LANDSCAPE SURVEY ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
OF WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT WENT OUT IT IS IT IS LIVE AND THAT IS FOR PROVIDERS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS AND INDICATE WHERE THOSE GAPS AND WHERE THOSE
NEEDS AND RESOURCES. BECAUSE RESOUNDINGLY WHEN I SPEAK TO ADVOCATES AND TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH FOR THE DEMAND AND I'M SORRY TO NOT BE
ABLE TO GIVE SORT OF HARD CONCRETE PERCENTAGES. THAT IS WHERE I HOPE THOSE DATA INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT IS HAPPENING. SO WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT
HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BPD THERE ARE DATA IS BEING COLLECTED AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE WAYS IT'S BEING SHARED OR ANALYZED
IT'S FRAGMENTED RIGHT NOW AND SO THINKING ABOUT DATA INFRASTRUCTURE BEING HOUSED AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION WILL REALLY ALLOW US TO HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF WHERE WE ARE AS A CITY.
AND SO THE DATA RIGHT NOW IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING HOUSED WITH BPH. SEE IT'S SORT OF SCATTER SCATTERED SCATTER SITED. YEAH AND SO THE GOAL WITH THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IS TO BE ESSENTIALLY THE CENTRAL HUB TO
COLLECT THAT EXAM RIGHT? EXACTLY RIGHT. GOT ONE THING AND ONE OF THE THINGS KEN MENTIONED WAS THE GOOD DATA INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO I THINK WHAT WE HAVE IS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S CHANGED AND WHAT'S SHIFTED IS THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER WHICH HAS DONE AND DOES DO EXCELLENT WORK WITH THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE THERE ALONG WITH THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT UNITS AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAD OUR HEALTH COMMISSION RESOURCES FOCUSED. BUT THIS ISSUE IS BIGGER THAN
WHAT IS SITTING IN THAT BUILDING. SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE HOUSED AT FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER WERE SUCCESSFUL THEY
THEY GREW THEY'RE BIGGER SO NOW THEY'RE NO LONGER PHYSICALLY IN THE BUILDING STILL ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THEY'RE STILL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY JUSTICE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL BUT THEY'RE PHYSICALLY NOT IN THE BUILDING. THEY'RE OTHER IMPORTANT
ENTITIES IN THE CITY THAT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES GET MENTIONED THE HOSPITALS. THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT HAVE
NEVER BEEN PART OF THE FGC AND THE COMMUNITY IS GENERATING. THERE ARE NEW ONES THAT ARE EMERGING. THERE'S YOUR FRACTURED NESS THAT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE INITIATIVE AND THE DATA INFRASTRUCTURE KIM IS TALKING
ABOUT IS ABLE TO BRING THAT ALL TOGETHER BEYOND JUST THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE BUILDING. I THINK THAT. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S I MEAN WHAT WE'RE WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE
LAST THREE MONTHS THAT THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN LIVE IS BEEN CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORDERS WITH HIGHER ED AND JUST STARTING THAT CONVERSATION OF WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR
US TO BE THAT CENTRAL HUB FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER ? OF COURSE IT STARTED WITH BPD BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU KNOW, OUR RELATIONSHIP IS VERY STRONG AND SO THINKING ABOUT OUR OUR
ABILITY TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL SAFE BECAUSE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE IS THE SAFETY OF SURVIVORS. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT AND WE'RE NOT RUSHING INTO ANYTHING THAT CAN PUT ANYONE'S SAFETY AT RISK . AND SO TRYING TO CONNECT THOSE DOTS AND BE ABLE TO PULL
TOGETHER IS IS IS IS CHALLENGING IN VARIOUS WAYS. I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS I CAN SORT OF THINK ABOUT IS THAT EVERY ORGANIZATION HAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF COLLECTING
DATA ALSO MAYBE SOME HAVE EVEN DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF WHAT THEY SORT OF WILL CHECK OFF AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR YOU KNOW, SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
RIGHT. DEPENDING ALSO ON WHO IS ADMINISTRATING IT. IF THERE'S AN INTAKE WHO IS ADMINISTRATING THAT INTAKE AT THE HOSPITAL LEVEL OR AT THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION LEVEL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
OFTEN THERE ARE I MEAN EVEN WITH US WITHIN BE PHC FOLKS WHO ARE NOT DEDICATED OR TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS ARE STILL INTERACTING INTERFACING WITH THAT IN THE LAST THREE
MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN IN IN MY POSITION I'VE HAD MULTIPLE FOLKS WITHIN THE CITY OFFICES AND WITHIN THE COMMISSION TO SAY HEY BY THE WAY, THERE'S A
THERE'S A SURVIVOR HERE I NEED SUPPORT WITH. AND THEY'RE NOT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT THE THE FOLKS TO TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT ADEQUATELY. AND SO ALONGSIDE WITH THE DATA INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE
COMES ALL TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ACROSS AND ALLIED SECTORS TO BE ABLE TO TO BE MORE ADEQUATELY PREPARED TO BE THAT BRIDGE TO RESOURCES
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE RESOURCES ARE THERE, MAYBE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH AND BUT HOW DO WE CONNECT WHAT THE RESIDENT SURVIVORS NEED TO THE THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE? UM I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. THAT'S VERY VERY HELPFUL TO THE POLICE HAVE ON THAT QUESTION
WELL FOR ME SO I'M HAPPY TO SORT OF INTERJECT TERMS LIKE THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD DIRECTLY I MEAN THE DIRECTOR IS TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT
THEY'RE DOING TO REALLY BE A CENTRALIZED HUB FOR DATA BUT WHAT WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN THE TRENDS AND CALLS THAT YOU GET FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT LIKE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE GET A YEAR?
I THINK PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS OFTENTIMES TO BE PUBLIC ABOUT THE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE THEY EXPERIENCE. BUT IN SO MANY WAYS YOU ARE THE POLICE ARE THE YOU YOU GET IT
FIRST BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN SOMEONE'S LIFE IS IS THAT DANGER. SO WHAT HOW MANY CALLS ARE WE GETTING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS? ARE WE SEEING INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CALLS? WHAT JUST COME IN HERE?
WE KIND OF HAD A WIDE SCOPE ON WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY BUT TRYING TO TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND THE REFERRALS THAT WE MAKE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT JUST AS A BRIEF FRAMEWORK
OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT APPROXIMATELY 12,000 CASES PER YEAR ARE ASSIGNED TO OUR 12 DETECTIVES. 12,000 12,000, YES. AND SOME OF THOSE ARE GOING TO
BE YOU KNOW, VERBAL DISPUTES, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WE A CRITICAL PART OF OUR PIECE IS THAT WE HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES SO WE
CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE HOPEFULLY SEVEN WILL BE FULL STAFFING AT SOME POINT BUT THEY HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE OF LIKE SUPPORTING SURVIVORS LIKE EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, SAFETY PLANNING, RESOURCE
RESOURCES REFERRALS WITH REGARD TO SHELTER COUNSELING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, LEGAL AID. THEY ALSO SUPPORT VICTIMS SURVIVORS IN THE LEGAL PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'LL PROVIDE RIDES TO COURT TO WALK THEM THROUGH THE CRIMINAL PROCESS IF RESTRAINING ORDERS ARE REQUIRED, SOME OF IT WILL BE CHILD CUSTODY ISSUES. THEY CAN SHARE INFORMATION.
BUT THE OTHER KEY POINT AND THEY MEET ROUTINELY AND IT'S AN EVOLVING WITH REGARD TO RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE OUT THE FGC WE CAN WE HOUSE AFTER THE
PANDEMIC A BIT OF AN ISSUE WITH FOLKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN THE BUILDING. SOME HAVE EXPANDED AND NEEDED MORE ROOM WHICH IS GREAT THEM NOT BEING IN THE BUILDING DOESN'T PROHIBIT US FROM
UTILIZING THEM AS A RESOURCE. SO WE PERIODICALLY WILL HAVE THESE MEETINGS AND WE TRY TO GET EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM AND THINGS EVOLVE. YOU KNOW, RESOURCES THAT ONE
ADVOCATE HAS YOU KNOW THEY ARE THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT PARTS WITHIN THE CITY SO THERE'S DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC EFFECTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THEY LEARN AS THEY GO THROUGH. WE JUST RECENTLY YOU KNOW, ONE
OF THE ADVOCATES REALLY SPOKE HIGHLY OF SWAHILI BOSTON AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE EVENTUALLY SHARED. I KNOW THEY'RE HERE TODAY BUT THERE WAS ONE PIECE THAT EVENTUALLY WE WERE ABLE TO
SHARE WITH EVERYONE ELSE THROUGH A TRAINING THING THAT NOBODY NONE OF THE OTHER ADVOCATES WERE AWARE OF BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT DEMOGRAPHIC DEMOGRAPHIC THEY WERE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO. SO THAT'S THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT. WITH REGARD TO THE FGC, JUST THE PARTNERS IN THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW SOME OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT THAT WE UTILIZE THAT YOU KNOW ONE FOR INSTANCE IS THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
OF OF SUFFOLK COUNTY JUST A MAJOR PARTNER INVALUABLE TO US. THEY DO REMARKABLE WORK. I I'M IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDY KLINGER.
OUR UNIT'S WORK WITH THE CAC ON A DAILY BASIS WITHIN THE BUILDING YOU KNOW WORKING WITH COORDINATING EFFORTS DISCUSSING CASES AND ONE PIECE RECENTLY WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE LIKE A TRAINING CURRICULUM WITH REGARD
TO DV AS WELL AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TRY TO GET EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SOME SOME GREAT EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE ON DIFFERENT THINGS. AND SO WE'RE IN THE MIDST
OF DOING THAT AS WELL. BUT SOME OTHER PARTNERS HAD A PHENOMENAL SUMMER HERE TODAY I'M SURE IS OUR CUSTOMER IN THE NETWORK LOU RED ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ASSOCIATION OF HAITIAN WOMEN IN BOSTON. SO HEALEY BOSTON MASS ALLIANCE OF PORTUGUESE SPEAKERS AND DRESS FOR SUCCESS THESE WERE JUST SOME OF THE FEW THAT WHEN I WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE
ADVOCATES THOSE WERE SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT THEY REALLY UTILIZE ON ON A VERY ROUTINE BASIS. BUT YOU KNOW, OTHER PARTNERS WITHIN THE BUILDING WE'D MEET ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND THEN
DURING THAT IT'S IT'S KIND OF SPANS ACROSS EVERYTHING. IT'S IT'S ALL THE MEMBERS OF OF OUR UNITS THAT ARE OVER THERE THE BUILDING AND THEN DIFFERENT FOLKS COME IN DCF IS INVOLVED
AND YOU KNOW, THE DA'S OFFICE IS INVOLVED IT'S GREAT BECAUSE YOU COME IN AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND DIFFERENT THINGS ARE EVOLVING AS ALL THE TIME DIFFERENT GROUPS ARE POPPING UP THAT WE MAY NOT BE CONNECTED WITH.
SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO CONNECT. SO THANK YOU. A FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR SO IF SOMEONE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND THEN THERE ARE CHARGES PRESSED AGAINST THE SUSPECT THEY HAVE DOMESTIC DV ADVOCATE FROM BPD CURRENTLY WE HAVE FIVE.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET FULL CAPACITY AT SEVEN. WHEN WE GET TO FULL CAPACITY AT 12,000 A YEAR WE REALIZE THAT EVEN SEVEN ISN'T ENOUGH TO SORT OF DO THE WORK BUT THERE'S THAT AND THEN IF IT'S ACTUALLY A
CASE THAT'S MOVING THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM THEY ALSO WILL HAVE A VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE ASSIGNED TO THEM BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS THAT YES, MA'AM.
AND THEY WORK TOGETHER SO AND IDENTIFY ANY GAPS OR WHATEVER NEEDS THAT THEY MAY HAVE. THE DA'S OFFICE MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAN WE HAVE. SO THEY WORK IN CONJUNCTION. YES.
JUST SO JUST LIKE UPLIFT THE FACT THAT IF THERE'S IF THERE'S ON ONE HAND THERE'S LIKE FOR SOME REASON AN ADVOCATE THAT DOESN'T KNOW OR DOES THAT CAPACITY YOU HOPEFULLY GET FROM THE DA'S OFFICE BETWEEN THE TWO
OF THEM THE HOPE IS THAT IT'S ENOUGH TO CATCH PEOPLE AND THEM AND TO HELP MEET THEIR NEEDS. BUT WE ALSO KNOW IN PRACTICE THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN. YES. YEAH.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ALSO ADD THAT THERE ARE VICTIMS THAT ARE VERY RELUCTANT TO REPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT THEN THERE'S FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.
SO IF THERE'S FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE WATCHING THIS TODAY OR LISTENING TO THIS, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL THE BOSTON POLICE OR ANY OF THE EXTERNAL PARTNERS WE'RE THERE TO HELP HELP YOU AND CONVINCE YOUR FAMILY
MEMBERS THAT WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE VERY WELL VICTIM BASED ASSISTANCE FROM OUR NUMBER ONE CALLERS TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS LEADS TO OUR DETECTIVES, OUR PATROL SUPERVISORS AND EVEN OUR ADVOCATES. SO EVEN AFTER THE MARIJUANA CALL IS CLEARED AND WE LEAVE THE SCENE, THERE IS SOMEONE
AVAILABLE IN THE DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST VICTIMS AND VICTIMS FAMILIES THAT THE CAPTAIN MENTIONED. YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETIMES THERE MAY BE A VICTIM THAT'S RELUCTANT TO SPEAK, YOU KNOW
WHAT ADVOCATES COULD CALL A VICTIM THAT NEEDS A RIDE TO COURT OR UNABLE TO FOR TRANSPORTATION OR AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING THEY JUST SAID THEY WANT TO CALL THE POLICE TO GET A RESTRAINING ORDER.
WE WILL CALL THE ON CALL JUDGE AND WE WILL SYSTEM IN GETTING THAT ORDER AND WE WILL FIND THEM A PLACE TO BE TO BE SAFE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE THOSE OPTIONS
THAT ARE AVAILABLE IS AVAILABLE OUR STAFF AVAILABLE. ONE ADDITIONAL PIECE OF A SUPERVISOR ASSIGNED TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT ONE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO
TO IDENTIFY YOU KNOW, TRY TO READ THROUGH DIFFERENT CASES AGAIN THE NUMBER OF CASES HERE WITH THROUGH THEIR CASE REVIEW AND CONVERSATION WITH THE DETECTIVES TRY TO IDENTIFY AND
WE RECENTLY MET WITH THE DA'S OFFICE WITH REGARD TO THIS IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE COMPONENTS OF IDENTIFYING THESE THESE FOLKS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM LATER ON.
IT IS METHODS OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO HOW THINGS ESCALATE AND WE'RE TO PROVIDE THAT TRAINING AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DA'S OFFICE SO THAT WHEN IT GOES TO COURT AND THEN
THEY'RE VERY INUNDATED AS WELL. BUT WHEN IT GOES TO COURT IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SIMPLE ASSAULT AND BATTERY, YOU KNOW, TO TO THEM BUT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT THIS IS A HABITUAL AND IT'S
ONLY IT'S ONLY ESCALATE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ISSUES LATER ON. SO WE DO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE DA'S OFFICE AS WELL. THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT SURE IF I HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.
I'LL JUST I WILL OUT PROBABLY FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND THEN I'LL COME BACK WITH MY QUESTIONS. I WANTED TO ALSO JUST THINK DANA SALAS FROM THE OFFICE OF WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT I KNOW THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MENDOZA
HAD TALKED ABOUT THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING IN PARTNERSHIP BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DIRECTOR FOR BEING HERE AND JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT YOU KNOW 911 IS THE NUMBER THAT PEOPLE SHOULD CALL IF THEY'RE
EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES. IS THERE A NUMBER SHORT OF THAT AT PPD THAT FOLKS CAN CALL IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES? I KNOW THAT THERE'S A SAFE LINK WITH CASIMIR, BUT I'M WONDERING
IF THERE OTHER YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANOTHER NUMBER THAT WE GIVE TO FOLKS WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S POSSIBLE IF THEY'LL FEEL SAFE HAS ALWAYS KNOWN ONE ONE AND WE CAN HAVE THEM DIRECTED DIRECTLY TO THE FTC OR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE DETECTIVES. BUT AT SOME POINT SOMEBODY WILL RELAY US RELAY THEM TO US ANYWAY. IT'S JUST NO PARTICULAR NUMBER BUT I WOULD STICK WITH 911 IS THE MOST EASIEST WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US.
BUT YOU KNOW WE HAVE WE HAVE CLIENTS THAT COME IN OFF THE STREET SO WE'RE ONE OF THE PIECES OF IN THE FUTURE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ADVOCATE ACTUALLY ON SITE SO THAT WE DO
RECEIVE AT BPD AT HEADQUARTERS AT THE FGC BECAUSE THEY COULD WORK WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THEY COULD WORK WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT UNIT AND THEY COULD WORK WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
EVERYBODY IT WOULD JUST BE A GREAT RESOURCE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES TOO FOLKS MAY JUST REACH IT, REACH OUT AGAIN LIKE THE DEPUTY MENTIONED THEY'LL BE FAMILY MEMBERS. DON'T TRY TO INTERVENE AND
SOMETIMES WE CAN WORK WITH THEM AS WELL AND TO HAVE THAT RESOURCE WOULD BE WOULD BE GREAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. LOTS OF QUESTIONS JUST JUST BRIEFLY FROM THE BPD POINT
OF VIEW IN TERMS OF DISTRICT 14 D 14 I HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION THAT WE HAD A HIGHER THAN AVERAGE. IS THAT IS THAT STILL THE CASE OR I KNOW IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION.
I'M NOT SURE I DON'T HAVE THOSE PARTICULAR NUMBERS MA'AM. WELL I CAN LOOK AT LOOK AT THOSE AND GET BACK TO YEAH YEAH. IT'S JUST I THINK WE HAVE SORT OF A TRANSIENT COMMUNITY AND IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS JUST IN TERMS OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT CLIMATE ABOUT FEAR OF REPORTING FEAR OF DRAWING ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES AS ARE
WE SEEING A DECLINE IN REPORTING OR IS THAT WHERE'S THAT AT AT THE MOMENT? NO, NOT MAYBE MAYBE WITHIN WE ONLY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHEN THE POLICE REPORTS COME IN WHEN
THEY'RE CALLING 911 WE'RE NOT SURE OBVIOUSLY UNREPORTED AND DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO US WE'RE NOT EXACTLY THAT'S NOT A QUESTION WE ASK ANY STATUS IMMIGRATION STATUS
THAT'S NOT INTENDED TO DO THAT ANY ANY RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE PARTICULAR RESOURCES THAT WE CAN DIRECT FOLKS SO WE DON'T THAT'S NOT EVEN A QUESTION THAT WE HAVE THAT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR
INVESTIGATION. I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO STRESS IF FOLKS TOO REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, IF THEIR EXPERIENCE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ABUSE OR WHATEVER THAT THEY SHOULD CALL 911 BECAUSE WELL, I
THINK THAT'S THE PIECE TO WHAT THE AGENCY IS THAT WE HAVE THOSE NINE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT THAT CAN DEAL WITH THAT IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING
CALLING 911 OR COMING TO THE POLICE THAT WE HAVE A VERY NONDESCRIPT BUILDING AND WE HAVE THE RESOURCES HERE. SO WHEN FOLKS SHOW UP TO SOMEBODY THERE THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT, WE
TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY'S CONCERNED WHETHER THEY SHOW UP AND OR NOT HAVE ANYTHING. BUT THAT'S THANK YOU. SO THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA THIS
QUESTION FROM PROPUBLICA OF COMMISSION YOU KNOW JUST SOCIAL MEDIA SEEMS TO NOT HAS NORMALIZED A LOT OF VIOLENT INTIMATE PARTNER BEHAVIOR LIKE STRANGULATION OR WHATEVER AND
IT'S IT'S REALLY SEEMS THAT HOW EDUCATING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND TEACHING THEM WHAT'S WHAT'S NORMAL AND WHAT'S NOT NORMAL STUFF THE RIGHT WORD BUT WHAT
ACCEPTABLE IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUR INTIMATE PARTNER IT'S I DON'T KNOW WHAT IN TERMS OF THE PREVENTION THE PREVENTION LINE
OF A APPROACH WHAT ARE WE DOING WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THAT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO I'LL START WITH WITHIN THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH
COMMISSION'S CHILD ADOLESCENT AND FAMILY HEALTH BUREAU WE HAVE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM CALLED START STRONG START STRONG DOES SPECIFIC WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE
A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN I BELIEVE I ACTUALLY SPOKE TO A WEEK AGO AND THEY THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE LIKE 9 MILLION IMPRESSIONS AND THEY ON SOCIAL
MEDIA AND SOMETHING THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY DO IS DO TRAINING AND CURRICULUM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY AND ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
WHAT IS CONCERNED AND THEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A HEALTHY, UNHEALTHY AND ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT JUST LIKE ROMANTIC BUT ALSO WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT FRIENDS AND JUST RELATIONSHIPS IN GENERAL
THEY'RE ALSO DOING A LOT OF WORK AROUND A BOUNDARY SETTING EMPATHY, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND SO WHEN YOU KNOW IN SPEAKING TO THE
SOCIAL IT YES THERE IS THERE CAN BE WELL WE'VE SEEN VERY DETRIMENTAL EFFECT BUT IT COULD ALSO BE USED AS A TOOL OF EDUCATION AND PREVENTION.
AND I KNOW WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO THE START STRONG TEAM DIRECTOR JESS ALDER JENNY, THEY SPOKE ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE TALKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHAT THEY'VE BEEN HEARING IS THAT
THERE IS AN UPTICK IN ISOLATION AND LONELINESS AND SO WHEN WHERE AND SOCIAL MEDIA REALLY BEING THE ONE SORT OF OUTLET THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE, OTHER
FOLKS AND SO THAT IS WHEN THINKING ABOUT SORT OF ADAPTING THE CURRICULUM OR ADAPTING THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE KEEPING REALLY IN MIND BECAUSE
WE KNOW I MEAN TEEN DATING, WRITING VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOUNG PEOPLE IS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THAT THE MASS COMMISSION ON LGBTQ YOUTH SPECIFICALLY YOU KNOW TALKS ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE SPECIFICALLY AROUND
EXPANDING SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION THAT IS LGBTQ INCLUSIVE AND CONSENT BASED. SO I WANTED TO SORT OF UPLIFT
THAT REPORT THAT THEY HAD FOR FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION THERE ESPECIALLY AS
WE THINK ABOUT THE UPTICK IN I WOULD SAY NICELY SORT OF THE SOCIAL POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND THE THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING
ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND ON SURVIVORS AS A WHOLE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IT DOES INDEED I THINK YEAH. AND I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, SAFE SPACES. I REMEMBER ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME VERY STRONGLY AT ONE STAGE WAY BACK A LONG TIME AGO THEY WERE GOING TO CLOSE LIBRARIES AND THERE WAS A HEARING AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AND AT THE COPLEY SQUARE LIBRARY AND A YOUNG WOMAN STOOD UP TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LIBRARY AND SHE SAID IT WAS THE ONLY SAFE SPACE THAT SHE COULD GO AFTER
SCHOOL UNTIL OTHER RESPONSIBLE ADULTS WOULD TURN UP IN THE EVENING. AND I WAS THAT WAS HER THAT WAS HER HAVEN. THAT WAS HER SAFE HARBOR. I JUST YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT
SAFE SPACES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND AND WORKING TO REALLY HAVE FOLKS KNOW THAT THOSE ARE SAFE SPACES AND THAT THERE MIGHT BE RESOURCES THERE THAT THEY CAN TAP INTO AND HAVE YOU HAD ANY
THOUGHTS ON THAT ISSUE? YEAH, THAT'S A THAT'S A THANK YOU FOR UPLIFTING THAT I THINK I REALLY LOVE LIBRARIES BECAUSE OF THAT THAT THIRD SPACE THAT IS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE
I KNOW THAT THE THERE IS THE WHEN I GO TO MY LOCAL LIBRARY IN EAST BOSTON THEY HAVE PAMPHLETS AND YOU KNOW HANDOUTS
AND THEY'LL HAVE SECTION ADS AROUND LIKE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, YOU KNOW. SO I THINK THAT IS A A VITAL RESOURCE NOT JUST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BUT FOR ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. BUT I THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS WE'RE EXPANDING PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY AS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS SORT OF LISTENING TOUR FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGS, WITH INDIVIDUALS AGAIN KEEPS COMING UP AND UP IS
LIKE HOW ARE WE HOW ARE WE EVEN THINKING ABOUT NOT JUST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BUT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND AND EVEN EARLY EDUCATION? SO I WORK ALONGSIDE EARLY
EDUCATION PROVIDERS AROUND BUILDING THEIR CAPACITY TO HAVE TRAUMA INFORMED AND EQUITABLE DAYCARE PRACTICES AS WELL AS INTER FAMILY VIOLENCE AND BEING
ABLE TO SEE SORT OF THOSE RED FLAGS AND CONNECT FAMILIES THAT THEY MAY BE WORRIED ABOUT TO RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. AND SO IT'S NOT JUST SORT
OF THE THE PUBLIC, IT IS WHERE DO PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK PLAY, LEARN RIGHT AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN SPREAD THAT THAT AWARENESS. RIGHT.
I MEAN EVEN THINKING ABOUT THE BATHROOMS HERE IN CITY HALL. RIGHT. AND HAVE BEING ABLE TO HAVE LIKE STICKERS ON THE ON THE MIRRORS OF LIKE HERE IF YOU
KNOW IF SOMETHING IS COMING OUT YOU KNOW ARE YOU ARE YOU OF YOU KNOW HAVING THAT INFORMATION EASILY ACCESSIBLE. I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU KNOW RIGHT LIKE BUILDING THE CAPACITY
OF THOSE DAY CARE WORKERS IS ALSO THINKING ABOUT BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF HOUSING PROVIDERS RIGHT. THEY'RE SOLELY FOCUSED ON MAYBE DOING THOSE APPLICATIONS, THOSE HOUSING CASE MANAGERS.
BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY'RE GOING THAT'S GOING TO COME UP, THEY'RE GOING TO INTERACT WITH THE SURVIVOR AND HOW DO WE EQUIP THEM TO FEEL PREPARED TO SAY I'M SO SORRY THIS IS
HAPPENING TO YOU AND HOW CAN I BRING YOU TO THE RESOURCES THAT CAN REALLY SUPPORT YOU LONG TERM AND DO PLANNING WELL,
COUNCILOR, FIRST OF ALL, I'M A LIBRARIAN BY TRAINING AND BY HEART SO I DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT AND WHEN I GO INTO THE LIBRARIES IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD ADAMS VILLAGE CARBON SQUARE LOWER FILLS CORNER AND SEEING RESOURCES IN INFORMATION INFORMATION RIGHT
AS I WALK IN THAT SPEAK TO SAFETY AND SAY IT BEING A SAFE SPACE AS WELL AS THE EDUCATIONAL SPACE AND AS KEN WAS TALKING ONE OF THE PROGRAMS
IN THE OFFICE IS THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING INITIATIVE WHERE CAMPS ARE BEFORE BEING IN THIS ROLE AND THEY'RE DOING TRAINING AND IT MAKES ME OF HOW DO WE MAKE THE
SPACES WE HAVE SAFE ARE SAFER. SO THE START STRONG EFFORT IS IN THE SCHOOLS. IT'S NOT IN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS AND SO THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANSION. BUT THEY'RE WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS WITH THOSE STUDENTS.
THEY ALSO HAVE A STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. WELL NOW YOU'LL SEE THERE THEIR SIGNS ON MTA BUSSES. ARE YOU IN A HEALTHY IS YOUR
FRIEND IN AN UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SO BUT THE TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING THAT THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING ISSUE DOES ALLOW PROVIDERS WHO COULD BE EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATORS IT COULD BE COUNCIL STAFF MEMBERS WHICH THEY'VE DONE IT COULD BE OTHER AGENCIES CITY DEPARTMENTS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT BEING TRAUMA INFORMED AS YOU PROVIDE
CARE THEY THEY'VE DONE WORK EVEN AT THE BPT ACADEMY. RIGHT. SO THEY SORT OF THE WORK AS YOU DO YOUR YOUR DAILY WORK IN YOUR ORGANIZATION HOW CAN YOU MAKE
THAT SAFE FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH ALSO WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THE THE THE ALL OF THE ENTITIES
THAT ARE OUT THERE SEE THIS IS GOING BACK TO THE EARLIER QUESTION THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS IS PRETTY I WOULD SAY DEEPLY IS PRESENT
SO IF YOU IF THERE IF THERE IS SOMEONE THAT THE CAC CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER IS SERVING AND THE FAMILY IS THERE AND THE YOUNG PERSON IS BEING
INTERVIEWED THAT THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED SO THAT THE THE DETECTIVE, THE ADA, THE VICTIM
WITNESS ADVOCATE ARE ALL ABLE TO AND THEY'RE BEING INTERVIEWED BY THE CAC COMMISSION. THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THAT WITHOUT HAVING THAT CHILD THAT
PERSON RETELL THEIR STORY OVER AND OVER AGAIN THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS. SO THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED FOR THAT. IT MEANS THAT THIS ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE IS IS IS A PART OF THE FGC. SO IF I SAY THE FTC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN SITTING ON THAT ON THAT ISSUE. COUNCILOR THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE THING AS WELL. I SPOKE WITH A SUPERINTENDENT CALLAN A FEW WEEKS BACK. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COLLEGES OF THE COLLEGES IN BOSTON AND WE
SEXUAL ASSAULT RECENTLY WAS INVITED OVER TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY TO TO SIT IN ON SOMETHING AND HAVE A TABLE JUST WHERE STUDENTS COULD COME THROUGH AND GET SOME INFORMATION.
THEY DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB WITH OUTREACH BUT WE DID IDENTIFY THAT WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO DO A PIECE GETTING TOGETHER NOW THE COMMANDER OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT SHE'S ON
SHE'S ON VACATION RIGHT NOW BUT SHE HAS SOME GREAT IDEAS WITH WHAT SHE WANTS TO PUT TOGETHER. SO IDENTIFY WHAT RELATIONSHIPS LOOK LIKE AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS ARE. I THINK WE CAN KIND OF START
WITH THE COLLEGE AND MOVE DOWN THE COLLEGES HAVE GREAT, GREAT STUFF. THEY'RE DOING GREAT THINGS WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND THE OUTREACH AND INVITE US TO A LOT OF STUFF NORTHEASTERN AS WELL WITH
REGARD TO SOCIAL MEDIA WE COME ACROSS QUITE A BIT CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN HAS INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN SECTION WITHIN THERE AND SERGEANT DETECTIVE MIKE SULLIVAN HEADS
THAT HE'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME BUT HE TAKES IN A LOT OF REFERRALS WITH REGARD TO, YOU KNOW, BORDERLINE SOMETIMES CRIMINAL STUFF THAT'S GOING ON
BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT MAY NOT REALIZE THAT IT'S CRIMINAL. SO HE DOES A LOT OF INTERVENTION AND DIVERSION WORK WITH THAT. SO WE ARE WELL AWARE OF WITH
THAT AND WE DEVOTE A LOT TO THAT AND THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THAT THAT THAT THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. SO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH WITH A SMALL UNIT WE'RE TRYING TO STAY UP ON THAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT. IT'S LIKE AS I SAID, IT'S THE IT'S THE ICEBERG BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MENTION WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR WEBER. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO COUNCILOR FLYNN
NEXT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE BOSTON POLICE THAT ARE HERE AND ALSO THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TEAM THAT IS HERE AS WELL.
EXCEPTIONAL WORK THAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING. THANK YOU, CAPTAIN THOMAS, FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND FOR YOUR WORK IN THIS FIELD FOR MANY YEARS.
CAPTAIN, YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING YOU HAD FIVE WAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE AND YOU WERE TRYING TO GET SEVEN ADVOCATES. YES. OKAY. CURRENT CURRENTLY WE'RE IN THE
PROCESS OF IN THE HIRING PROCESS AND WE'VE KIND OF EVOLVED A FEW JOBS TRYING TO CREATE THAT NEW ONE THAT I DISCUSSED.
I THINK A CAPTAIN WHEN IF IF IF THERE COMES A CALL IN TO 911 SOMEONE REPORTING A SEXUAL ASSAULT CAN YOU KIND OF WALK US THROUGH THAT CALL WILL GO INTO
THE POLICE STATION OR IT WON'T GO INTO FAMILY JUSTICE I'LL GO RIGHT INTO A PARTICULAR DISTRICT. IS THAT ACCURATE? YES, DEPENDING ON HOW IT GOES. 911 WE'LL WE'LL GO TO WHEREVER
THE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AND THEN A COLLEAGUE DISPATCHED OUT AND THAT'S RESPONDED TO BY THE BY DETECTIVES AT A PARTICULAR DISTRICT AND THEN WHEN DOES
FAMILY JUSTICE PERSONNEL COME COME IN WITH REGARD TO THAT WHEN A SUPERVISOR RESPONDS JUST HOW THE PROTOCOL WHEN SOMEBODY RESPONDS TO A SEXUAL ASSAULT, A
SUPERVISOR WILL RESPOND AS WELL AT THAT POINT THEY'LL REACH OUT . SEXUAL ASSAULT WORKS TWO SHIFTS BUT THEY'RE ON CALL 24 SEVEN SO ANY TIME THEY'RE REACHING OUT
THEY HAVE SOMEBODY TO CONTACT AND THEY'LL SPEAK WITH SOMEBODY. OKAY. OH, SO THEY'LL THEY'LL GET A CALL A SEXUAL ASSAULT TEAM WILL GET A CALL IF SOMETHING DOES TAKE PLACE.
YES. AND THEY'LL RESPOND OKAY. SO IF THEY'RE ON CALL, DOES THAT MEAN WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S PHYSICALLY THERE ALL THE
TIME MAYBE INCLUDING THE WEEKENDS THEY'RE THERE FOR LIKE I SAID, FIRST TWO SHIFTS FROM 730, 830, 8:00 IN THE MORNING TILL ABOUT MIDNIGHT. OKAY THEN THEY'RE ON CALL
OVERNIGHT BUT IT'S IT'S STAGGERED IT'S NOT NOBODY IT'S NOT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IT'S SQUAD SO IT'S ALWAYS COVERED AND SOMEBODY IS ALWAYS ON CALL.
OKAY THEN BEFORE I BEFORE I DO GET TO KIMBERLY JUST WANTED TO FINISH UP CAPTAIN WHAT TELL ME TELL ME THIS THE CHALLENGE
YOU THE POLICE OFFICER A POLICE OFFICER MIGHT HAVE IF THE SURVIVOR OR THE PERSON CALLING SEEKING SUPPORT FROM THE POLICE IF THEY DON'T NECESSARILY SPEAK
ENGLISH, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MAYBE THEY DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH BUT THEY'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR PARTNER WHO MIGHT BE THEIR SPOUSE AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO
GET INVOLVED WITH THE COURT SYSTEM. HOW DIFFICULT IS NAVIGATING THE LANGUAGE AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO
SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T WANT TO NECESSARILY GET THEIR SPOUSE INVOLVED? WELL, THE LANGUAGE FORTUNATELY WE HAVE DIVERSITY WITHIN OFFICERS RESPONDING AS WELL AS
WITHIN THE UNIT. WE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGE BEING SPOKEN SO THAT THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE AT ALL. THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMES WHERE CERTAIN VICTIM SURVIVORS WILL
PREFER TO SPEAK WITH SAY A FEMALE AS OPPOSED TO A MALE. I MEAN WE'LL MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ANYTHING ONCE WE GET INTO THAT. WE DO HAVE SEXUAL ASSAULT WITH THE ADVOCATES THROUGH THE DA'S
OFFICE. YOU KNOW, WE CAN WALK THEM THROUGH WITH IF THEY'RE NOT READY TO PROCEED WITH SOMETHING THEN WE DON'T FORCE THAT AT ALL. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S GOING TO
MOVE AT THEIR OWN PACE AND WE RESPECT THAT MAY BE MY FINAL QUESTION, CAPTAIN, BUT WHAT WHAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A
SURVIVOR CALLED THAT SAID THEY SPOKE CANTONESE AND MAYBE THERE WASN'T ANYONE IN BOSTON POLICE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME THAT'S WORKING THAT SHIFT.
I KNOW YOU MIGHT DO A CALL ON THE RADIO BUT IF THERE WASN'T A CANTONESE SPEAKING OFFICER I REPRESENT AS YOU THERE'S YOU KNOW, A LARGE CANTONESE
SPEAKING COMMUNITY BUT HOW WOULD WE GO ABOUT ENSURING THE POLICE WOULD RESPOND PROPERLY TO SOMEONE THAT THAT SPEAKS CANTONESE WE HAVE A LENGTH
OF ACCESS TO A LANGUAGE LINE WHERE YOU COULD COORDINATE THAT WAY WHEN A DETECTIVE'S INVOLVED THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THAT LANGUAGE LINE OR AN ADVOCATE CAN REACH OUT TO THE LANGUAGE LINE AND HANDLE IT THAT WAY WE
DO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION UM IN HAND AND THROUGH ALL SORTS OF LANGUAGES BUT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR YOU WERE CONCERNED WITH ANY ANY PARTICULAR PART OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS YOU COULD REACH
OUT TO US. WE HAVE LIKE I SAID A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT WE COULD CONNECT WITH THEM, YOU KNOW? THANK YOU CAPTAIN AND KIMBERLY, THANK YOU FOR THE IMPORTANT
WORK YOU ARE DOING. I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MYSELF WORKED ON AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS HAVE YOU SEEN AND I
WANT TO DO A COMPARISON BUT HAVE YOU SEEN AN INCREASE IN MAYBE YOUNG WOMAN ESPECIALLY CALLING BECAUSE OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE AS IT RELATES TO HAVING THEIR ALCOHOL DRINKS SPIKED AT A PARTICULAR RESTAURANT AND HOW WOULD YOU HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT
IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO IF THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BUT DO YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY CHALLENGES
WITH THAT TYPE OF ISSUE AND ALSO COMPARING THE INTIMATE PARTNER SEXUAL ASSAULT AS WELL THEY MAY NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD FOR VARIOUS REASONS AS WELL.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS HOW DO HOW DO WE HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMEONE WELL CERTAINLY WE NEVER WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN TO
ANYONE. SO HOW WOULD YOU GO FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT THE SURVIVOR CONTINUES IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OR TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO THAT
AVENUE? THANK YOU COUNSELOR FLYNN FOR THAT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN YOUNG WOMEN AROUND HAVING SPIKED DRINKS OUT
OF DATE RAPE DRUGS. I KNOW THAT I SPOKE TO DIRECTOR LIZ CURTIS AND SHE DID MENTION THAT YOUNG WOMEN HAVE THERE HAS
BEEN AN INCREASE IN CALLS COMING IN AROUND DOMESTIC ASSAULTS FOR I BELIEVE THAT ARE LIKE THE SECOND HIGHEST. BUT WE'LL NEED TO GET THAT MORE
CONCRETE FOR YOU. HOWEVER, I THINK IN REAL IN REGARDS TO DATE RAPE DRUGS OR SPIKING OF DRINKS I KNOW I WAS
IN THE LGBTQ SAFETY MEETING AND THEY DID MENTION THAT THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN SUPPORTING TRAININGS FOR NIGHTLIFE MANAGERS AND OWNERS TO BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT JUST MORE OF AN AWARENESS AROUND THAT ISSUE. AND SO WITH DETECTIVE RICHARD DALE WE YOU KNOW, ARE JUST
STARTING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT THAT CONVERSATION OR TRAINING MIGHT EVEN LOOK LIKE AROUND ESPECIALLY WITH THE OFFICE OF NIGHTLIFE I THINK RELATED TO
THE NEXT PART OF YOUR QUESTION AROUND WHETHER AND A SURVIVOR OR A VICTIM MIGHT NOT WANT TO GO DOWN THE LEGAL THE CRIMINAL LEGAL ROUTE.
YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY THIS WHEN I DO TRAININGS AROUND DOMESTIC OR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE WE HAVE A SECTION CALLED EMPOWERMENT BASED ADVOCACY OR A
COLLEAGUE IN THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE CALLED THE TPS ADVOCACY AND SHE CALLS IT THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU KNOW YOU PUT IN AN ADDRESS AND YOUR GPS IT
TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE TO GO. IT DOESN'T ASK ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD? MAYBE DOWN THIS ROAD IT'S IT JUST TELLS YOU THIS IS THE SORT OF BEST WAY TO GO AND SORT OF GIVES YOU OPTIONS AROUND HOW
TO GET THERE. BUT IT DOESN'T QUESTION YOUR DECISION TO GO TO THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION AND I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE AS AN ADVOCATE OR AS A COMMUNITY
HEALTH WORKER I WOULD MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO LAY OUT THE OPTIONS FOR THE SURVIVOR, FOR THE VICTIM AND FOLLOWING THE CRIMINAL LEGAL ROUTE IS ONE OF THEM.
AND IF FOLKS OR SURVIVORS DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING DOWN THAT ROUTE, I WOULD I WOULDN'T ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEEK SOMETHING THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH.
HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT LAYING OUT REALLY CLEARLY WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE. I REALLY LIKED YOUR QUESTION AROUND WHAT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IF SOMEONE CALLS AND THEY'RE ASKING THAT WHAT IS
THAT PROCESS? I DEMYSTIFYING WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE FOR SURVIVORS CALLING WHAT TO EXPECT. I THINK IT'S ALL PART OF TRAUMA
INFORMED CARE RIGHT AS BEING PREDICTABLE IT'S BEING CONSISTENT IS BEING ABLE TO DEMYSTIFY AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE FOLKS OPTIONS AND A VOICE
AND SO HOW DO WE YOU KNOW, RESPOND TO THIS IN REGARDS TO LAYING OUT LAYING OUT OPTIONS? I THINK IT AGAIN, IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO THAT THAT
EDUCATION AND THAT PREVENTION WORK. THANK YOU. I I DIDN'T I DIDN'T LOOK UP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON THE SAW THE CRIME STATS CRIME ONE AS IT
RELATED TO JANUARY 2024 TO THE PRESENT APRIL 2024 AND THEN THE SAME TIME JANUARY 2025 TO THE PRESENT. SO OVER THOSE FOUR MONTHS OR
THREE AND A HALF MONTHS I GUESS PERIOD RAPE AN ATTEMPTED RAPE STATS HAVE GONE UP IN DOMESTIC
DOMESTIC AGGRAVATED ASSAULT HAS GONE UP. BUT LET ME LET ME JUST ASK MADAM CHAIR, DO I HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.
I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH THE WITH THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AND I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WOMEN VETERANS I THINK ABOUT AT LEAST
ONE THIRD OF THEM REPORT MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA IN THEIR LIFE AND IT'S PROBABLY CLOSE TO
60% OF IF THEY REPORTED IT. AND I KNOW AND AGAIN I'M JUST TALKING MAYBE MAYBE JUST THE VA BUT I KIND OF WANT TO COMPARE IT TO THE TO THE CIVILIAN SIDE
OR LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. BUT ONE OF THE ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THE VA SYSTEM IS A SURVIVOR, A WOMAN SURVIVOR.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NECESSARILY HAVE THE GENDER SPECIFIC MEDICAL CARE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED AT THE HOSPITAL
. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE IF THAT'S THE CASE OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY I THINK IT'S OBVIOUSLY MUCH BETTER IN THE BOSTON HOSPITALS BUT BUT MY
QUESTION IS WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES IN SUPPORT DO YOU PROVIDE SURVIVORS OF OF OF SEXUAL ASSAULT NOT JUST
DURING THE CRIMINAL CASE THAT'S CONTINUE IN BUT FOR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD BECAUSE THAT CARE IS CRITICAL THAT TRAUMA REALLY NEVER GOES AWAY.
BUT WHAT IS WHAT IS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY DOING OR WHAT WHAT IS YOUR TEAM DOING TO ENSURE THAT THAT PERSON HAS THE ACCESS TO COUNSELING AND MEDICAL SERVICES
? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. SO I'LL START WITH SO THE THIS SPECIFIC INITIATIVE IS RIGHT NOW I AM A TEAM OF ONE AND SOON WILL BE A TEAM OF TWO AS WE'RE
HIRING PROGRAM MANAGER OUR FOCUS IS GOING TO BE SPECIFICALLY AROUND PREVENTION AND SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SEEING OR YOU KNOW, HAVING A CASELOAD OF FOLKS TO TO MEET OR
TO SAFETY PLAN OR TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THEM AND CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES. WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO DO, HOWEVER, IS TO REALLY HELP COORDINATE AND CONNECT TO AND
CREATE BRIDGES ACROSS SECTORS BETWEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE RESPONDERS AND OTHER ALLIED SECTORS SUCH AS HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND REALLY
SUPPORTING THE COORDINATION OF THAT AND THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EACH IS ONE OF MY PRIMARY GOALS AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE BECAUSE WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A SURVIVOR HAS JUST GONE THROUGH HARM THE ABILITY TO SORT OF SIT DOWN AND SAY OKAY, I NEED TO CALL THIS PERSON AND I CALL
NEED TO CALL THIS ORGANIZATION AND MAYBE THEY HAVE A WAITLIST AND MAYBE THEY DON'T. AND THEN IF I CALL AT THIS HOUR AND THIS PERSON PICKS UP, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT'S HAPPENING IN REGARDS TO
JUST LIKE THE IMPACT OF THE HARM THAT HAS JUST OCCURRED PLUS THE JUST THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING CONNECTED TO WHAT THEY NEED AND SO WHEN THEY
THINK ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE, IT'S REALLY HOW DO WE HOW ARE WE BUILDING CONNECTIONS AND ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS HOPES TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT PERSON WHO JUST WENT THROUGH HARM AND AND
MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL ROUTE BUT MAYBE YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE YOU KNOW, IN MASSACHUSETTS THEY HAVE FIVE DAYS YOU KNOW, IF THEY WERE JUST RAPED OR THEY
THEY HAVE FIVE DAYS TO GO AND GET FREE A FREE MEDICAL EXAMINATION TO DO THE RAPE KIT RAPE KIT AND THEY DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT. AND JUST EVEN KNOWING THAT
THAT'S A RESOURCE THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE AND SPREADING THAT AWARENESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. BUT YEAH, MAINTAINING THOSE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS DIFFERENT
SECTORS ACROSS YOU KNOW LIKE THE HOSPITALS AND ALSO WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SUPPORTING FOLKS JUST EVEN COORDINATING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND SO
I'M A PROPONENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS FOR THAT REASON BECAUSE THEY WORK ACROSS SECTORS AND CAN REALLY SUPPORT AND AND HAVE THAT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY FOR THAT SURVIVOR.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, IT DOES. THANK YOU, KIMBERLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. OFFLINE WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR RAOUL. THANK YOU.
NEXT IS COUNSELOR WEBER. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ASKED BEFORE BUT IN TERMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS CAN ANYONE
SPEAK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CAPACITY IS AND WHETHER YOU THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH CAPACITY IN THE CITY OR SORT OF WAIT TO GET IN AND HOW THAT'S PUT, YOU KNOW?
YEAH. SO JUST THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. I'M GOING TO QUOTE DEB FROM BROOKLYN HOUSE AND SAY SHE SAID ,YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T SHELTER A
BETTER WAY OUT OF THIS AND YOU KNOW, SHE SAID THAT AS WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT THIS INITIATIVE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE THE WORK THAT
THEY'RE DOING WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SHELTER BEDS 99% OF THE TIME AND I'M MAKING UP 200 BUT LIKE OFTEN VERY, VERY OFTEN AND
THEY'RE FULL AND EMERGENCY SHELTERS HAVE I KNOW I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH REVEREND MARGARET AT THE ULU
MINISTRY IN ROXBURY AND THEY HAVE THEY RUN A SHELTER AND SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, THEY MENTIONED THEY'RE LIKE YOU KNOW, VERY WE DON'T TELL PEOPLE
THAT THEY NEED TO LEAVE. WE DON'T TELL THEM THAT THEY HAVE A TIME LIMIT IN STAYING IN OUR SHELTER. AND SO WHEN THERE WERE THERE WAS AND I KNOW JADA IS DOING A
LOT OF WORK RIGHT NOW IN REGARDS TO REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THOSE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR SURVIVORS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS
THAT EMERGENCY SHELTERS THAT USED TO BE YOU KNOW, BETWEEN 6 TO 8 MONTHS SOMEBODY WOULD GET HOUSED. NOW THEY'RE THEY'RE IN THERE FOR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS PLUS WHICH THEN THEY'RE YOU KNOW,
OFTEN FOLKS ALSO DON'T WANT TO KEEP WAITLIST BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A SURVIVOR YOU PUT YOURSELF ON A WAITLIST AND SOMEBODY CALLS YOU AT A TIME WHEN YOU'RE WITH THE PERSON WHO'S CAUSING YOU HARM THAT CAN PUT YOU IN
DANGER. AND SO A WAITLIST YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO REVEREND MARGARET, THEY DON'T LIKE TO KEEP WAITLIST BECAUSE OF THAT. AND AND SO SOMETIMES MOST OF THE TIME WHAT SURVIVORS NEED
TO DO IS THEY NEED TO CALL EVERY DAY MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY TO SEE IF THERE'S AN OPENING. SO I'VE BEEN TO QUITE THE SAFE LINK LINE AND SO NO, THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS AND ALSO I THINK AGAIN AS BROOKE FOR YOU HOUSE CEO SAID WE CAN'T SHELTER BUT OUR WAY OUT OF THIS AND SO WHAT ARE THOSE EXPANDED
HOUSING OPTIONS? AND THAT'S PART OF YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING STATEMENT AROUND THE PLAN TO END VIOLENCE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND THE SUPPORT AND ONE OF THE PROPOSALS THAT IS
UNDER MY PURVIEW AND THAT I WILL BE REALLY CHAMPIONING IS HOW ARE WE EXPANDING HOUSING OPTIONS FOR SURVIVORS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN I KNOW I
MENTIONED JADA AGAIN BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING SOME WORK RIGHT NOW THAT WAS SHARED WITH WITH THE DV COUNCIL AS PART OF THE THE CITY
OF BOSTON'S TEACHING HOSPITALS COUNCIL THAT YOU KNOW THEY'RE THAT THIS IS A HUGE NEED NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BUT IN THE STATE AND WHEN WE THINKING ABOUT NOT JUST THOSE
EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS BUT MAYBE HOUSING INCENTIVES OR INCENTIVES FOR LANDLORDS TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THEIR THEIR
THEIR AVAILABILITY FOR SURVIVORS, WHAT DOES YOU KNOW, EXPANDING OR CREATING VOUCHERS SPECIFICALLY FOR SURVIVORS? SO THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHT BEING PUT INTO THIS
BY EXPERTS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. THANK YOU. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, JUST THE FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES IS THAT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT
PROBLEM AND THERE IS A SHORTAGE AND PARTICULARLY IT'S VICTIMS SURVIVORS WITH THEIR CHILDREN THAT THAT'S A BIG OBSTACLE TO CHILDREN. SO IT IS A IT IS A MAJOR
PROBLEM AND SO AND SO DO WE. THIS IS THE CITY PUT PEOPLE INTO SHELTERS. HOW INVOLVED ARE I YOU KNOW DO YOU DO CALLED CASIMIR HOW DOES
IT WORK? HOW DO YOU CONNECT THEM TO A BED EVENTUALLY AND CAN YOU FIND THEM BEDS OUTSIDE OF BOSTON? YOU KNOW JUST I GUESS WALK
ME THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND I'M ALSO JUST JUST FOR MYSELF MY COLLEAGUES MAY ALREADY KNOW IN TERMS OF WHO'S PROVIDING THE SHELTERS, ARE WE RELYING ON NONPROFITS, THE STATE WHAT'S
THE THE MIXTURE DOES THE CITY PROVIDE HAVE SHELTERS TO BE FUND SHELTERS? YEAH. SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO THERE ARE A MULTITUDE
OF WAYS THAT SURVIVORS CAN GET CONNECTED TO SHELTERS. I WORKED AS A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER FOR A LONG TIME AND SO IT IS A MIX OF NONPROFITS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE STATE OR THE
FEDERAL MONIES AND THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE EMERGENCY FAMILIES
SYSTEMS WITH HERE WITHIN THE STATE OF MASS AND SO BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND GOING THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS AND INDICATING THAT YOU'RE A SURVIVOR, THAT YOU NEED SUPPORT AND YOU HAVE TO
HAVE A SPECIFIC INCOME OR LESS, YOU CAN'T GO OVER A QUARTER OR A DOLLAR OVER THAT SPECIFIC INCOME BECAUSE IF NOT YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE AND DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FAMILY?
ARE CHILDREN AT LEAST ONE CHILD NEEDS TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN. AND SO THERE'S A LOT AND I SAY ALL OF THAT BECAUSE THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF IT'S A WINDING
ROAD TO BE ABLE TO GET ASSIGNED OR PLACED INTO A SHELTER IF YOU GO THROUGH THE DTA ROUTE THEN OF COURSE THERE'S THE THE
NONPROFITS THAT AGAIN YOU HAVE TO CALL SAFELY AND SAFELY. THAT IS REALLY WHERE THAT'S THE HUB THEY'LL KNOW THEY GET A CALL THEY'LL GET A CALL FROM A SHELTER AND IT'S ACROSS THE STATE. RIGHT. AND SO IMAGINE IF YOU'RE A
SURVIVOR AND YOU HAVE A JOB TO GO TO IN BOSTON BUT YOU NEED TO GO AND THEY PLACE YOU OUT IN LIKE YOU KNOW, TOPS FIELD OR GRAFTON AND YOU DON'T HAVE A CAR AND SO THEY MIGHT SAY NO TO THAT PLACEMENT BECAUSE THEY
AREN'T ABLE TO GET TO THEIR HOUSE OR TO THEIR JOB AND THEY MIGHT LOSE THEIR JOB AND THEN IT'S A WHOLE WINDING ROAD PARTS OF THAT. AND SO I THINK WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SUPPORTING
SHELTERS I KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SORT OF FUNDING IS A HUGE, HUGE FEAR RIGHT NOW AND I THINK EVEN
SOMETHING SMALLER AS AS I WAS I WAS I WAS SHARING WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO REVEREND MARGARET THEIR SHELTER IS IN A BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEIR STAFF
AND THE SHELTER RESIDENTS GET TICKETED ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE. THEY'RE NOT TECHNICALLY RIGHT. THE SHELTER RESIDENTS ARE NOT TECHNICALLY NOT TECHNICALLY
RESIDENTS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND SO THEY CAN'T GET PARKING PERMITS AND THEY GET TICKETED ALL THE TIME AND THEY'RE ALREADY IN A LOT OF FINANCIAL STRAITS. RIGHT. AND SO WHEN WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT THE SHELTER SYSTEM OR LIKE BEING PLACED IN A SHELTER, SOMETHING AS SMALL AS A PARKING PERMIT CAN REALLY SUPPORT THAT SURVIVOR. AND ALSO WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL LEVEL
OF SUPPORTING AND FILLING IN THOSE GAPS WHEN AND IF AND WHEN THE FEDERAL FUNDING MAY BE CUT DUE TO A TOUGHER TIME. OKAY.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US LAW ENFORCEMENT ESPECIALLY IF AN INCIDENT HAPPENS IN TWO OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND THERE'S NO SPACE FOR A FAMILY WOULD BE
NICE IF MAYBE IF THIS CRITICAL PARTNER WITH MAYBE ONE OF THE BIGGER HOTEL CORPORATIONS WHERE WE COULD HAVE A VOUCHER SYSTEM TO COME GET THEIR ROOMS. I MEAN THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHERE THE OFFICERS ARE LEFT WITH NO
OTHER ALTERNATIVE AND THEY ALL JUST PAY TO GET THEM A HOTEL ROOM TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET FOR THE NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE TO GO TO A COURT THE NEXT NEXT DAY.
SO IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR US IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, TWO OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND THERE'S NO CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS OR THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE STAYING WITH THEM AND THEY DON'T WANT OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS IN THERE THEIR BUSINESS.
SO WOULD BE NICE IF WE HAD ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE COULD HELP RESIDENTS AS WELL. OUR EMERGENCY HOUSING. OKAY.
AND SHIFTING GEARS A LITTLE BIT JUST IN TERMS OF STALKING I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT IS WHAT IS BPD DO I DO WHAT'S YOUR YOU KNOW AND I AM HAPPY TO HEAR FROM
EVERYTHING LIKE HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT? WHAT HAS TO BE DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ENOUGH DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH TOOLS IF SOMEBODY IS JUST BEING STALKED TO STEP IN
OR DO YOU HAVE TO WALK ME THROUGH WHAT IT'S LIKE? WELL, I THINK DEALING WITH THOSE IT STARTS OBVIOUSLY WITH THE POLICE REPORT SOMEBODY YOU CAN COME IN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE SITUATION.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WHAT STALKING, HARASSMENT, DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE LAW, WHAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED THE ELEMENTS OF THAT CRIME OR ANYTHING. SO OUR DETECTIVES VERSED IN ALL
THAT. SO THEY'LL THEY'LL WORK WITH IN FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE CASES ARE, WHAT THE CHARGES THE PROPER CHARGES ARE. AGAIN, CONSULTATION WITH THE DA'S OFFICE.
YOU KNOW HERE'S A SITUATION AND SO THEY'LL WALK RIGHT THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, SO THEY'LL HAVE THE IDEA OF HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN CAN TELL WE NOBODY IS GOING TO BE TURNED AWAY FROM ANY RESOURCES BASED ON THAT.
IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY A CRIME WHAT'S OCCURRING. SO WE'LL WE'LL GO THROUGH IT AND THE DETECTIVES ARE VERSED IN HOW TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE COURTS AND SEEK THE PROPER CHARGES.
OKAY. AND ANY ANYTHING ELSE JUST ONE LAST THING IN TERMS OF LIKE AFFIRMATIVE I THINK YOU MENTIONED OUTREACH TO IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES HERE IN BOSTON WHO MAY FEEL RIGHT NOW IF THEY COME FORWARD THEY'LL BE, YOU KNOW, PUT ON A PLANE SOMEWHERE AND OR
THAT THEIR THEIR PARTNER, YOU KNOW, MAY END UP IN A YOU KNOW, SENT TO EL SALVADOR OR SOMETHING. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING IF ANYTHING TO YOU KNOW, TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES ABOUT YOU KNOW, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STILL, YOU KNOW, REPORT OR COMFORT, YOU KNOW, COME TO US FOR HELP?
WELL, I CAN SAY RIGHT NOW THAT WE DON'T ASK ANYONE THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. SOMEONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE NO MATTER WHAT THAT CRIME IS OR WHETHER IT'S NOT A CRIME. THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND OBVIOUSLY MEMBERS IN THIS ROOM WE'RE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT. YOU KNOW, THAT'S GREAT. I'M JUST AND I I'M JUST ASKING I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM HERE AND I JUST WAS
WONDERING WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF LIKE AFFIRMATIVELY LETTING PEOPLE EVEN KNOW JUST THAT LIKE HOW HOW WOULD YOU HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE AT HOME? ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT EXCUSE
ME IS JUST WE'RE RELYING ON RELATIONSHIP OPS THAT WE'VE WE'VE CREATED ALL THE TIME IN THE COMMUNITY WITH REGARD TO COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICES WE HAVE NOW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THOSE ARE THINGS WHERE
HOPEFULLY WE BUILD SOME RAPPORT WITH FOLKS AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN TRUST WHAT THEY CAN COME AND REPORT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO THANK YOU.
I ALSO ADD SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. I'M LIKE I'M A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS. MY PARENTS IMMIGRATED HERE IN THE EIGHTIES FLEEING THE CIVIL
WAR IN EL SALVADOR AND I GREW UP AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND THERE WAS STILL A DEEP INSERTED FEAR OF INTERGENERATIONAL
TRAUMA THAT FOR NO RIGHT AND THIS IS NOT TO SAY BLAMING BD OR ANY PARTICULAR PERSON IN DPD
BUT SOMETIMES WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SORT OF OVERCOME THOSE FEARS AND PEOPLE AND SO WHERE I ENCOURAGE FOLKS IS LAYING OUT A MENU OF OPTIONS RIGHT BEING
ABLE TO SAY THIS IS HOW IF YOU WANT A RESTRAINING ORDER OR IF YOU WANT TO REPORT THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT, THIS IS HOW WE DID MYSTIFY IT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
COMMUNITY OFFICERS IS IS IS VERY, VERY VITAL AND IMPORTANT AND ONLY ONE PIECE OF THAT MENU OF OPTIONS SORT OF ANOTHER PIECE IS WORKING ALONGSIDE IMMIGRANT SERVING ORGANIZATIONS
WHO HAVE THOSE REALLY DEEP RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM AND BEING ABLE TO DEMYSTIFY LIKE YOU KNOW, CENTER PRESENT IN EAST BOSTON OR THE BRAZILIAN
WORKER CENTER RIGHT THAT THEY HAVE THOSE DEEP SEATED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO BE THAT CONDUIT THAT TRUSTED PEOPLE THAT THEY
CAN SUPPORT THROUGH ANY SORT OF DECISIONS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE ESPECIALLY AS FOLKS WHO ARE YOU KNOW, IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE SURVIVORS WHO ARE AFRAID
THEY MAY NEVER EVER GO TO THE POLICE AND THAT JUST JUST NOT PART OF THEIR MENU OF OPTIONS AND THAT'S OKAY. AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT WITH OTHER RESOURCES AND OTHER
OPTIONS FOR THEM IS REALLY WHERE I WANT TO SORT OF EMPHASIZE FOR FOR ALL OF US IS TO BE ABLE TO NOT SORT OF SORT OF TRY TO PUSH
SURVIVORS TO ONLY SEEK THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM OPTIONS BECAUSE THAT IS ONLY JUST ONE OF MANY AND EVERY PERSON IS DIFFERENT. THE WAY TRAUMA AFFECTS EVERY
ONE OF US IS DIFFERENT AND SO WE WE HAVE TO BE AS AND AS A OF OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT. OKAY.
THANK YOU CHAIR COUNSELOR. RIGHT. AND THANK YOU CHAIR DO WE I
KNOW FROM A PREVIOUS HEARING ON THE V.A. STOP GRANT WE HEARD FROM OFFICERS THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVOCATES
COVERING ALL OF ROXBURY IN DORCHESTER AND THAT WAS THROUGH THE OPERA GRANT WHICH OF COURSE WILL BE COMING TO AN END SOON. AND WE ONLY HAVE FIVE ADVOCATES
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY. IS THIS STILL THE CASE AND HOW DO WE PLAN ON SUPPLEMENTING FOR
THE ARPA DOLLARS WITH THE VAWA GRANT? IS THAT WHAT YOU REFERRING TO? YEAH. SO WITH REGARD TO THE VA WE HAD TWO ADVOCATES THAT WERE ON THE GRANT.
WE TOOK THEM OFF THE GRANT AND PUT THEM INTO THE CITY ONTO THE CITY PAYROLL AS THROUGH ATTRITION TO TWO RETIREMENTS OVER THAT TIME AND WE MOVED TO
THE TWO OTHER ADVOCATES ON TO APPLYING STILL FOR ANOTHER POSITION. WITH THAT WE CURRENTLY CREATED OR DIDN'T CREATE A POSITION BUT IT WAS THERE WAS ANOTHER POSITION THAT WAS
UNFILLED. WE'RE CURRENTLY TRYING TO FILL THAT FOR AN ADVOCATE POSITION AND I HAD SAID EARLIER WE'RE LOOKING TO TO TRY TO CREATE ANOTHER POSITION AT THE RJC IN
PARTICULAR HAVE THE ADVOCATE WORK DIRECTLY THERE AND AND ITS ANY CLIENTS OFF THE STREET PHONE CALLS IN OR EVEN COVERAGE IF IF AN ADVOCATE IS ON VACATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
THEY CAN COVER A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S WHAT THEY DO THEY'RE COVERING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY AND IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING OR WHATEVER SOMEBODY ELSE WILL ASSUME THAT WORKLOAD AND
THERE'S SO THIS TOO JUST TO BE FOR MY FLAHERTY THERE'S TWO ON THE OPERATING BUDGET DOMESTIC, DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ADVOCATE BALANCE ADVOCATE THEY WENT FROM TWO OF THEM WENT FROM THE
OF GRANT ON TO THE ISSUE. ALL RIGHT SO HOW MANY IN TOTAL SO ON THE UNTIL UNTIL OPERATE JUST ON THE SHERRY SIX OKAY SO
HOW SOON AND ARE THEY IS IT 24 SEVEN HOW WAS THEIR SCHEDULE DURING THE DAY YOU KNOW 8 TO 4 SOMETHING 804 AND DOES IN TERMS
OF LIKE THE DATA AROUND WHEN AND I KNOW HAPPENS AT ALL SORTS OF HOURS AND TIMES IS THERE A NEED FOR YOU KNOW TO REVISIT ON
WHEN THOSE ADVOCATES ARE ON CALL SHOULD THEY BE ON CALL IN THE EVENING IN EVENING SHIFT AS WELL OR WE'VE NEVER REALLY LOOKED AT LOOKED AT THAT IT'S
ALWAYS BEEN A CASE OF THEIR ASSIGNED THOSE CASES THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE REPORTS COME IN. OKAY BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT
ALSO AND I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ON THE FOLLOW UP WHEN SOME WHEN A SURVIVOR EXPERIENCES DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL
VIOLENCE. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE FOLLOW UP THAT THE POLICE DOES BECAUSE OFTENTIMES YOU CAN SEE
THE SURVIVOR GOING BACK TO THE ABUSER AND JUST A STORY THAT AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND WAS, YOU KNOW, A
SURVIVOR GOING BACK TO ABUSER AND IT RESULTED IN A ALMOST IT WAS A DEFINITELY TRAGIC BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH WORSE. SO CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE
POLICE'S ROLE ON FOLLOWING UP WITH THE SURVIVOR TO ENSURE THAT YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS STILL SAFE FOR THAT SURVIVOR AND THAT THEY'RE IN A GOOD
SPACE? YEAH, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'LL OFTENTIMES WITH THE DOMESTICS, THE ADVOCATES WILL BE SOME OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO TO RECONNECT FROM THE TIME THAT
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED SO IF IT'S AN ARREST OR IF HAS BEEN INCIDENT OVER SAY THE PREVIOUS NIGHT SAY IT WAS THE SITUATION THAT YOU ARE I THINK REFERRING TO IT WAS A NIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT
AND THERE WAS SOME CONTACT MADE OR ARREST I BELIEVE WAS MADE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEN THOSE CONTACT MADE ON MONDAY MORNING FROM OUR DV ADVOCATE. THEN MONDAY NIGHT ANOTHER
INCIDENT OCCURRED RIGHT FROM THAT SO THERE WAS CONNECTION UNFORTUNATELY NOT ALWAYS WE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE WITH THE ACTUAL VICTIMS OF THE
INCIDENT. YOU KNOW THEY'LL REACH OUT IF IF NOBODY WILL LEAVE A NUMBER OF MESSAGES OR DIFFERENT YOU KNOW AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT TIMELINES AS AS
WHETHER THEY'RE READY TO SPEAK WITH US, WHETHER THEY WANT TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PUSH. SO WE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL PHONE CALLS IF IF WE'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL AT THAT WE SEND OUT
A CERTIFIED LETTER WHICH IS INFORMATION FOR THAT AND. ANY OTHER FOLLOW UP AGAIN WE KNOW OF IN OUR HOME THIS IS PART OF YOUR PROTOCOL? NO. ALL RIGHT. YEAH.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE HOME VISITS TO BE PART OF THE PROTOCOL JUST TO CHECK IN WITH THE SURVIVOR THAT CAN ESCALATE THE SITUATION YOU AS IF IT I THINK WITH HOME
VISITING JUST BEING REALLY CAREFUL ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE PART OF THE POLICE JUST BECAUSE IT COULD ESCALATE THE SITUATION FOR THE SURVIVOR THAT MAYBE IT'S FROM A WITNESS SOMEWHERE THAT YOU GUYS ARE PART
ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE PARTNERING WITH BUT I DO THINK YOU KNOW CHECKING IN I, I WOULD GUESS THINKING ABOUT THAT INCIDENT I THINK IT COULD HAVE
BEEN NOTHING THEY COULD DO NOT KNOWING WHAT TIME THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. BUT I THINK IT COULD BE VERY HELPFUL JUST SOMEONE CHECKING IN ON THE SURVIVOR BEING PART OF THE PROTOCOL AND IT DOESN'T
LIKE TO YOUR POINT DOES HAVE TO BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT COULD BE ONE OF THE NONPROFITS. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY
TRAINED SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSES AND OTHER STAFF IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY ARE AT EACH HOSPITAL? DO YOU GUYS HAVE THAT INFORMATION?
YEAH, WE DON'T WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER BUT I KNOW AS TIME GOES ON CERTAIN HOSPITALS ARE AT AN ADDITIONAL SAYING NURSES TO
THEIR SPECIFIC AREAS AND I THINK THE EAST BOSTON HEALTH CENTER JUST RECENTLY HIRED THE SAME NURSE THEY'RE TUFTS HOSPITAL SAME THING. SO AS WE GO ON THEY DEFINITELY
HAVE BEEN ADDING SAME NURSES THROUGHOUT THIS PARTICULAR REGION I THINK THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS ALSO AWESOME. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO A SECOND ROUND IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS SO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES ASKING REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS.
SOME OF WHICH ARE ON MY LIST AND I'M EAGER ALSO TO GET TO THE ADVOCATES BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY'LL HAVE A NICE RESPONSE AND IT'LL BE A NICE DIALOG ESPECIALLY FOR EXAMPLE ON THE QUESTION OF IMMIGRANTS
AND HOW OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE FEELING BECAUSE THERE IS I YOU KNOW THAT WAS MY BIGGEST FEAR WITH THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION THAT PEOPLE WHO ALREADY ARE FILMING FEELING
VULNERABLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH POLICE OFFICERS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS. AND SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE'RE NOT EXPERIENCING AT THIS MOMENT A DOWNWARD TREND IN
REPORTING. BUT I HOPE THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KEEP A PULSE ON AND I'M SURE OUR ADVOCATES WILL HAVE INFORMATION TO SHARE ABOUT THAT AND I'M HOPING TO SO A LOT
OF THIS IS LIKE YOU KNOW, ME QUESTIONS AND JUST STATEMENTS IN TERMS OF WHAT I'VE WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING DIRECTOR MENDOZA EVER HAD TO HOPEFULLY IN THE DATA COLLECTION WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING I KNOW THAT AND I
APPRECIATE THAT THE POLICE DON'T ASK PEOPLE THE IMMIGRATION IMMIGRANT STATS. IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU RESPOND TO PEOPLE AS THEY NEED HELP. I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THERE'S A
WAY IN THE DATA FOR US TO TRACK THAT OR TO FIND OUT OR JUST TRY TO GET THAT INFORMATION, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND LIKE TO DISAGGREGATE THE DATA AND SEE WHAT'S
HAPPENING. SO AND ALSO TO ALSO BETTER TARGET THE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE T OR IN DIFFERENT PLACES BECAUSE I THINK I THINK THAT
THERE MAY BE WHEN YOU JUST HAVE READ THE DATA THERE MAY BE TRENDS HAPPENING THAT WE DON'T SEE AND SO HAPPILY ON THE DATA COLLECTION YOU KNOW I THINK A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO
SOMETIMES IS ABOUT LIKE HOW ARE WE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND SPECIFICALLY FROM THE CITY. BUT I THINK THE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS CAN BE HARD TO TARGET IF YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT THAT IF YOU'RE NOT CAPTURING THE DATA AND FOLLOWING UP THE DATA SHOWING I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR WEBER WHO ASKED THE QUESTIONS ABOUT STALKING WHEN I SPONSORED THIS HEARING I IMMEDIATELY GOT AN
EMAIL FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO SAID WOULD YOU PLEASE SURE THAT YOU TALK ABOUT STALKING DURING THIS HEARING AND SO I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILOR WEBER FOR
ASKING THAT QUESTION. BUT TO ALSO IF IF SOMEONE I'M NOT SURE MAYBE IT'S YOUR LIEUTENANT DETECTIVE TEIXEIRA OR WHOEVER CAN TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC SITUATION WHERE THERE
IS A CASE OF STALKING AND THE RESOURCE OF THE TANGIBLE RESOURCES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE OR IF THERE'S ANYONE FROM THE ADVOCATES PANEL LATER THAT CAN SPEAK TO THAT THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
BUT I MEAN IN TERMS OF US WITH THE SEXUAL ASSAULT UNIT, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE MORE ON THE SIDE OF PEOPLE REPORTING A SEXUAL ASSAULT EITHER EITHER IT
HAPPENS. SO THIS IS WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION YOU KNOW, AFTER THE INCIDENT WHERE THEY MIGHT PROVIDE INFORMATION OF PREVIOUS INSTANCES THAT THAT HAPPENED IN TERMS OF OUR UNIT.
SO WE REALLY DON'T GET THE FRONT END OF IT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOMEONE WHO MIGHT COME IN AND PROVIDE THEIR INFORMATION OF PREVIOUS INTERACTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL
THAT KIND OF LED TO THE SITUATION THAT THEY'VE GOT AT THAT POINT. THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT THAT IF YOU WANT TO CONNECT US PARTICULARLY SOMETIMES THERE ARE FACTS THAT
WE'RE NOT AWARE OF. SO WHATEVER THAT CIRCUMSTANCE MIGHT BE, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE SPEAK WITH US. SO I WOULD BE IF YOU WANT TO CONNECT US WE CAN PROVIDE SOME
SERVICES. THANK YOU. I REACH OUT TO THE CONSTITUENT TO TO SEE IF IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU KNOW I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH STIGMA AND I THINK THIS GOES TO THE DID YOU DID YOU SAY THAT THE COMMANDER OF THE DV UNIT IS A WOMAN? YES.
AS WELL AND SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE GREAT AT YOUR JOB BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT TO DESTIGMATIZE TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL HAVING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD UNITS WHERE THERE ARE A
OF WOMEN OFFICERS WHERE FOLKS FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE INTERACTIONS. MORE COMFORTABLE WILL ALSO REALLY HELP WITH THE STIGMATIZATION. SO I APPRECIATE YOU FOR
OFFERING CAPTAIN DETECTIVE THOMAS, RIGHT? YES, FOR OFFERING THAT AND WE WILL I SUGGEST YOU FOR MY TEAM MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH OUT TO THE CONSTITUENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PUT THEM IN TOUCH
IF THEY WOULD LIKE. AND AGAIN, IF EVEN IF IT'S NOT A CRIMINAL MATTER THERE ARE STILL RESOURCES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AND THERE ARE REFERRALS SO OKAY, WE DEAL WITH A LOT MORE THAN JUST THE CRIMINAL PIECE. GREAT.
THANK YOU. AND THEN LASTLY I GUESS WHAT I WILL SAY IS I YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE TRAGIC INCIDENT IN MATTAPAN HAPPENING EARLIER THIS WEEK AND I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IS STABLE AND THERE'S A BIG FINANCIAL COMPONENT TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT IS REALLY HARD TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE IN
CREATING STABLE HOUSING OPTIONS SO ANOTHER THING THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU SAID J.D. I LIKE I'D LOVE SEE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND DATA AROUND THE HOUSING CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE WHEN
PLACING FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I KNOW THAT TO THE VHA LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL THEY'RE OUR PRIORITY A PRIORITY THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE TO HEAR ABOUT THE INCREASE IN WAIT TIMES IN A SHELTER IS DISHEARTENING TO HERE. BUT THERE'S MORE WORK THAT WE CAN BE DOING HERE AT THE CITY HOPEFULLY TO SORT OF GET AT
THAT GAP. BUT I THINK AGAIN IT REQUIRES SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SORT OF IF IT'S COMING FROM JANE DOE OR IT'S COMING FROM YOU OR A PARTNERSHIP TO REALLY HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
HOUSING NEEDS AND HOW WE CAN MEET THOSE. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT WORK BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR OUR SURVIVORS AND I APPRECIATE THE ELEVATION OF LIGHT. WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO HAVE A VICTIM ADVOCATE IN BPD HEADQUARTERS IS TO BE ABLE TO
BE RESPONSIVE TO THE ISSUES AND WE'RE IN BUDGET SEASON SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN WE CAN TALK ABOUT BECAUSE EVEN SEVEN BIT VICTIM ADVOCATES FOR A CITY OF 700,000 WHEN YOU'RE GETTING 120,000 IF
THAT KNOW 12,000 YOU KNOW APPROXIMATELY AND ARE JUST FROM THE PEOPLE CALLING THAT EXPANDING RESOURCES IS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT WE CAN WORK ON AND WORK WITH.
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I REPRESENT IN DISTRICT TO A
LARGE LGBT Q PLUS COMMUNITY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN SOUTH BOSTON THE SOUTH END DOWNTOWN BOSTON. WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT SERVICES
WE PROVIDING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT'S UNIQUE TO THAT COMMUNITY AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE ARE NOT DOING TO
SUPPORT THEM THIS TIME THAT MAY BE DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS AND MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO ADVOCATE FOR WHETHER THAT SAID IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH FIELD OR
IN THAT THAT'S IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR FLYNN WE THIS IS SUPREMELY IMPORTANT. I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND
EMPHASIZE THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER PARTNER, THE NETWORK WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THEY PUBLISHED A
REPORT IN 2019. SO THIS WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BUT THEY WERE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR AN
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE WHAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY WAS LOOKING FOR, WHAT WERE THE PREVALENCE AND THE CHALLENGES AROUND CONNECTING TO TWO RESOURCES.
AND SO THEY HAD OVER 3000 RESPONDENTS AND ONE OF THE SORT OF KEY FINDINGS THAT THEY WAS THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF OR
SORT OF A NEED FOR US TO BUILD A CAPACITY OF PROVIDERS NOT JUST WITHIN RIGHT. YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE SORT OF THE LEADING ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING
LGBTQ FOLKS BUT ALSO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT WE HAVE LGBTQ TRAININGS AND
COMPETENCE UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT TACTICS OF ABUSE AND BARRIERS FACED BY LGBTQ SURVIVORS AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW ARE WE LEADING
SURVIVOR LED SUPPORTS AND SERVICES? AND SO SOME KEY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY HAD WERE INCREASING SURVIVOR LED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ENGAGEMENT AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, SUPPORTING
MAINSTREAM PROGRAMS AND BECOMING CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND ACCESSIBLE TO SURVIVORS. SUPPORTING THE LGBTQ YOUTH WITH
YOUTH GROUPS SCHOOL BASED SUPPORTS SURVIVOR LEADERSHIPS ENCOURAGING SURVIVORS TO HOLD LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, REALLY HAVING AN EXPANDED ANALYSIS OF PARTNER
ABUSE SO INCLUDING ALL FORMS OF SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION IN THE ANALYSIS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DATA AND REALLY INCREASING FUNDING FOR LGBTQ SPECIFIC DV
ORGANIZATIONS I MEAN I, I WOULD YOU KNOW AGAIN ALWAYS COME BACK TO THAT EDUCATION PIECE AND BUILDING CAPACITY FOR NOT JUST SPECIFIC LGBTQ SERVING ORGANIZATIONS BUT FOR THE
BROADER FOR FOR HOSPITALS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE INTERACTING WITH AND IN SCHOOLS AS IN PARTICULAR . SO THERE IS YEAH, THERE'S A LOT
TO DO THERE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IT DOES MARK. YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING. IT DOES, YEAH. THANK YOU AND THE BPP MIGHT PICK THIS UP BUT DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT DE HILL WHOSE NAME WAS MENTIONED EARLIER HOSTED A MONTHLY MEETING FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS AROUND SAFETY.
THE COMMUNITY SAW IN A NUMBER OF THE THE CIVIL RIGHTS UNIT WITH THE PPD. YOU KNOW WE DID HAVE PARTICIPATION FROM THE U.S.
ATTORNEY THERE. WE'VE NOT SEEN THEM MUCH THIS YEAR. I'LL SAY AND A VERY GOOD NUMBER
OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTING AND REPRESENTING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AS WELL THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF LGBTQ PLUS
ADVANCEMENT. AND SO THIS GIVES US A WAY WHERE WE KIND OF GET THINGS DONE IN THE CITY AS IT'S ALL IT'S JUST IT'S ALL THESE PARTNERSHIPS GOVERNMENT, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
BUT WITH THE POLICE HOSTING THIS MEETING IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME AND I'LL SAY IT'S IT'S IT'S A MEETING THAT I'VE SEEN IMPROVE OVER OVER THE
COURSE OF ITS HISTORY AND I THINK THAT'S HAPPENED BECAUSE THE ADVOCATES AND THE SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE ENGAGED AND SPEAK UP. WE NEED THIS MEETING TO BE STRUCTURED DIFFERENTLY ENDING
LIKE THIS AND THEN POLICE PARTICULARLY DEPUTIES WHO'VE BEEN DAY THEY HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO THAT. AND SO IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A GOOD MEETING AND IT'S A GOOD
WAY FOR ALL OF US TO BE ABLE TO BE REGULARLY AND SYSTEMICALLY TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU, MARK. I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE.
AND I ALSO KNOW THE GREAT WORK DEPUTY DAY HELD DOES PROMOTE THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF BOSTON SO THANK YOU FOR THE BOSTON POLICE TEAM, FOR THE
PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM. MY FINAL QUESTION OR COMMENT IS ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS I HAD WHEN I STARTED SEVEN YEARS AGO IS I MET WITH THE AGENTS TASK
FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING SHORTLY. AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED AND I'M JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER BACK OR IF WAS BROUGHT
TO MY ATTENTION I FORGET EXACTLY BUT THE THE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THEY FACED OR AN ORGANIZATION FACES IS LANGUAGE ACCESS.
AND IT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION I, I KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED AND I, I BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE IN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY YOU KNOW THERE'S NOT JUST FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
THERE'S I MIGHT BE EXAGGERATING BUT THERE MIGHT BE 50 OR 6070 AND PEOPLE WOULD COME TO THE ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR AND MAYBE THEY DON'T NECESSARILY SPEAK THE LANGUAGE THAT THE PERSON SPEAKS. THEY'RE AND SO I, I THINK THAT
BECAUSE I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE BOSTON POLICE AND CERTAINLY THE THE LANGUAGE ACCESS SYSTEM COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT WORKS BUT
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY TALKING TO SOMEONE DIRECTLY BUT RECRUITING PEOPLE THAT SPEAK VARIOUS LANGUAGES IS CRITICAL AND IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
BUT I GO BACK TO MY QUESTION ABOUT LANGUAGE LANGUAGE ACCESS SO SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAD A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND I KNOW I ASK THE CAPTAIN THIS BUT WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAD A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT HE HAD CHALLENGES WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS ISSUES CERTAINLY I KNOW
THIS VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT SPEAK THAT HAVE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK VARIOUS LANGUAGES BUT NOT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I I KNOW MANY PEOPLE I KNOW THE DEPARTMENTS AND NOT EVERY
SINGLE DEPARTMENT HAS SOMEONE THAT SPEAKS CANTONESE FOR EXAMPLE IN INCLUDING MAJOR DEPARTMENTS. BUT WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION AND WHEN YOU
NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FROM SOMEONE THAT SPEAKS CANTONESE AND THAT PERSON IS JUST NOT THERE AND I GUESS IT COULD BE OPEN TO ANYONE I DON'T REALLY WANT TO PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT
AND I KNOW KIMBERLY YOU'RE DOING YOU'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB SO I DON'T NECESSARILY WHOEVER WANTS TO TAKE A SHOT AT IT ALL WITH WITH US WHAT THE POLICE WE PARTNER WITH OTHER
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SO IF THAT WERE TO COME UP, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD REACH OUT TO OTHER LAW WHETHER IT BE THE TRANSIT POLICE, THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE OR ANY BORDERING LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.
WE ALL WORK WELL TOGETHER CONDUCTING MUTUAL AID. AS YOU CAN SEE DURING THE MARATHON WE HAD ABUNDANCE OF DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. ISSUE IS ASSISTING US.
SO IF IT CAME DOWN THAT THERE WASN'T ANYONE IN THIS DEPARTMENT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A VERY GOOD DIVERSE DEPARTMENT WE COULD REACH OUT TO OUR EXTERNAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE. THANK THANK YOU DEPUTY. AND SO SO WHAT YOU'RE YOU WHAT YOU ALSO HIGHLIGHTED DEPUTY IS THE WORKING CLOSELY POLICE
DEPARTMENTS ACROSS GREATER BOSTON TO TO SOLVE CRIME BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF CRIME AS WELL AS HOW TO IS THAT ACCURATE? YES. YES.
THIS ACTOR YES. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PANEL THAT'S HERE FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK THEY'RE DOING. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER, DO
YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR THIS PANEL? YEAH, JUST ONE I GUESS. YEAH. IF THERE'S IF ANYONE WANTS TO HIGHLIGHT LIKE A TOOL OR
SOMETHING AND WE MENTIONED BRIEFLY VOUCHERS FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING LIKE IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU WISH YOU YOU HAD TO OFFER THEY HAVE IN OTHER CITIES
OR THAT YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR US? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
YEAH I WOULD I THINK ESPECIALLY IT RELATES TO HOUSING EXPANDING HOUSING OPTIONS. I KNOW LANDLORDS INCENTIVES, VOUCHERS BUT ALSO JUST STARTING
THAT CONVERSATION AND WITH THINKING KNOW THERE'S A PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW AROUND EXPANDING HOUSING OPTIONS THAT WE'VE CREATED AS IT RELATES TO
THE PLAN TO END VIOLENCE AND VERY MORE THAN HAPPY TO SORT OF SHARE THAT PLANNING THAT WENT INTO IT AND THE THE THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE I THINK PARTICULARLY AROUND THINKING
HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF HOUSING HERE AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO PARTNER WITH THEM TO BE ABLE TO REALLY FLESH OUT
WHAT HOUSING OPTIONS AND EXPANDING THAT WHETHER THAT'S LANDLORD INCENTIVES OR VOUCHERS CAN LOOK LIKE. AND SO THERE'S A PROPOSAL SORT OF READY TO GO FOR THAT AND THEN SOMETHING SMALL.
YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST REITERATE WHAT REVEREND MARGARET SAID ABOUT YOU KNOW, THOSE PARKING PERMITS FOR THEIR SHELTER RESIDENTS WHO ARE GETTING
TICKETED EVERY NIGHT AND THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, EVEN SORT OF STARTED CREATIVELY THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR THOSE FOR THAT FOR THOSE STAFF
WHO HAVE TO BE THERE OVERNIGHT OR FOR THE SPECIFICALLY THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE WHO HAVE TO LIVE THERE BUT ARE NOT TECHNICALLY RESIDENTS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD? YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING SMALL THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT THAT WOULD REALLY IMPACT AND SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. OKAY. THANKS CHAIR.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNT OVERALL NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR THIS PANEL BEFORE WE MOVE ON AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
THANK YOU TO THE NONPROFITS THE OTHER YOU KNOW, NON ADMINISTRATIVE PANELISTS WHO HAVE HELD ON. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR EXPERTISE AND TALKING TO YOU
SOON. A FEW THINGS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THERE'S LEGAL DEFINITIONS, THERE'S MEDICAL DEFINITIONS, THERE'S
CULTURAL DEFINITIONS IF THE POLICE COULD LIKE DEFINE WHAT YOU GUYS CONSIDER IT AND IF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COULD DEFINE LIKE WHAT THE MEDICAL TERMS ARE AND WE ALL KNOW YOU KNOW THAT
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND DIFFERENT CULTURES HAVE DIFFERENT FEELINGS AND IDEAS AROUND IT ALSO. AND HOW DO YOU SUPPORT YOU KNOW ,WHEN DO YOU STEP IN AND
BECAUSE SOMETIMES LIKE WE SAY, THIS IS A TRICKY SITUATION WHERE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO REPORT IT OR THEY DON'T WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMEONE ARRESTED. BUT AT SOME POINT IF SOMEONE'S
COMMITTED A CRIME THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THE CHOICE TO NOT GET ARRESTED BECAUSE THE PERSON THEY HARMED DOESN'T WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO THEM. SO IF YOU COULD JUST TALK ABOUT THAT I THINK THE SIMPLEST
ANSWER FROM OUR STANDPOINT IS IT'S JUST THE LAW. YOU KNOW, THE STATUTE THAT'S PRETTY YOU KNOW, DEFINITIVE HOW WE PROCEED FROM THERE.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS WITH REGARD TO SPEAKING WITH THE VICTIM OR SURVIVOR OF OF AN INCIDENT HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD SPEAK
WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND TRY AND WORK THROUGH THAT AGAIN. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING TO TO BUILD CRIMINAL CASES.
WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING TO SUPPORT. SO HOWEVER THAT HOWEVER THAT LOOKS I THINK THERE ARE TIMES THAT YES, IT IS WE NEED TO TO TAKE ACTION AND IF THAT'S AN ARREST OR CRIMINAL CASE THEN
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED. BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT HELPFUL. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANYTHING FROM LIKE THE HEALTH
CARE MEDICAL SIDE? ABSOLUTELY. SO WE ALSO BASE WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE THE DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND
THAT THERE ARE MANY DEFINITIONS I AM A TRAINER AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT SUPPORTING JUST HOW WE'RE BUILDING SHARED LANGUAGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHICH IS WHY I BROUGHT THAT SORT OF ONE
PAGER AROUND WHAT I'M MEANING WHEN I SAY GENDER BASED VIOLENCE WHEN I DO TRAININGS I, I DON'T SORT OF JUST LIKE COPY
AND PASTE WHAT THE YOU KNOW, THE LAW SAYS IS THE DEFINITION . BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND I KNOW THERE WAS A NEW APT UPDATE TO THE DEFINITION SPECIFICALLY AROUND COURSE OF CONTROL AND SO
WHEN AND SO I'LL JUST SAY THE DEFINITION THAT I USE IN THE TRAININGS IS REALLY THAT THAT A PATTERN OF CONTROLLING OR THREATENING BEHAVIOR MEANT TO,
YOU KNOW, HAVE POWER AND CONTROL OVER SOMEONE. AND WE ALSO HAVE LIKE VERY IN SIMPLE TERMS WHEN THERE'S POWER WHEN THERE'S CONTROL AND THERE'S FEAR THAT IS SORT
OF THE RECIPE FOR FOR ABUSE. AND THEN OF COURSE WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS ANY SORT OF THREAT OR ACT AGAINST SOMEONE WHO IS THERE'S
NO SPECIFIC THING ROOTED IN NON CONSENT. AND SO WE'RE SPECIFICALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE THIS THIS BUILDING SHARED LANGUAGE AS ACCESSIBLE AS
POSSIBLE AND SOMETIMES LILY'S OR YOU KNOW, THE WHAT WE USE IN THE LEGAL OR HEALTH CARE SETTINGS MIGHT DIFFER BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS. SO I THINK THAT'S EVEN WHEN
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE DATA COLLECTION PIECE THAT'S PART OF THE THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE FORESEEING AND IT'S HOW WE DEFINE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I KNOW SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE ON THE COUNCIL WE'VE HAD MANY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC AND LIKE WHICH COMMITTEE IT FALLS INTO AND I KNOW WHEN WE MET WE TALKED ABOUT THIS HOW YOU KNOW IT COULD GO INTO PUBLIC SAFETY THE TOPIC YOU KNOW THE CONVERSATION COULD BE
IT UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH. IT COULD BE IN MY COMMITTEE STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES OF COMMUNITIES, IT COULD BE IN HOUSING CITY SERVICES LIKE AND SO IT'S DEFINITELY A TOPIC WHERE IT'S LIKE ALL HANDS ON DECK WHERE WE NEED ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS. AND EVEN WHEN YOU WERE DESCRIBING EVEN WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YOU HAVE YOUR DEPARTMENTS WITHIN YOUR OWN DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND SO IT IS, YOU
KNOW, A BIG ISSUE THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM. WE DEFINITELY DOING THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'LL JUST END WITH ASKING, YOU
KNOW, WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS MISSING LIKE IF YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP HOW YOU SWITCHED OVER SOME OF THOSE STAFF THAT WERE ON THE GRANT
I'M OFFLINE WE HAD A LAST MONTH WE HAD A PEOPLE IN FROM THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AND YOUR GRANT WRITER TALKING ABOUT HOW ONE OF THE GRANTS WILL END AT THE END OF THE SUMMER WHICH IS FUNDING TWO OF THE STAFF
MEMBERS AND ONE IT'S A YOU KNOW, A SMALL DEPARTMENT TWO COULD BE, YOU KNOW HALF OF YOUR STAFF SO SAFELY SHIFTING THEM ON TO THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET IS ONE WAY. BUT IF THERE'S OTHERS THAT YOU
CAN THINK OF THAT WE CAN HELP ESPECIALLY GOING INTO BUDGET SEASON TO ADVOCATE FOR THINGS THAT YOU FEEL ARE VERY TANGIBLE THAT WE COULD HELP SUPPORT THAT WOULD MAKE IT BETTER FOR YOU TO
HELP SUPPORT THESE VICTIMS. I CAN START SO I THINK I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING STATEMENT THAT WE REALLY THINKING ABOUT HELP HOPING TO
IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT DEVELOPING A RISK ASSESSMENT AND A SAFETY PLANNING TOOL THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AS WELL AS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. AND SO THAT WILL ALLOW FOR AN EVALUATION TO BE ABLE TO SO A LOT OF OUR SAFETY PLANNING
TOOLS HAVE BEEN NOT BEEN EVALUATED IN MANY YEARS. AND SO HOW ARE WE SORT OF STAYING UP TO DATE WITH WHAT CULTURALLY SOCIETY WE'RE CHANGING AND SO AND ESPECIALLY
AS WE THINK ABOUT THE CO-OCCURRING OR THE INTERCONNECTED FORMS OF VIOLENCE, HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE RESPONDERS
ARE ALSO ARE ARE BEING TRAINED AND BEING GIVEN THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE YOU KNOW, THE RISK FACTORS THAT COME WITH BOTH OF THOSE FORMS AND THAT ARE
OFTEN COMING IN TOGETHER. AND SO REALLY THINKING ABOUT DEVELOPING A RISK ASSESSMENT AND SAFETY PLANNING TOOL IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO I THINK YOU ON THE UPGRADE YEAH I WOULD JUST SAY MEN WORKING WITH MEN WHO HAVE
CAUSED THE HARM SO THAT WE ARE SHIFTING PEOPLE GIVING PEOPLE OTHER WAYS OF DEALING WITH DISAGREEMENT MENTAL HEALTH SO
WORKING WORKING WITH THAT MILKMAN IS ALLIES AND THIS MAY COME UP WITH THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EFFORTS THERE AROUND HOW TO ENGAGE MEN AS
ALLIES AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO CASES WHERE MEN HAVE SUFFERED IN PARTNER ABUSE IN A
RELATIONSHIP SO AND GOING BACK TO ALLIES EVEN IF I THINK ABOUT MY SON, HIS FRIENDS, YOUNG MEN
AND THE CHURCH, MY RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO INTERACT WITH SOMEONE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU.
THANK YOU. I'M ARE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES THE SAME AS THE SOCIAL WORKERS THAT WE HAVE? DO YOU CONSIDER THAT THE SAME POSITION?
YES, BECAUSE THEY DID MENTION THAT WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR ONE TO EVERY DISTRICT AND THAT THEY BASED THAT ON LIKE THE CALLS THAT COME IN. SO WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH POLICE DEPARTMENTS DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE AN ADVOCATE ON STAFF? NO THEY JUST SPREAD THE WORK AMONG THE SIX OF THE 11 DISTRICTS STILL DON'T DO IT THAT WAY.
OKAY SO THEY'RE NOT ASSIGNED YOU KNOW, CERTAIN AREAS ARE GOING TO BE BUSIER THAN OTHER AREAS SO SO THEY MIGHT SPEND MORE TIME BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING MORE CALLS THERE BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO
SMALLER DISTRICTS AS OPPOSED TO A LARGER AREA. SO SO WE JUST TRYING EVEN IT OUT SO THERE'S THE WORKLOADS PASSED ON AWESOME. OKAY. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. WE'RE GOING TO CALL DOWN THE NEXT PANEL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. SO THE NEXT GROUP OF PANELISTS
ARE JORJA THOMAS DIAZ, SHAKIRA ROBINSON, YOU'RE HERE. YOU CAN COME ON DOWN. DAWN SALMON DEEPALI GULATI,
KAREN DAHL NITHYA KHALED RUNOFF. RUTH SARKAR, RON AND KARLENE
DESIREE IF YOU'RE HERE PLEASE
JOIN US FOR A SPARK AT THE
MOUTH WE CAN PULL UP ANOTHER SHOW. IS THERE ENOUGH CHAIRS FOR YOU? ALL PERFECT. OKAY.
AND IF YOU DON'T MIND YOU CAN SHARE MICROPHONES. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO
IF ONCE YOU SETTLE IN IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STARTING INTRODUCING YOURSELF WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND THEN I'LL GIVE YOU TIME TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR THAT TO YOU FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS SHAKIRA ROBINSON. I AM THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF SHAKIRA A STORY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONSULTANT AND COACH IN I AM ALSO A SURVIVOR AND
ADVOCATE FROM THE DORCHESTER AREA OF THE CITY AND HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS RUTH DACRON. I AM THE CEO OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS COALITION TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE. PRIOR TO THAT ROLE I SPENT OVER 25 YEARS AS AN ADVOCATE FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS NITHYA BADRINATH AND I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR AT JANE DOE INC, THE MASSACHUSETTS COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US HERE.
MY NAME IS DEEPALI GULATI. I'M THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT SWAHILI PROVIDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT WOMEN FROM SOUTH ASIAN ARABIC SPEAKING MIDDLE EASTERN AND
NORTH AFRICAN COUNTRIES. THANK YOU SO FOR THIS ONE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. HAPPY TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS KALI INDIA WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF ASIAN WOMEN. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. DAWN SALMA, CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AWESOME.
THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PANEL HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO START AND WE CAN ALL JUST TALK ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO AND THEN MY COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF WILL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THANK YOU SO GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN I WILL SPEAK FROM THE REFERENCE POINT AS AS I SAID BEFORE THE FOUNDER AND CEO CHAKRA STORY I'M HERE
TODAY TO UPLIFT THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE ROOM MORE SPECIFICALLY SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE ACROSS OUR CITY. IN SPECIFIC TO THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING INTO THIS SPACE
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AND THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THAT. I HEARD EARLIER TODAY FROM THE PANEL FROM BEFORE AND REFERENCE TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UPLIFT THOSE MEMBERS AND ALSO
TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR ELDER COMMUNITY AND ALSO THOSE WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE IMMIGRATION COMMUNITY. I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY STATING THAT INCLUDING
VICTIMS, SURVIVORS AND DOMESTIC ABUSE ADVOCATES AT THE FOREFRONT OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT SHAPE THE OUTCOMES OF THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES NOT ONLY CULTIVATES OPPORTUNITIES TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO BE
PART OF THE CHANGES THEY SEEK BUT IT ALSO AMPLIFIES SELF EFFICACY AND DOING SO THIS SURVIVOR FACING APPROACH ALSO HELPS TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE FOR MANY EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM
SIMULTANEOUSLY. FOR THE FIRST TIME STORYTELLING IS A FORM OF HEALING FOR MANY WHEN SURVIVORS ARE PROVIDED WITH SAFE SPACES TO TELL THEIR STORY AND SUCH SPACES ARE INCLUSIVE SO THEY ARE EMOTIONAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH WHILE BEING THERE IS A LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY THEY ARE PROVIDING SUBSTANTIVE CONTEXT THAT BROADENS THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING THE IMPACTS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE INCREASE IN THE EDUCATION AND
CULTURAL COMPETENCY OF VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATES ALSO KNOWN AS VW WAYS ACROSS THE MUNICIPAL AND STATE COURT SYSTEMS COULD HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO SAFELY ESCAPE COERCIVE AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS
BY SEEKING A TOOL TO OWN IN A VW WAYS WHO SPEND THE TIME SPEND TIME OUTSIDE OF THE COURTROOM AND STRATEGIZE ON COALITIONS AND ADVOCACY GROUPS SUCH AS TRAC WHICH WAS DEVELOPED A TOOL TO INCREASE A
DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEX, CHALLENGING AND UNIQUE DYNAMICS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH SUCH ENTITIES SHOULD BE A MANDATORY POLICY THAT ENSURES THAT VW
WAYS ADHERE TO ETHICAL PRACTICES ARE UPDATED ON CURRENT COMMUNITY BASED INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ARE SELF SERVING POPULATIONS AND ARE MORE INTENTIONALLY INVOLVED
IN THE PROCESSES THAT NECESSITATE COMPREHENSIVE AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SYSTEMS. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. IT IS A CRISIS THAT IS IMPACTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COMMONWEALTH AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY INCREASING AWARENESS
AND COMMUNICATION CONCERNING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WE WILL INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES TO NOT ONLY ACCESS SUPPORT IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT ALSO TO SPEAK UP FOR THE
FIRST TIME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS AT THE ROOT OF A VAST NUMBER OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE EVENTS. IF WE CAN DECREASE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY AN INCREASE IN SUPPORT TO BOTH VICTIMS AND VICTIMIZERS, WE CAN
IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY ON A LARGER SCALE. ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS OR A FEW MISCONCEPTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IS THAT RECOGNIZING
THAT IT IS A GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES THAT AFFECTS COMMUNITIES INDIVIDUALS IN MARGINALIZED MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND DISTRICTS IN DISTINCT WAYS. THEREFORE IT REQUIRES A MULTIFACETED MULTIDISCIPLINARY
APPROACH THAT IS CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE. DV AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE THIS IS NOT A WOMEN'S AND GIRLS ISSUE. THIS MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHY IT
HAPPENS AND WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE IS TO TWO IT IS IMPACTS IS A CRITICAL BARRIER THAT DRIVES A PERSON DECISION TO SEEK OR DENY HELP. DV IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES
OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN A MISCONCEPTION HERE IS THAT PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IS THE MOST PROMINENT HARMFUL ASPECT OF DV OR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. MANY SURVIVORS WOULD SAY THAT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE JUST MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST
COMPLEX FORMS OF ABUSE TRYING TO CONCEPTUALIZE THE EMOTIONAL DAMAGE ONE HAS CAUSED IS OFTENTIMES TAXING ON THE VICTIM. TRYING TO RECALL OR DISASSOCIATE ARE TWO OF THE COMMON THEMES THAT WE SEE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT A HIGH CONFLICT INCIDENT THAT WILL RESOLVE OVER TIME ON ITS OWN. LET'S LOOK AT THE POWER AND CONTROL WILL DYNAMIC IN ITSELF. WE MIGHT BETTER UNDERSTAND JUST
HOW CRITICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSES ARE TO THE ISSUE, HOW MUCH THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH INTERSECTS WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ABUSE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PROBLEM. THE MISCONCEPTION IS THAT
VICTIMS WHO DO NOT GET UP AND LEAVE IMMEDIATELY ARE CHOOSING TO STAY IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT AND DISREGARDING THE IMPACTS OF FAMILIAL CULTURAL BARRIERS SOMETIMES KEEP VICTIMS IN CYCLES OF ABUSE EVEN AFTER SAID
ABUSER LEAVES. WHAT MY TEAM HAS BEEN LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE VOICES THROUGH THE VOICES OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL AND HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BOTH SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS ARE THAT STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS DO UNDERSTAND WHAT ABUSE LOOKS LIKE AND MANY ARE SEEING OR EXPERIENCING IT FIRSTHAND.
MOST KNOW WHERE TO GO BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES IN THEIR SCHOOL OR COMMUNITIES HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR EARLY, EARLY AND CONSISTENT EDUCATION, ACCEPTABLE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND ADULT ALLIES
WHO TRULY LISTEN STUDENTS WHO WANT IT. STUDENTS WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE NOT. STUDENTS WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST VICTIMS OR BYSTANDERS, THAT THEY ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE
SOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE ROOM TODAY IT IS TIME THAT WE MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE DOMESTIC ABUSE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY ITS CONVOLUTED PHENOMENONS
DOMESTIC ABUSE, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN ALL ARE ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE THAT THESE SURVEY RESULTS UNDERSCORE TO BE A HARD REALITY FOR SO MANY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BRING TO THE TABLE THE UPTICK IN CSA WHICH IS CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES AGAINST BOYS AND YOUNG MALE ADULTS IN PARTICULAR OUR ORGANIZATION HAS RECEIVED MULTIPLE CALLS FOR SUPPORT FROM PARENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
WHO HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF SCHOOL AGE BOYS REPORTING INCIDENTS OF EITHER RAPE OR INTIMATE PARTNER RELATIONSHIP WITH ADULT MALES WHERE VIOLENCE AND COERCIVE BEHAVIORS ARE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.
WHEN IT COMES TO SURVIVOR SUPPORT OUR MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEMS CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT ACTIVELY SUPPORT VICTIMS SEEKING TO ANNIHILATE ORDERS. BPD AND BW WAYS ACROSS OUR
EXPERIENCE AND NAVIGATING SURVIVORS TO SAFETY DO NOT WORK IN TANDEM TO DE-ESCALATE OR TO FIND SAFETY MEASURES TO HELP VICTIMS DIRECTLY IDENTIFY WRAPAROUND SERVICES AS WE HEARD
BEFORE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOURLY OPERATIONS. OUR TEAM HAS ASSISTED BPD IN RELOCATING VICTIMS OF ABUSE BOTH WITHIN THE CITY AND THOSE WHOSE CASES ARE SO SEVERE THAT FLEEING THE STATE ARE THE BEST OPTIONS TO ATTEMPT
INTERVENTION. AT THE PRELIMINARY PRELIMINARY PHASE OF SURVIVORSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO REPORTING INCIDENTS OF ABUSE VICTIMS ARE LESS LIKELY TO REPORT TO SYSTEMS WHERE THERE IS A HIGH LEVEL OF DISTRESS OR MISTRUST.
SYSTEMS THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY NAVIGATED IN THE FORM OF THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE THE SEXUAL ABUSE, THE PRISON PIPELINE OR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE . WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS
AN UPTICK AGAIN ONCE AGAIN IN CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES AS WE SAW THIS WEEKEND WITH THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN MATTAPAN. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS NOT CHANGED AT ALL. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SYSTEMS HERE
TODAY OR RESOURCES HERE TODAY THAT ARE ANSWERING THE CALL TO ACTION AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A COMMON THEME THAT WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR UPLIFTING OUR SENIORS.
I'M GLAD THAT WE'LL BE TOUCHING ON THAT WITH THIS PANEL. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. MY NAME IS RUTH SAFRAN AND I AM THE CEO OF THE MASSACHUSETTS
COALITION TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE. AND I WANT TO START WITH SOME GRATITUDE. THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE TO CHAIR MURPHY AND TO COUNCILORS
FLYNN OR AND WEBER FOR BEING HERE AND FOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY A PART OF THE SOLUTION IS HAVING THE CONVERSATION AS WE ALWAYS TALK
ABOUT IN THIS MOVEMENT VIOLENCE THRIVES IN SILENCE AND THIS HELPS US TURN THE VOLUME UP AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE IN MY INTRODUCTION PRIOR TO TAKING ON THE ROLE OF THE FIRST EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND NOW CEO OF THE MASSACHUSETTS COALITION TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE, I SPENT OVER 25 YEARS WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL AS
PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IT IS THIS WORK THAT BROUGHT ME TO THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION MOVEMENT SPECIFICALLY MY EXPERIENCE SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND THE
AFTERMATH OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE. FOR THE 11 YEARS I WORKED IN BRATTON, WE WERE THE PROGRAM THAT HELD CHILDREN IN THAT IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH THAT WORKED WITH THEM TO PROCESS THE LOSS.
SUPPORTED THEM AT THE FUNERAL OF THEIR PARENT AS WELL AS PROVIDE SERVICES TO THEM LONG TERM AFTERWARDS. AND IT REALLY WAS SITTING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THAT TRAUMA THAT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE
ROLE OF GUNS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO THAT LETHAL INTERSECTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND EASY ACCESS TO FIREARMS. I CARRY THE STORIES
OF SURVIVORS WITH ME AND I CARRY THE STORIES OF THOSE CHILDREN WITH ME. AND I KNOW THAT THESE STORIES ARE ALL TOO COMMON TO FRAME THE ISSUE. OUR FRIENDS AT EVERYTOWN FOR
GUN SAFETY ESTIMATE THAT EVERY MONTH IN THE UNITED STATES AN AVERAGE OF 75 WOMEN ARE SHOT AND KILLED BY A CURRENT OR FORMER PARTNER. THAT IS AN ALARMING HIGH
NUMBER. SO MANY VICTIMS AND THE CHILDREN THAT THEY LEAVE BEHIND ARE ALSO VICTIMS OF THAT VIOLENCE AS WELL. AND NEARLY 6 MILLION WOMEN
REPORTED HAVING A GUN USED TO THREATEN OR HARM THEM BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER, CURRENT OR FORMER. WE ALSO KNOW THAT ACCESS TO A GUN OR THE PRESENCE OF A GUN IN
THE HOME WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS OCCURRING MAKES IT FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAT A WOMAN WILL DIE AT THE HANDS OF A DOMESTIC ABUSER. TO PUT IT SIMPLY DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS A GUN VIOLENCE ISSUE AND GUN VIOLENCE IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUE. IN ADDITION TO THE TRAGIC AND PREVENTABLE DEATHS AND THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF TRAUMA
CAUSED BY THE LETHAL INTERSECTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GUNS, THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AS OTHERS WHO RESPOND TO VIOLENCE AND THE
COMMUNITY KNOW AND THIS WAS TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST PANEL CONFLICTS OVER DATING PARTNERS OFTEN SPILL INTO PUBLIC SETTINGS. COMMUNITY VIOLENCE IS OFTEN VERY MUCH RELATED TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE AND DATING VIOLENCE INCIDENTS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS COMMUNITY VIOLENCE ARE OFTEN VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS THAT EVOLVED FROM CONFLICT OVER ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIPS. I KNOW THIS ANECDOTALLY BUT I WORRY THAT WE AREN'T DOING ENOUGH TO FULLY EXAMINE OR QUANTIFY THAT. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALSO PLAYS A ROLE A FOUNDATIONAL ROLE IN
MASS SHOOTINGS. A RECENT STUDY FROM JOHNS HOPKINS FOUND THAT 59.1% OF MASS SHOOTINGS THAT OCCURRED
BETWEEN 2014 AND 2019 WERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED. SOMEBODY WENT AFTER A CURRENT OR FORMER PARTNER OR A FAMILY MEMBER AND ALSO ENDED UP SHOOTING, WOUNDING AND KILLING
OTHERS AS WELL. AND IN 68.2% OF MASS SHOOTINGS ,THE PERPETRATOR OF THAT SHOOTING KILLED AT LEAST ONE PARTNER OR FAMILY MEMBER OR ALSO HAD A HISTORY OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE OR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS WHY WE MUST LOOK COMPREHENSIVELY AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, COMMUNITY
VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE. AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR BREAKING DOWN SOME OF THE SILOS BECAUSE TOO OFTEN WE PUT THOSE THINGS IN ONE CATEGORY OR ANOTHER.
I WANT TO GIVE ONE EXAMPLE. MANY YEARS AGO WASN'T HERE IN BOSTON BUT IT WAS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS. THERE WAS A MAN WHO SHOT HIS WIFE, HIS CHILDREN AND THEN HIMSELF.
FIVE PEOPLE IN ONE FAMILY DIED. BUT WE COULD CLASSIFY THAT AS A MASS SHOOTING CERTAINLY AS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE ALSO AS A FIREARM SUICIDE. AND I USE AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW
INEXTRICABLY LINKED ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE. SO AGAIN, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR BREAKING DOWN SOME OF THOSE SILOS AND REALLY LOOKING AT THAT VIOLENCE AS INTERRELATED AND ON A CONTINUUM.
AND OF COURSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REFERENCED THE SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN MATTAPAN EARLIER THIS WEEK AND WE KNOW THAT THAT IT WAS A TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE TRAGIC.
NO LIVES WERE LOST, MORE LIVES WERE FOREVER CHANGED BECAUSE OF THAT INTERSECTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND EASY ACCESS TO GUNS. AND AS WE ALWAYS SAY AT THE COALITION SOMEONE MIGHT SURVIVE
A SHOOTING BUT THEY LIVE WITH THAT TRAUMA FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR MURPHY, PRESIDENT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME AGAIN IS NITHYA BROTHER NAF AND I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR AT JANE DOE INC THE MASSACHUSETTS COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
GDI IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED COALITION IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH 60 MEMBER PROGRAMS PROVIDING SERVICES TO SURVIVORS RANGING FROM HOUSING SUPPORT COUNSELING AND THERAPY, LEGAL SERVICES AND
COURT ADVOCACY, MEDICAL ADVOCACY, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES AND SO MUCH MORE. 20 OF OUR PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES EXPLICITLY TO SURVIVORS IN BOSTON AND BECAUSE
SURVIVORS MAY TRAVEL OUTSIDE THEIR COMMUNITY TO SEEK SERVICES DUE TO SAFETY OR ACCESSIBILITY, MANY MORE PROGRAMS MAY SERVE SURVIVORS WHO ARE BOSTON RESIDENTS. I'M GRATEFUL TO THE BOSTON CITY
COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'RE HOLDING THIS HEARING DURING SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S PREVENTION EFFORTS IN RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE'RE INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF BOSTON'S NEW DOMESTIC SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP AS AN ORGANIZATION
THAT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE IN OUR MOVEMENT TO END DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. THIS PROGRAM THAT CENTERS ALL SURVIVORS INCLUDING IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS, TRANS SURVIVORS AND SURVIVORS WHO ARE CRIMINALIZED.
WE APPRECIATE THIS LENS AND HOPE FOR THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN THIS PROGRAM AND OTHER SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY REINVEST IN AND GIVE POWER BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
SUCH AN INVESTMENT MEANS DIVERTING RESOURCES AWAY FROM SYSTEMS AT HARM AND INSTEAD INVESTING IN LANGUAGE ACCESS HOUSING, HEALTHY FOOD, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION AND SO MUCH MORE. IT ALSO MEANS GIVING RESOURCES
TO PROGRAMS WE'RE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH SURVIVORS IN BOSTON. WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THE RIGHTS OF SURVIVORS ARE BEING THREATENED. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CREATING A CLIMATE OF FEAR IN
RHETORIC AND POLICY AND THROUGH THREATS TO FUNDING 87% OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDS. THE STATE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THEIR BUDGET AMIDST A
DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR AND ON THE STATE LEVEL WE ALSO HAVE POTENTIAL FOR CUTS TO OUR FIELD. DESPITE THE FEAR AND AND IN RESPONSE TO OUR PRESENT AND THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE ABOUT OUR FUTURE, THE REALITY IS OUR WORK
CONTINUES NO MATTER WHAT SURVIVORS ARE SHOWING UP AND CALLING OUR PROGRAMS EVERY DAY. OUR PROGRAMS ARE HAILEY AND ATTEST WILL PROBABLY ATTEST WILL ATTEST TO THIS AS WELL. ADVOCATES ARE ACCOMPANYING
SURVIVORS TO COURT AND HELPING THEM FIND SHELTER AND HOUSING AND PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDING COUNSELING AND HOSTING SUPPORT GROUPS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. JUDY IS ALSO LOOKING TO PASS LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL
TO SUPPORT SERVICES. I WILL PASS OUT A LIST OF OUR PRIORITIES TO YOU ALL AND THE BILLS RANGE FROM ADDRESSING SURVIVOR ACCESS TO SAFETY, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, RACIAL EQUITY, HUMAN DIGNITY AND
EDUCATION PREVENTION. ONE IN PARTICULAR WHICH IS AGE 2466 IN SW 1562 WOULD CREATE A STATE FLEXIBLE CASH PROGRAM TO MAKE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR SURVIVORS TO
ACCESS THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS ALREADY ENGAGE IN THIS TYPE OF DIRECT CASH WORK TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THEIR CLIENTS WHEN THEIR NEEDS RANGE FROM RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT WITH CHILDCARE OR
TRANSPORTATION ESPECIALLY IN A CITY LIKE BOSTON WHERE THE COST OF LIVING IS INCREDIBLY HIGH. PROGRAMS THAT RESORT TO LIMITED UNRESTRICTED FUNDS. THAT IS TO SAY LARGELY PRIVATELY SOURCED FUNDS TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT.
WE URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT SUCH AN INITIATIVE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND ALSO LOOK TO THE CREATION OF A DIRECT CASH PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS AND ALLOCATING UNDER UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TO PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT
SURVIVORS IN THIS WAY PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REQUIRES US TO INVEST IN AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES TO NOT JUST SURVIVE BUT THRIVE . ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY'S SUPPORT OF CERTAIN STATE INITIATIVES AND WORKING WITH THE CITY TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON ONCE AGAIN.
MY NAME IS DEEPALI GULATI. I AM THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT SALLY. SALLY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 28 YEARS PROVIDING CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR
IMMIGRANT WOMEN FROM SOUTH ASIA AND ARABIC SPEAKING COUNTRIES IN MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA. WE PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN HOUSING, LEGAL MENTAL HEALTH .
IN A YEAR WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT ABOUT 300 PLUS WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN WITH ALL THESE SERVICES. 80% OF OUR CLIENTS ARE FROM SOUTH ASIA INDIA, PAKISTAN, SRI
LANKA, AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH AND 20% OF OUR ARABIC SPEAKING WOMEN FROM MIDDLE EAST MOROCCO, EGYPT AND ALL THE NORTH AFRICAN ARABIC SPEAKING COUNTRIES.
ABOUT 7% OF OUR CLIENTS CANNOT READ AND WRITE IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. HENCE LANGUAGE BARRIER LEADING TO AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS
LEADING TO FINANCIAL BARRIERS. IMMIGRATION BARRIERS ARE ARE ONE OF THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR SURVIVORS. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SUPPORT IN THE COURTHOUSES WHICH LEADS TO
THEM NOT GOING TO ACCESSING THE COURT COURTS. SO IT IS DEEP ROOTED IN THE IMMIGRANT AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THROUGH CONSISTENT PRESENCE AND ALIGNED SERVICES.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AS A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION, WE WE UNDERSTAND THE CULTURAL RELEVANCE AND THE TRUST WE HAVE GAINED IN THE COMMUNITY. WE UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE.
WE UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL BARRIERS, THE LANGUAGE BARRIERS OF OUR SURVIVORS. AS A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION. WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT GIVE THEM A SURVIVOR CENTRIC SUPPORT
AND AN HOLISTIC SUPPORT THROUGH OUR SERVICES PREVENTION AND EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE COLLEGES IS FROM THE CULTURAL LENSES PROVIDING WORKSHOPS IN INTERSECTIONALITY
AND THEY ARE THERE CULTURAL BARRIERS ADVOCACY SUPPORT A CHANGE IN POLICIES AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
AND WORKING WITH JD ALSO HELPS US BUT WE ARE ALL WORKING IN SILOS. WE ARE NOT WORKING AS A COORDINATED COMMUNITY PROVIDING
A TASK US WE ARE ALL FRAGMENTED IN PROVIDING SIMILAR KIND OF SERVICES. HOW CAN WE COME TOGETHER? COME TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON? I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS WE
CAN DO IS PROVIDING CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAININGS TO OUR PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOW TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT CULTURES. WE KNOW WE WE KNOW THE LANGUAGE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES BUT WE ARE NOT CULTURALLY COMPETENT. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CULTURAL HUMILITY ASPECTS OF OUR DIFFERENT CULTURES WHY DOES THE WOMAN STAY BACK AND
NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS THESE SERVICES BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CULTURAL BARRIERS? WE CAN COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A COORDINATED USER RESOURCE GUIDE BY INCLUDING INFORMATION
OF DIFFERENT CULTURE AND LANGUAGE SPECIFIC SERVICES COME TOGETHER FOR JOINT OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND AWARENESS EVENTS COORDINATED EFFORTS FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS IN
THE COURT SYSTEMS WHICH IS A BIG BARRIER FOR US SURVIVORS. SO THESE ARE THE BARRIERS AND THESE ARE THE WAYS WE CAN COME TOGETHER. IN THE END I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT WE CAN WORK.
WE CANNOT WORK IN SILOS. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS ESPECIALLY OF OUR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CARLENE DESSI AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION OF HAITIAN WOMEN. KNOWN IN HAITIAN CREOLE AS
ASSOCIATIONAL FAMILY, SANIBEL WILL STORM OFF. SO WE USE THE ACRONYM EF WHEN YOU HEAR ALPHA. IT'S THE ASSOCIATION OF HAITIAN WOMEN. ALPHA WAS FOUNDED WITH A SIMPLE
BUT POWERFUL MISSION TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT HAITIAN WOMEN AND FAMILIES. ONE OF OUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS THE CREATION
OF CUSTOM A SIX UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT AND COMMUNITY CENTER DESIGNED FOR LOW INCOME WORKING FAMILIES. FROM THIS PIECE WE RENT WE RUN
A RANGE OF CRITICAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES, ADULT EDUCATION, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING.
BUT TODAY I WANT TO DO MORE THAN TALK ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS. I WANT TO SHARE A FEW REAL STORIES STORIES THAT SPEAK TO
THE PAIN, THE STRESS AND THAT RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S BEGIN WITH KATHY. KATHY FLED CHILE WITH HER PARTNER WILLIAM IN THEIR FOUR
YEAR OLD SON HENRY IN SEARCH OF SAFETY AND STABILITY MADE TO BOSTON. BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP QUICKLY TURNED DANGEROUS.
ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2021, WILLIAM RETURNED HOME WITH A KNIFE AND TRIED TO STAB KATHY. THANKFULLY SOMEONE INTERVENED.
DESPITE THE TRAUMA, KATHY ALLOWED WILLIAM TO SEE HARRY UNDER SUPERVISED CONDITIONS. OF COURSE. BUT ON JANUARY 16, 2022, AFTER
A WEEKEND VISIT, WILLIAM DISAPPEARED WITH THEIR SON. KATHY LATER FOUND OUT HE HAD FLED TO CANADA. SHE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE POLICE THANKS TO THE COURT
ORDER TO A COURT ORDER AND CROSS-BORDER COURT COLLABORATION. HENRY WAS FOUND AND SAFELY RETURNED TO HIS MOTHER AT THE NEW YORK CANADA BORDER.
SOON AFTERWARDS AFTER THIS INCIDENT, KATHY ENTERED A NEW RELATIONSHIP. HIS SON OVERWHELMED BY CHANGE BEGAN TO ACT UP ONE DAY IN FRUSTRATION.
KATHY SPANKED HIM WITH A BELT WHEN THE SCHOOL NOTICED THE MARKS. YEAR INTERVENED AND HENRY WAS REMOVED FROM THE HOME.
THEN OFF. LET'S CONTINUE. KATHY HAD SHOWN NOTHING BUT COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.
SHE PARTICIPATED ENOUGH ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND IMMIGRANT SUPPORT GROUPS. SHE ATTENDS COURTS WITH US.
SHE ENROLLED IN PARENTING CLASSES IN THERAPY. SHE NEVER MISSED A WEEKLY VISIT WITH HER SON.
AND TODAY SHE IS ON THE VERGE OF BEING REUNITED WITH HER SON . SHE HAD TWO SHORT STORIES.
SECOND ONE IS JOHN AND BETSY. THEY WERE LIVING IN A SHELTER STRUGGLING, FIGHTING OFTEN. ONE DAY TURNED VIOLENT.
BETSY WAS ARRESTED AND BOTH WERE EXPELLED FROM THE SHELTER. TOOK OVER A TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN SEE THEIR CHILDREN.
WITH THE HELP OF OUR FRIEND THE EXES VISITATION SUPPORT GROUPS AND PARENTING CLASSES THEY'RE NOW BACK TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.
AND FINALLY, SANDRA'S STORY. SANDRA AND HER HUSBAND WERE ACCUSED OF NEGLECT. BUT WHAT WAS THE REAL ISSUE?
A TRANSLATION ERROR, A MISCOMMUNICATION. DO WE KNOW INVESTIGATION ALMOST TORE THE FAMILY APART.
THANKFULLY DOING A SERVICE TRIP ORGANIZED BY OUR FIRM AND TASK FORCE FOR NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS MARIA PIA VICTOR, A
MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT, WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND PREVENT UNNECESSARY SEPARATION. THESE STORIES ARE NOT
EXCEPTIONS. THEY ARE REFLECTIONS OF THE REALITIES OF MANY HAITIAN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES DOMESTIC AND
SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS WIDESPREAD NOT JUST IN HAITI BUT HERE TOO IN OUR COMMUNITIES. LAST YEAR WE LOST TWO YOUNG
HAITIAN WOMEN DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ONE IN WORCESTER. ON VALENTINE'S DAY VALENTINE'S DAY AND ANOTHER IN EVERY MONTH
IN DECEMBER SIX, 2024 THESE WOMEN'S EXCUSE ME THESE WOMEN WERE IN THEIR TWENTIES THIRTIES. THEY WERE BLACK. THEY WERE HAITIAN IMMIGRANT.
THEY WERE TRAUMATIZED AND. THEY WERE FILLED BY THE SYSTEMS MEANT TO PROTECT THEM. WE CANNOT TURN AWAY FROM THESE TRUTH.
THAT IS WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS. YOUR SUPPORT FOR US TO CONTINUE THIS WORK YOUR SUPPORT TO PREVENT ANOTHER CHILD FROM
BEING TAKEN. YOUR SUPPORT TO STOP ANOTHER WOMAN FROM BEING HARM FROM BEING KILLED. FROM BEING MURDERED. YOUR SUPPORT TO BREAK THE CYCLE
OF TRAUMA. VITAL NEGLECT. TODAY I ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK NOT JUST IN THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY BUT ACROSS EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN BOSTON.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR MURPHY COUNCILOR PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE
AND COUNSELOR FLYNN. MY NAME AGAIN. MY NAME IS DAWN SALMA AMICO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ALSO SERVED ON THE
FGC ADVISORY COUNCIL AND I'M ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF JD OVER 34 OVER 30 YEARS WE SERVE IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACROSS THE
STATE FOCUSING ON ASIAN VICTIMS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. BOSTON IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST LCP POPULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY NEARLY ONE IN EVERY TWO
STUDENTS IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME AND HAS TIES TO 139 COUNTRIES WHILE MOST VISIBLE IN BOSTON THIS
REFLECTS A BROADER STATEWIDE TREND DISAGGREGATE THE DATA SHOWS THAT ACROSS ASIAN ETHNIC GROUPS IN MASSACHUSETTS 20% TO NEARLY 60% OF RESIDENTS SPEAK ENGLISH LESS THAN VERY WELL.
MANY OF THESE GROUPS ARE CLASSIFIED AS LOWER INCIDENT LANGUAGES MEANING THAT THEY FALL BELOW THE 5% THRESHOLD REQUIRED FOR TRANSLATED SERVICES FOR ASIAN VICTIMS THIS
ISN'T JUST A BARRIER IT'S A FORM OF EXCLUSION. WITHOUT INFORMATION IN THEIR LANGUAGE, VICTIMS STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, APPLY FOR BENEFITS OR ACCESS HEALTH CARE.
IT DEEPENS ISOLATION AND MISTRUST IN INSTITUTIONS MAKING IT HARDER FOR VICTIMS TO SEEK HELP AND REBUILD LIVES. A TASK WAS DESIGNED TO FILL THIS GAP. WE PROVIDE TRAUMA INFORMED, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC CARE
THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT, LEGAL SERVICES, SHELTER, 24 HOUR HOTLINE ALL DELIVERED IN 22 ASIAN LANGUAGES AND ARABIC BY OUR BILINGUAL AND MULTILINGUAL
STAFF. OUR ADVOCATES HELP SURVIVORS NAVIGATE SYSTEMS THAT WERE NEVER BUILT FOR THEM BUT WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. WE ARE USUALLY NOT THE NOT WE
ARE NOT USUALLY WITH A VICTIM AT THAT PIVOTAL MOMENT ON A911 CALL IN THE HOSPITAL OR OUTSIDE THEIR HOME THAT MOMENT BELONGS TO THE FIRST RESPONDER.
WHAT WE NEED IS COLLABORATION. WHAT VICTIMS NEED ARE HOPE A CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING. INFORMATION CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING. ONCE THAT HANDOFF HAPPENS WE
PROVIDE IN LANGUAGE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE THAT CONNECTS VICTIMS TO RESOURCES FROM TO SAFETY SERVICES THAT MOST PROVIDERS AREN'T EQUIPPED TO DELIVER.
VICTIMS FACE CONTROL, FEAR AND ISOLATION BUT EACH GROUP FACES DIFFERENT BARRIERS. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS ARE OFTEN SILENCE IN DISCONNECT TO DO THE LANGUAGE AND IMMIGRATION
STATUS. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS EVEN HARDER TO REACH MOVED AROUND CONTROLLED BY OTHERS AND RARELY RESERVED REFERRED TO SERVICES.
BUT ALL ARE MORE LIKELY TO SEEK HELP WHEN THEY SEE TRANSLATED MATERIALS AND HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO SHARES THEIR LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. THIS IS WHAT REAL SAFETY LOOKS
LIKE THE KIND THAT MAKES REBUILDING BEGIN TO IS BOSTON BOSTON'S RESPONSE WE RECOMMEND EXPANDING FUNDING FOR CULTURALLY SPECIFIC CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY SPECIFIC
SERVICES THAT SERVE AS TRUSTED RESOURCES AND CAN BUILD SUSTAINED RELATIONSHIP. IPS PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET SURVIVORS WHERE THEY'RE AT ESPECIALLY IN THOSE PIVOTAL
MOMENTS WHEN FIRST RESPONDERS ARE FACE TO FACE WITH SOMEBODY IN CRISIS WHO DOESN'T SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE. ESTABLISH REAL TIME REFERRAL PATHWAYS BETWEEN FIRST RESPONDERS AND TRUSTED
PROVIDERS LIKE A TASK TO ENSURE VICTIMS DON'T FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND COLLECT AND SHARE DISAGGREGATED DATA ON RACE, ETHNICITY, LANGUAGE AND SERVICE
TRENDS SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY GAPS AND AND PROVIDE RESPONSIVE CARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR ENSURING THAT SURVIVORS ARE
SEEN AND SUPPORTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR TESTIMONY. WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THIS REALLY I'LL STAR PANEL
OF ADVOCATES. I'M SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE CITY AND FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU DO OFTEN PLACES FROM YOUR OWN OWN TRAUMA USING THAT TRAUMA TO REALLY PROPEL
THE WORK. I HEARD A LOT OF SIMILAR THEMES STARTING FROM SHAKIRA AND ENDING WITH I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET YOUR NAME RIGHT ENDING
WITH DON. REGARDING CULTURAL COMPETENCY BEING IMPORTANT AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE AND I THINK WE KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THIS AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT DIRECTOR MENDOZA ERA HAD TO START HERE
TO REALLY HEAR FROM THIS PANEL. BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OF CAPTURING RIGHT BECAUSE THE MOST PART EVERYONE HERE REPRESENTS IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS TOO OFTEN BEEN SIDELINED OR
IGNORED OR EXCLUDED BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN OR BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU SPEAK OR HOW YOU SHOW UP IN THIS WORLD AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE DISREGARD THE DATA, ESPECIALLY
WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THAT WE'LL MAYBE BE ABLE TO SEE SOME TRENDS NOW WHERE THEY THINK YOU KNOW, NITHYA FROM JANE DOE INSTITUTE
I'M I THINK I THINK DIRECT CASH PROGRAMS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE BARRIERS THAT PEOPLE FACE WHEN IT COMES TO LEAVING HARMFUL AND HURTFUL SITUATIONS .
IT IS LIKE EASY LIKE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE LIKE HOW HOW WILL I PAY FOR GAS MONEY OR HOW WILL I GET AND HAVING FLEXIBLE WHETHER IT'S THROUGH PHILANTHROPY OR THROUGH GOVERNMENT DOLLARS THAT ALLOW FOR THAT FLEXIBILITY TO JUST
HELP PEOPLE. RIGHT. IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO MANY TIMES WE NEED TO YOU NEED TO REMIND US OF THAT AS POLICYMAKERS BECAUSE WE PUT UP SO MANY BARRIERS TO PEOPLE JUST
BEING ABLE TO LIKE GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TWO FACTORS THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS PANEL AND BECAUSE
I THINK THE CALL TO ACTION IS LIKE YOU KNOW SHA'CARRI YOU STATED IT YOU GET CARLY YOU STATED AS EVERYONE STATED THAT YOU CAN'T DO THIS WORK ALONE. YOU NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND AGAIN I'M HAPPY THAT WE NOW HAVE A DIRECTOR WHO'S
FOCUSED ON THAT. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH FOLKS INTERACT WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND A LOT OF IT IS A POLICE. TWO QUESTIONS ON SORT OF WHAT
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IF THEY'RE IMPROVEMENTS AND SHOUT OUT MY SISTER WAS AN 88 FOR AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOUR YEARS WORKED IN TANDEM
WITH SO MANY OTHER DAYS A VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE AND WE HAVE THEM HERE IN BPD. WONDERING SORT OF LIKE WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU THAT WE CAN SUPPORT AS BEING THE CITY LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO OUR VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATES THE
IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE BECAUSE I OFTEN KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND YOU PROBABLY SEE THAT AS WELL. SO WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ON OUR END TO HELP SORT
OF PREVENT THOSE CRACKS FROM HAPPENING? SO THAT WOULD ALSO I THINK TAKE SOME WORK OFF OF YOUR PLATE AS WELL. THE FEWER CRACKS THAT WE SEE. AND THEN AND THEN AND THEN THE
QUESTION IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRACKS THAT WE SEE AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A BUNCH OF FOLKS AND THAT FROM EXPERIENCE IS HOUSING. SO RECOMMENDATIONS OBJECTIONS TO US ON HOUSING. AND THEN LASTLY THERE'S THIS
BIGGER ISSUE OF ROOT CAUSES AND I THINK WE DID A YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBILITY OF GUNS AND WE ARE AND ONE OF THE LIKE BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF YOUR ORGANIZATION ADVOCACY WE'RE ONE
OF THE SAFEST STATES WHEN IT COMES TO GUN ACCESS AND GUN LAWS BUT WHAT MORE IS THERE MORE THAT WE CAN BE DOING? AND I THINK THAT GOES TO THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION OF BOTH
ACCESSIBILITY BUT EDUCATION AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOW WE DESTIGMATIZE IT. SO THE TWO MAIN QUESTIONS ARE ON HOW WE IMPROVE OUR VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE PROGRAM TO
MAKE YOUR LIVES EASIER. AND THE SECOND IS AROUND HOUSING. BUT I KNOW I SAID A FEW OTHER THINGS SO FEEL FREE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO ANY OF IT. I MIGHT JUMP RIGHT IN IN
REFERENCE TO HOW WE IMPROVE VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND WITH ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY. FIRST I WOULD START WITH LOOKING AT ORGANIZATIONS OR
NONPROFITS WHO RECEIVE DIRECT FUNDING FROM THE CITY MAKING IT A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SUPPORT JUST THE SERVICES AND ALSO TO THAT THEY'RE IN THE FIELD OUTSIDE OF THEIR SECTOR.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SEE IS THAT SOME NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SAID THEY DO THEY DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF THEIR WORK FOCUS AND SO HAVING THEM HAVING THE
REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO SUPPORT THE VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATES IN REFERENCE TO MAKING SURE THEY ARE LISTED IN READILY READILY AVAILABLE RESOURCE WOULD HELP TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE RISK IN
TERMS OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES OR FIRST RESPONSES. ANOTHER WAY THAT I THINK THAT WE COULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH VW WAYS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SPECIFICALLY TO SHAKIRA'S STORY IS WORKING
AS A COLLECTIVE AS OPPOSED TO WORKING IN SILO LIKE WE HEARD BEFORE IN REFERENCE TO IDENTIFYING THE NEED TO FILL THESE GAPS AND KNOWING THAT THERE ARE LOOPHOLES IN THE
SYSTEM AND THEY WERE THERE BEFORE WE GOT HERE RIGHT BEFORE THIS ISSUE BECAME AS BIG AS IT IS AND RECOGNIZING THAT WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS A COLLECTIVE WE CAN NOW START TO FILL THOSE BUCKETS IF YOU WILL, WHERE
FAMILIES ARE BEING LOST THROUGH THESE LOOPHOLES. AND THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING IS THE VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATES WORK AT THE DA'S OFFICE WHO ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO THESE ISSUES WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL SEEK
LEGAL SUPPORT AND SO WHEN THEY WORK IN TANDEM WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE ONES THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, WE CAN START TO REALLY HEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS SAFETY PLAN LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE THE REALITY OF IT IS IS BOTH
SYSTEMS ARE LOOKING AT THIS NEED INDIVIDUALITY IN TERMS OF WHAT SPECIFIC SERVICES THESE INDIVIDUALS REQUIRE. AND SO IF WE HAVE A BROAD US PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THESE ISSUES LOOK LIKE AND ALSO TO A
BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACT THAT SOME OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A MORE IN-DEPTH RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK AS OPPOSED TO SOME
OF THESE MORE FORMAL LEGAL ASPECTS AND MOSTLY GOING BACK TO THE ISSUE OF MISTRUST BETWEEN SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE. YOU CAN GUESS AS AN
ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES A LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING POPULATION, A LOT OF OUR ADVOCATES WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS BECAUSE THERE IS I MEAN THE LANGUAGE IS THE BARRIER AND THAT'S THE
ABSOLUTE KEY AND OFTENTIMES THE VICTIM DOESN'T WANT TO WORK WITH ANYBODY ELSE ONCE THEY HAVE THE ADVOCATE IN PLACE THAT IS THEIR CENTRAL KEY AND END IN PLACE THAT SPEAKS THEIR LANGUAGE. YES, THE ADVOCATE IN PLACE THAT
SPEAKS THEIR LANGUAGE AND SO THERE'S REALLY NO WAY AROUND THAT. THAT IS THE BEST PRACTICE RIGHT THERE IF THERE WERE TO BE OTHER SOLUTIONS. I MEAN ONE ONE THOUGHT IS TO LIKE THINK ABOUT WHAT DISTRICT THAT YOU'RE IN. SAY BOSTON HAS A LOT DEPENDING
ON WHERE YOU ARE VIETNAMESE OR CHINESE MAYBE THAT IS THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE NEXT VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE THAT'S HIRED AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WHAT
LANGUAGES THAT THEY HAVE YOU WERE EITHER AT BPD OR IN OTHER LOCATIONS BUT I THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE THINKING ABOUT. THANK YOU. I WOULD SECOND WHAT DON SAID IS
LANGUAGE IS A BIG ISSUE IN THE COURT SYSTEM AS WELL. WE HAVE SURVIVORS WHO DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE COURT WITHOUT THE WORD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE BECAUSE THEY DON'T
TRUST THE COURT SYSTEM AND THEY CANNOT COMMUNICATE. THEY DON'T KNOW THE LEGAL LANGUAGE. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. SO HAVING SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS THE LANGUAGE AND THE CULTURE I EMPHASIZE ON THE
CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING OF THE COURT SYSTEM I HAVE SEEN JUDGES WHO ARE NOT CULTURALLY COMPETENT DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SURVIVORS HAVE GONE THROUGH
BEING AN IMMIGRANT HERE, HAVING LEFT THEIR FAMILIES, BEING ALONE HERE. SO I WOULD HIGHLY EMPHASIZE AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAININGS AND IS THAT BOTH FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT BOTH COMING
FROM THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE VICTIMS WITNESS ADVOCATES OR IS IT PREDOMINANTLY FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? I WOULD SAY PREDOMINANTLY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU. AND JUST WHEN YOU SPOKE TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY WAS SPEAKING TODAY ON THE PHONE WITH THE CHIEF OF THE VICTIMS WITNESS ADVOCATES FROM THE DA'S OFFICE AND THIS IS
FEEDBACK THAT I WILL DEFINITELY TAKE BACK TO THEM. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR ELEVATING THAT TO THAT. I DON'T THINK SO. I NOW IF I CAN ADD TO THAT WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT A VICTIM WITNESS
ADVOCATES WORKING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE ADVOCATES WE'VE SEEN THAT WHEN VICTIMS OF ABUSE ARE SURVIVORS OF ABUSE GO TO MUNICIPAL COURTS TO FILE FOR A FORM TO AN ATTORNEY. THERE ARE SIGNS THAT ARE
OUTSIDE OF THAT OFFICE THAT SAYS WE DO NOT ASSIST WITH FILLING OUT THIS FORM. AND SO IF WE COULD HAVE A VICTIM WITNESS BE INFORMED OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT THEY CAN CONTACT TO SAY WE HAVE A
VICTIM HERE WHO IS SEEKING A298 AND WE CANNOT UNFORTUNATELY HELP THEM TO FILL OUT THIS FORM IF SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE CAN BE A REPRESENTATIVE OR MAYBE IT CAN BE SOMETHING WHERE IT'S A
READILY AVAILABLE SYSTEM I KNOW DAV IS READILY AVAILABLE IN THE COURT SYSTEMS IN QUINCY AND SO THE BOSTON AREA CAN CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE ADOPT THAT IDEA AND BRING IT HERE. I THINK THAT WILL BE ONE WAY
THAT WE CAN HELP TO MITIGATE RISK BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT WHEN VICTIMS GET IN FRONT OF A JUDGE, WHEN THERE'S A LANGUAGE BARRIER, SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T CONVEY ANYTHING OTHER THAN HE HIT. AND SO IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A
TOOL AND I KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION THAT GOES WITH THAT AND SO TO HELP SURVIVORS TOO TO REALLY GET WHAT THEY NEED IN THAT MOMENT, I THINK BE CRITICAL. THE OTHER PIECE IS KNOWING THAT THERE ARE INTERPRETERS IN THE
COURT SYSTEM. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF INTERPRETERS IN THE COURT SYSTEM IS THAT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS READILY AVAILABLE. I KNOW WE DO HAVE THIS ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THAT IS BEING USED SOME COURT SYSTEMS THAT
WILL PROVIDE TRANSLATION BUT THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE DEPENDING ON THE LANGUAGE. AND SO TO THE POINT THAT WAS MADE EARLIER TODAY, THE LANGUAGE BARRIER IS A HUGE ISSUE ACROSS ALL SECTORS.
I SECOND THAT OPINION. I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE COMMUNITY
LEVEL BUT I WANTED TO SHARE IN RELATION BUILDING IS REALLY CRITICAL AND I'LL SHARE AN EXAMPLE WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE IN 1988 AND 1998 WE DECIDED
THAT THIS IS DV DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IS SUCH A MASSIVE, MASSIVE PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY THAT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT WE WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. WE STARTED THIS OUR ROUNDTABLE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. IT WENT VERY WELL EVEN UP TO TODAY. PRE-PANDEMIC IT WAS JUST
AMAZING. WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE HAD DCF, WE HAD DGA THAT'S STILL AROUND.
WE HAD DIFFERENT SHELTERS, HAD ABOUT 25 THE POLICE FORCE YOU, ME I'M TALKING ABOUT BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BROCKTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE 30%
OF A GOOD NUMBER OF FOLKS COME FROM BROCKTON AS WELL TO OUR OFFICE IN BOSTON. SO WE TALKING ON BOARD FOR BOSTON ALONE WE HAD
REPRESENTATIVE FROM B3C LIVE AND I WENT TO SEE 12 I THINK THE HYDE PARK OFFICE I THINK YEAH IN ANY CASE WHAT HAPPENED
WITH THIS ROUNDTABLE SETTING WAS CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINING. IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO DOING PRESENTATION TO INFORM ONE
ANOTHER IN TERMS OF HOW TO BEST APPROACH THE. AND VERY OFTEN WE WOULD DO IF YOU WILL CASE STUDY OF COURSE
NOT MENTIONING NAMES AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WE BUT WHAT I SAW HAPPENING IS RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH THE POLICE FORCE WITH THE COURT SYSTEM WE WERE INVOLVED WITH
THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER IN THE BEGINNING WE WOULD I MYSELF I WOULD MEET WITH THE JUDGES AT THE DORCHESTER DISTRICT COURT AND IT WAS AGAIN ABOUT LEARNING
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OF SERVICE CULTURE SERVICES LINGUISTS, LINGUISTS APPROPRIATE SERVICES, UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE.
SO HOW DO WE BRING THAT BACK? WE FIND THAT A LOT OF LIKE YOU MENTIONED WITH INTERPRETING SERVICES WE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT CASES THAT WERE POSTPONED IN COURT IN THE LAST
TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TRANSLATORS BEFORE THEY ALLOWED ADVOCATES TO STEP IN BUT THAT'S THE CASE ANYMORE. SO WE REALLY DO NEED IN
DORCHESTER COURTHOUSE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE WORK OF SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS SINCE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH I MEAN IT WAS LIKE A MODEL IN TERMS OF THEY HAD THE MOST
DIFFERENT LANGUAGE CAPACITIES AND NOW IT'S I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK. SO WHAT I WANT TO CLOSE WITH IS WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO PUT IN
THE BUDGET SO THESE EXPERTS WHETHER IT BE AT THE POLICE FORCE AT DIFFERENT AGENCIES CAN REALLY HAVE THE TIME TO CONNECT WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION PEOPLE DOING THE FIELD WORK IN
MATTAPAN, DORCHESTER, HYDE PARK IS BOSTON. HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND HOW DO WE MAKE IT MENDOTA MANDATORY SO WE CAN BETTER ADDRESS THE SITUATION AND THE
HEAVY LOAD OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO I JUST WANT TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT WAS SENT
HERE ESPECIALLY AROUND LANGUAGE ACCESS AND COLLABORATION WITH AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY PROGRAMS AND THE OTHER I THINK COMMENT ON I THINK EVERYONE SAID IT ALREADY WITH WHAT IT MEANS WHEN
A YOU KNOW, A SURVIVOR IS LIKE THIS IS BEING POSTPONED BECAUSE AN INTERPRETER IS NOT AVAILABLE . WHAT THAT MEANS FOR, YOU KNOW, LOST WAGES AT WORK OR CHILD CARE ACCESS.
LIKE THERE ARE SO MANY LIKE DOMINO FACTORS FOR AFFECT FOR LIKE WHEN YOUR YOU KNOW, YOUR CASE GETS POSTPONED AND EVERYTHING YOU DIDN'T ADVOCATE IN THAT CASE. SO I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS JUST RESOURCES RESOURCES,
RESOURCES ESPECIALLY PROGRAMS ARE REALLY REALLY YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY LIVING IN A CLIMATE OF FEAR RIGHT NOW AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND THEIR ACCESS TO FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING AT THIS VERY MOMENT AND LIKE ANY
SORT OF RESOURCES THAT THE CITY HAS TO SUPPORT EVERY PROGRAM WHO IS DOING THE WORK ON THE GROUND AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY DEVELOPS RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOU KNOW WE SAID LIKE 20 OF OUR PROGRAMS PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES IN THE
CITY OF BOSTON LIKE REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNCIL DEVELOPS RELATIONSHIPS WITH EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM TO SEE. I THINK IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO A HOUSING ADVOCATE DIRECTLY AND JUST HEARING YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE THINGS THEY'RE
EXPERIENCING NAVIGATING WHAT IT MEANS TO NAVIGATE SUCH A COMPLEX SYSTEM, I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE STATE LEVEL ESPECIALLY YOU KNOW IN BOSTON
WITH THE CITY HUGE HOUSING CRISES ACROSS THE STATE, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR BOTH SHELTER AND ALSO ACCESS FOR PERMANENT AND STABLE HOUSING WHEN SHELTERS ARE OVERWHELMED AND IT MAKES IT
REALLY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO BE YOU KNOW, MOVED OUT SHELTER AND INTO TRANSITIONAL TRANSIT THAT SORRY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND YOU KNOW, OUR SYSTEMS ARE OVERWHELMED AND IT CREATES LIKE
A BOTTLENECK EFFECT FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO GET FOLKS INTO STABLE HOUSING. SO YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER LIKE EVERY YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSING REALM LIKE EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE
HOUSING PROCESS NEEDS ATTENTION, NEEDS RESOURCES AND OUR PROGRAMS ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACTS OF ESPECIALLY LIKE STATE REGULATIONS ON SHELTER RIGHT NOW AND WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE SO YEAH, I THINK MY MY ANSWER MY JUST SIMPLE ANSWER LOOK WE NEED FUNDING WE NEED MONEY AND SUPPORT FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS HERE IN BOSTON .
I ALSO JUST WANT TO ADD I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS WORKING. OH, THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AND A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO TOUCH ON
AND I THINK BOSTON IS A PLACE WE CAN REALLY ENGAGE IN SOME INNOVATIVE PRACTICES. HISTORICALLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND TWO TOTALLY SEPARATE BUCKETS AND I
THINK THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE CAN START TO BREAK DOWN SOME OF THOSE SILOS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND NONVIOLENT
CONFLICT RESOLUTION, WE TEND TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION BUT THAT IS ALSO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE WAY WHEN WE CHANGE OUR LANGUAGE AND WE CHANGE THE CONTEXT FOR HOW WE
TALK ABOUT THIS WORK, WE ALSO CHANGE THE CULTURE AROUND THAT. I THINK A LOT ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY REALLY EXAMINING WHAT TRIGGERED AND IT'S
PROBABLY FOUR WORDS YOU USE BUT WHAT REALLY BROUGHT ON THAT VIOLENCE HOW MUCH OF THAT IS RELATED TO DATING RELATIONSHIPS ,ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS WHERE THE CONFLICT SPILLS OVER INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT VIOLENCE DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN IN SOMEONE'S HOME, IT HAPPENS IN SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THAT UNLESS WE ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND TO SEE
VIOLENCE REALLY ON A CONTINUUM. WELL, WE'RE DIVIDING WHAT FITS INTO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REALM IN ONE PLACE AND WHAT FITS INTO THE GUN VIOLENCE REALM IN ANOTHER, WHICH IS WHY
I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN THE CITY AND TO BUILD ON WHAT NITHYA JUST SAID TOO, WE HAVE TO KEEP ON NAMING THE THREATS HAPPENING FROM THE LACK
OF THE DISRUPTION OF FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE GUN VIOLENCE WORLD. WE JUST SAW A MAJOR DISRUPTION TO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION FUNDING WHICH WILL IMPACT THE WORK HERE IN BOSTON.
IT WILL IMPACT THE WORK HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS. AND WHILE WE KNOW THAT MASSACHUSETTS HAS LOWER RATES OF GUN VIOLENCE THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT ONE
SHOOTING IS TOO MANY AND WE CANNOT GO BACK. AND SO ANY WAY THAT THE CITY CAN SHOW UP FOR THIS WORK IN LIGHT OF THE DISRUPTIONS OF FUNDING THAT'S HAPPENING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT IS
NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE DO IN EVERY STATE MATTERS GREATLY AND WHAT WE DO IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY MATTERS GREATLY. THANK YOU. I I'M GOING TO LET MY
COLLEAGUES ASK QUESTIONS BUT JUST WHAT I'M HEARING HEARING AND AGAIN HAPPY THAT BOTH OF OUR DIRECTORS ARE HERE BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE'S A ROLE FOR WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT. THERE'S A ROLE FOR THE
INITIATIVE AND FOR OTHERS TO BRING IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOO LIKE WE SHOULDN'T BE WORKING IN SILOS BOTH IN SORT OF LIKE ORGANIZATIONALLY BECAUSE IT'S TERRIBLE WHEN THERE ARE GAPS
THAT EXIST THAT LIKE PEOPLE THAT THERE COULD BE A LOT MORE COHESION ESPECIALLY WITH THIS OVERLAP THAT THIS IS YOUR JURISDICTION IS OUR JURISDICTION AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER. SO I'D LOVE TO THE CITY TO BE
HELP TO TAKE MORE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN FILLING THAT SILO. BUT ALSO I THINK WITH YOUR POINT ABOUT SILOS BOTH IN THE SUBSTANCE RIGHT OF OF HOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND I ALSO
THINK THAT THERE'S A ROLE FOR US AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT THAT THE CITY IS ATTEMPTING TO DO. SO I THANK YOU FOR ELEVATING AND HIGHLIGHTING THAT I'LL ALLOW MY COLLEAGUE I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES
AND ASK QUESTIONS. COUNCIL OF ONE THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND WAS
LISTENING CLOSELY TO EVERYONE IN YOUR COMMENTS AND YOU'RE DOING EXCEPTIONAL WORK ACROSS GREATER BOSTON, ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH REALLY MY MY
QUESTION AND I'LL I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO WANTS TO ANSWER IT BUT MY QUESTION WOULD BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN CHILDREN ARE
IMPACTED A LITTLE BOY OR A LITTLE GIRL BUT JUST SAY SAY A LITTLE BOY HE SEES HIS MAYBE HE SEES HIS MOTHER VICTIM OR SURVIVOR.
HE SEES HIS MOTHER BEING ASSAULTED REPEATEDLY OR EMOTIONALLY ASSAULTED REPEATEDLY BY BY HER HER
PARTNER, HIS FATHER MAYBE. BUT WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON THAT BOY BOY GROWING UP? WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES WOULD
THAT CHILD NEED? WHAT TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE COUNSELING WITHOUT WITHOUT CHILD NEED BECAUSE HE'S ALSO OR
A YOUNG GIRL BUT THEY'RE ALSO DEALING WITH ONGOING TRAUMA AS WELL. WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE FOCUSED ON?
THANK YOU COUNSELOR FRIEND FOR FOR BRINGING THAT UP TO YOUR POINT, THE CHILD WHO WITNESSES ABUSE IS THE SECONDARY VICTIM IN THIS CASE AND THAT'S OFTEN SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HEAR A
LOT OF UNLESS OF COURSE THERE ARE SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT KNOW ABOUT THIS CHILD BEING A VICTIM THEMSELVES THAT CHILD HAS EXPERIENCED PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE INCIDENCES OF TRAUMA OR
TYPES OF TRAUMA THAT WILL STEM FROM JUST THAT ONE INCIDENT. I BELIEVE STUDIES SHOW THAT CHILDREN WHO WITNESS ABUSE OR EVEN ACTS OF VIOLENCE WHERE THERE'S A HOMICIDE I BELIEVE
THE NUMBERS ARE BETWEEN 80 AND 90% THAT A CHILD IS THE ARE PRIMARY WITNESS. AND SO YOU RAISE A VALID POINT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LONG TERM NEED OF SUPPORT SERVICES BECAUSE STATISTICS AND DATA
ALSO SHOW THAT THAT CHILD COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A PERPETRATOR OF ABUSE THEMSELVES IF NOT BE ONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT IT HAS INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. AND SO THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS I THINK IT'S CIRCUMSTANCE SHOW IF FOR EXAMPLE IF THIS CHILD IS TAKING INTO DCF CUSTODY WHICH WE HEARD EARLIER A SIMILAR CASE WHERE THE CHILD WAS TAKEN IN DCF
CUSTODY, WE'VE SEEN CASES WHERE THIS WAS THE CASE WHERE THE CHILD WITNESS ABUSE AND DCF HAD TO REMOVE THE CHILD FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE CHILD IS NOW IN DCF CUSTODY. THE CHILD NOW EXPERIENCES
SEXUAL TRAUMA IN DCF CUSTODY AND THAT'S A COMMON THEME THAT WE'VE SEEN, A TREND THAT WE SEEM TO SEE HAPPENING ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS AND THAT'S IRREGARDLESS TO A SEX RACE OR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.
WE DO KNOW THAT IN REFERENCE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THERE'S A LARGE POPULATION OF BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO EXPERIENCE IT. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT BLACK AND BROWN MEN AND BOYS ARE ALSO
VICTIMS OF ABUSE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS QUESTION. I ALSO WANT TO STATE THAT THAT THE PRIMARY VICTIM AND THE SECONDARY VICTIM ARE FACING TRAUMA SIMULTANEOUSLY BUT THE SECONDARY VICTIM OFTENTIMES WE
DON'T SEE THE EFFECTS OF THOSE TRAUMAS UNTIL YEARS LATER AND SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON THOSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT THAT CHILD IS FACING WHETHER IT'S POVERTY, LOW EDUCATION OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER
ISSUES, WE MIGHT LOOK AT IT AS IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT AS OPPOSED TO THE ROOT CAUSE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER BY MADAM COUNSELOR. AND SO YOUR POINT IS VERY VALID. I ALSO THINK LOVE THAT YOU RAISE THE POINT THAT THIS COULD
BE A YOUNG GIRL WHO IS WITNESSING OR A YOUNG BOY AND I ALSO TOO WANT TO CLOSE WITH THERE'S THIS DISTINCT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUTCOMES, RIGHT FOR A GIRL SHE'S MORE LIKELY TO FIND HERSELF IN THE
SEXUAL ABUSE THE PRISON PIPELINE WHICH THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY DID A STUDY THAT SHOWED THAT BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE LIKELY TO TRAVEL THIS PIPELINE FOR THE BOY WHO HAS EXPERIENCE
WITNESSING ABUSE HE IS LIKELY TO TRAVEL THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE IF IN FACT THERE ARE NO AREN'T ANY WRAPAROUND SERVICES OR IMMEDIATE RESPONSES TO MAKING SURE THAT WE IDENTIFY
WHAT THOSE ROOT CAUSES ARE AND WHAT THIS CAN WHAT THE TRAJECTORY OF THAT CHILD'S LIFE COULD BE. AND SO SERVICES SUCH AS OURS WOULD BE VERY IMPACTFUL ON A CITY LEVEL IN THE SENSE OF WHEN
WE HAVE THOSE NINE ON ONE CALLS THAT COME IN LIKE THIS FAMILY THAT JUST HAPPENED IN MATTAPAN WE KNOW THAT THAT FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD IS GOING TO HAVE A LIFETIME OF TRAUMA AND SO ENLISTING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS
US TO SUPPORT NOW AND IN THE LONG TERM WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO NOT JUST THAT CHILD BUT TO THE FAMILY NOW AND MOVING FORWARD I'D LIKE TO ADD A FEW WORDS WITH US AT THE
ASSOCIATION OF NAOMI YOUNG NOW YOU CAN HEAR ME WITH US AT THE ASSOCIATION OF HAITIAN WOMEN. WE ARE AWARE OF THIS MAJOR DANGER WITH THE CHILDREN WHO ARE WITNESS TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND WE WERE AT IN THE EARLY DAYS WE USED TO DO WORK WITH THE KIDS ON SATURDAY IT FOCUSED ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
THE CONNECTION WITH CULTURE. THERE'S ALSO WE USED TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY JUSTICE TEAM AND WE STOP AT ONE TIME AND ONE
OF THE THINGS WE FOUND THAT WAS HARD THAT COULD HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS JUST LIKE JINDO INC, YOU KNOW IN THE BEGINNING WE HAD DISCRIMINATION WITH OUR PEOPLE AT THE SHELTERS AND WE
BOARDED UP AND WE HAD AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT ON THE BLOG AND WE SAW A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE YEAR WITH JINDO INC AND WE ARE SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS APPLICATION SOON
NOW WITH THE WITH THE CHILDREN PIECE YOU HAVE THE GROUP WITH THE FAMILY JUSTICE WITH AND WE TRAIN TO EACH CHILD WITNESS TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE I FORGOT THE EXACT NAME THE COUNCILOR PIECE WAS MISSING YOU KNOW AND IT'S AGAIN YOU KNOW A QUARTER OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON
,THEY ARE IMMIGRANT OR DESCENDANTS OF IMMIGRANTS EVEN THAT'S EVEN PUT THE NUMBER EVEN HIGHER. SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES WE FACE INCLUDING THE SECONDARY TRAUMA
FOR THE CHILDREN WHO WITNESS WHAT EXACTLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF SEE IN TERMS OF SERVICES IT COULD BE SIMPLY
PURE ENGLISH. IT IT MAY BE IN SPANISH, IT MAY BE IN VIETNAMESE, IT MAY BE IN HAITIAN CREOLE. I KNOW IT'S A LOT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER BUT HOW DO WE FACTOR
THAT IN AS WELL? AND ALSO WE ADVOCATES WHO DO THE WORK YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE SECONDARY TRAUMA TOO AND THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AND VERY OFTEN THE SMALL NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THIS. WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT'S NOT THE STRUCTURE, IT'S ALSO THE WOMEN THAT YOU KNOW THAT THEY PUT IN
THE WORK DAY IN, DAY OUT. THEY ALSO NEED TO BE THERE TRAUMA NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AS WELL.
SOMETHING CARLIN'S POINT ONE THING THAT'S SEVERE LACKING ARE BILINGUAL THERAPISTS. WE ALL WORK WITH VICTIMS OF TRAUMA.
WE CAN NOT FIND THEM THERAPISTS AND SO EXACTLY WHAT CARLIE'S SAYING IS OUR ADVOCATES ARE ACTING AS PSEUDO THERAPIST. YES. AND THERE'S NO OTHER OPTIONS. AND SO ONE YES, THEY NEED THEIR
OWN SUPPORT BUT THEN TO WE REALLY NEED TO CREATE THAT PIPELINE. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITY GROUPS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE CREATE THIS PIPELINE STARTING WITH SCHOOLS AND HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE
BILINGUAL THERAPISTS OR THE WORK OF BILINGUAL THERAPISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO INCREDIBLY NEEDED AND A LOT OF THE TIMES EVEN IF YOU WANT TO HAVE FAMILY THERAPY YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT CHILD WHO
SPEAKS ENGLISH BUT THEIR PARENT SPEAKS ANOTHER ANOTHER LANGUAGE AND THEY CANNOT WORK ON WHATEVER ISSUES THEY NEED TO TOGETHER. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IF WE WERE TO LOOK FOR FUNDING THAT'S ANOTHER REALLY
IMPORTANT AREA THAT OFTEN GETS OVERLOOKED PARTICULARLY WHEN THINKING ABOUT THOSE SPEAK LIMITED OR NO ENGLISH. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH DON THAT
WE ALSO STRUGGLE WITH GETTING BILINGUAL THERAPIST WE USED TO HAVE ONE NETWORK IN HIM YEAH I'VE USED TO HAVE ONE AT OUR SAHELI OFFICE BUT AGAIN IT'S
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE US. WE LOSE FUNDING AND THEN WE LOSE THE SERVICE FOR OUR SURVIVORS. BUT ONE THING I DO BELIEVE IS PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE . SO GOING INTO SCHOOLS AND
COLLEGES TALKING ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONS, SHIP BUILDING UP CURRICULUMS AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND TEACHING YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE WHAT
ARE THE RED FLAGS IN A RELATIONSHIP AND HOW THEY CAN PREVENT SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW IN A CULTURALLY SPECIFIC A HOME THEY DON'T KNOW WE ARE SO DECENT ASSIGNED TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE MOMS DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS ABUSE CHILDREN ALSO DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE BROUGHT UP IN THAT ENVIRONMENT SO THEY NEED TO LEARN FROM THEIR SCHOOL OR FROM THEIR COUNSELORS WHAT
IS A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP? WHAT ARE RED FLAGS IN A RELATIONSHIP AND BUILT IN IN A CURRICULUM WE WORK OUT OF CHILDREN DOWN AND I WENT BACK TO THE WOMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SAID I WANT TO DO
SOME HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP. THEY SAID NO, YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOARD TO BUILD IN THE CURRICULUM SO WE AS ORGANIZATIONS CANNOT GO BUILD A CURRICULUM UNLESS IT COMES WITHIN THEM.
SO THAT COULD BE A DIFFERENT WE ALSO HAVE THE LIKE I SAID PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. THINK OF THANK YOU THANK YOU
ALL FOR THAT FOR THE INFORMATIVE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED I AND IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE KIMBERLY AND REVEREND SCOTT FOR STILL BEING HERE AND LISTENING TO THIS
CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. EXCEPTIONAL EXCEPTIONAL CITY CITY EMPLOYEES. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ASK A QUESTION TO YOU?
YES, MADAM CHAIR. I KNOW WE CAN'T GET THIS INFORMATION NOW BUT CAN WE PUT IT ON THE RECORD? MAYBE WE CAN GET IT SOMETIME NEXT WEEK BUT ARE WE ABLE TO
FIND OUT WHAT BP'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEM IS DOING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IF THEIR PARENT IS
INVOLVED? AS A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VIOLENCE, CAN WE SEE WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES THAT STUDENT IS BEING OFFERED? AND MAYBE THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ADVOCATE FOR SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS? YES, DEFINITELY. AND I KNOW RUTH, YOU BROUGHT UP HOW IT'S THE WHOLE FAMILY AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE CHILDREN SO THAT WAS ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF MY
QUESTIONS DEFINITELY. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET SOME ANSWERS THERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND AGAIN WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE ADVOCATES AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE
HERE AND JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING. MAYBE I'M MOST FAMILIAR WITH THE ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I KNOW THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK
THEY PLAY ACROSS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS BUT I KNOW ALL OF YOU ALSO DO EXCEPTIONAL WORK. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.
THERE ARE FOUR PANELISTS OR PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP ON ZOOM THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO BUT PLEASE STAY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO ASK SOME MORE QUESTIONS. SO WE WILL GO FIRST TO CHARLES
HORNSTEIN ORENSTEIN YES, AND WE WILL WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE IN THE CHAMBER WHO HAVE SIGNED UP AND WE WILL CALL
ON YOU SOON ALSO. HI EVERYONE. ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES, THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME I REALLY APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING THIS
PUBLIC HEARING TODAY. I'LL TRY TO KEEP THINGS AS CLOSE TO THE TIME AS POSSIBLE. SO MY NAME IS CHARLES HORNSTEIN. I REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION HARBOR COVE WHICH IS THE MYSTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE AGENCY THAT
WORKS WITH SURVIVORS IN THE CHELSEA EVERETT MALDEN RIVER AREAS BUT ALSO SERVES THE GREATER BOSTON AREA. SO FIRST OFF, REGARDING THE COMMENTS FOR DATA AND FROM THE
CITIZEN EARLIER STATEMENTS, I REALLY ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT COLLECT DATA AT EVERY LEVEL TO ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS BEFORE DRAWING CONCLUSIONS. SO I'M THE DATABASE MANAGER AT MY ORGANIZATION AND THE BIGGEST
THING I ALWAYS TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT A DECREASE IN REPORTING ISN'T NECESSARILY MEAN A DECREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE PANDEMIC WE HAD MANY PROVIDERS INCLUDING HARBOR COVE SEE A
DECREASE IN REPORTS BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE OF LOCKDOWN LIMITED BOTH MOMENTS THAT A SURVIVOR CAN MAKE A CALL AND BE ALONE OR MOMENTS THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD SEE BEHAVIOR AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT
HOW PROBLEMATIC IT WAS. SO JUST DEFINITELY KEEP IN MIND LOOKING FOR A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH RATHER THAN JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS. REGARDING THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S CALLS FOR
WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE, I SUPPORT A LOT OF WHAT HIS PANEL SAID BUT MY BIGGEST PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY SAID IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AS MANY HOUSING OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE.
IN PARTICULAR, I REALLY WANT TO AMPLIFY THE MURPHY PEOPLE AGE 1547 GOING ON AT THE STATE HOUSE BECAUSE IN BOTH MY TIME SERVING CLIENTS AND DIRECTLY SUPERVISING THOSE THAT DO, I'VE
BEEN FINDING THAT HOUSING PLAYS A REALLY CRITICAL ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS RATHER THAN ULTIMATUMS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF AN ABUSER IS TRYING TO FIND THEM THAT LIMITS WHERE THEY CAN WORK AND WHERE THEY CAN RENT APARTMENTS AND
SOMETIMES PUBLIC HOUSING ISN'T REALLY AN OPTION BECAUSE THERE'S TOO CLOSE TO VULNERABLE AREAS. AS FOR THE OPTIONS THEY HAVE WHEREAS MOBILE VOUCHERS NOT ONLY ENSURE MORE AREAS THAT ARE
AFFORDABLE BUT IT ALSO MAKES SURE THE SURVIVOR HAS FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE WHEN EMERGENCIES COME UP. I ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
MAKE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE OFFICERS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY PEOPLE OF COLOR WOMEN PEOPLE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND IMMIGRANTS IN PARTICULAR AS THIS BOTH PLAYS A ROLE IN PEOPLE FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE
REPORTING AND ALSO ENSURES THAT THERE ARE FEWER NICHE REASONS THAT DV OF DV THEY CAN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS UNNOTICED. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS NOT ONLY FACED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE
FORMS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE BUT THEY ALSO FACED ABUSE AND FORMS OF THINGS LIKE THREATENING TO DESTROY IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS THREATENING TO REPORT PEOPLE TO ICE. SEPARATION OF CHILDREN LYING TO SURVIVORS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS.
THINGS LIKE THAT. AND FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE GROUPS BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE CAN CAN GO A LONG WAY TO MAKE SURE THINGS AREN'T UNNOTICED.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY OF BOSTON TO FUND NOT JUST DB EFFORTS IN PARTICULAR BUT ALSO ARE IN THEIR OWN CITY BUT ALSO IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
SO HARBOR COVE FOR EXAMPLE DEPENDING ON THE YEAR WILL SERVE BETWEEN 5% TO 20% OF OUR CLIENT BASE AS BOSTON RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE EITHER COMING FROM BOSTON FLEEING VIOLENCE OR
THEY MIGHT MOVE TO BOSTON TO ESCAPE THEIR ABUSERS HERE. SO MANY SURVIVORS DON'T END WHERE THEY START IN TERMS OF THE CATCHMENT AREAS. SOME DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND INTAKES CAN BE VERY MISLEADING
AND CONFUSING. BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT WHERE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS ARE PROVIDING RELIEF TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN BOSTON. BUT ARE NOT RECEIVING FUNDING ACCORDINGLY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING BECAUSE DV CUTS ARE BEING FACED THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION CHANGING THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTO THE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT MEANS THAT POORER PEOPLE QUALIFY FOR SERVICES AND FEWER ORGANIZATIONS QUALIFY FOR FUNDING AS WELL AS THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACTS WHICH FUNNELS MONEY INTO THE OBVIOUSLY
THROUGH THROUGH LEGAL FEES AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL HAS BEEN IMPACTED DUE TO CORPORATE LAW ACCOUNTABILITY CHANGES THAT MAKE IT HARDER TO PROSECUTE ABUSIVE CORPORATIONS AND ENSURE IT LEAVES LESS MONEY FOR THE OBC.
AND THIS IS BEFORE WE EVEN GET INTO OF COURSE THE MORE COMMONLY KNOWN PARTS WHERE ORGANIZATIONS ARE IN FRANCE LOSING FUNDING DUE TO EFFORTS TO BE INCLUSIVE TO TO ALL
DIFFERENT MARGINALIZED STATUSES . SO OVERALL I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT JUST TO KEEP THIS AS MUCH ON OUR RADAR AS
POSSIBLE BECAUSE ONE THING THAT A LOT OF PROVIDERS WILL SAY IS THAT DV SERVICES ARE COMMONLY PUT IN WHAT WE CALL SECOND MOST IMPORTANT SYNDROME WHICH MEANS THAT YOU KNOW ALL OF OUR
LEGISLATORS WILL TELL US THAT IT IS A PRIORITY BUT THEN THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY REFLECT IN THE POLICY CHANGES AND THE FUNDING CHANGES AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I THINK IT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETING PRIORITY
CONSIDERATIONS AND THERE'S A LOT OF URGENT MATTERS. SO THIS IS A NORMAL PART OF THE PROCESS. BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE BIG THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FEARING THEIR LIFE AND
FLEEING VIOLENCE THAT THEY MAY NOT LIVE TO SEE THE TIME THAT THAT OUR GOVERNMENT RUNS ITS COURSE AND DOES OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE OUR INTENTIONS MATCH OUR IMPACT. ALL THAT SAID SO I JUST WANT TO
WRAP UP SAYING THE THREE BIG THINGS I WANT TO FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING MVP PROGRAMS IN MOBILE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS IN THE CITY, EXPANDING THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO INCLUDE NOT JUST PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BUT ALSO
THINGS LIKE IMMIGRATION RELATED INTIMIDATION, FINANCIAL MANIPULATION, FINANCIAL THREATS, OTHER FORMS OF COERCION AND CONTROL THAT GREAT POWER BALANCES. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST EXPANDING FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS TO NOT JUST
PROVIDERS IN BOSTON BUT PROVIDERS THAT SERVE BOSTON. I WANT TO DRAW A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE POLICE OFFICER THAT SAID THAT HIS DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS SOLELY THE LAW.
AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S ASSIGNED TO PROTECT AND SERVE UNDER THE LAW WOULD NEED TO SAY IT THAT WAY. I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
WE ARE A PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SURVIVING ARE LIMITED BY WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS US. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THE LAW ACCOUNTS FOR AS MANY DIFFERENT POSSIBLE OUTCOMES AS POSSIBLE IN ANY RACE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING OUR ORGANIZATIONS A CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER FOR POSITIVE CHANGES. MY FUTURE THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, CHARLES.
NEXT WE HAVE JULIANNA. OH, I'M SORRY JULIANNA ACTUALLY HAD TO GO. SHE RAN OUT OF TIME SO HER FIGURE WAS ALL SET. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT WE HAVE LAUREN GORDON.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR HOSTING THIS INITIATIVE TODAY. CONSTANCE WOULD SEE FOR
PROVIDING A SPACE FOR THIS TOPIC OF CONVERSATION. SO MY NAME IS LAVERNE GORDON. I AM THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED LIFE NOW FOUNDATION WHICH PROMOTES YEAR ROUND AWARENESS AROUND THE
ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND WHILE WE ARE FOCUSED ON PREVENTION AND AWARENESS, WE DO HAVE A DIRECT SERVICE. SO I'M COMING FROM BOTH ENDS TO THAT POINT AS WELL AS FROM A
SURVIVOR STANDPOINT. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS IN TALKING TERMS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT PRESENTED TODAY. EVERYONE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB
IN SORT OF NAMING THE THINGS THAT ARE SORT OF ROOTED IN WHERE THE GAPS ARE AND THAT'S PRIMARILY WHAT I WANT TO START OUT WITH. I SAID SO WE CAN SPEAK
GLOBALIZE NOW CAN SPEAK TO THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE ACTIVELY FLEEING. WE RECEIVE 5 TO 7 APPLICATIONS A DAY FROM DV ADVOCATES ACROSS THE STATE FROM VARIOUS AVENUES
HOSPITALS, DCA POLICE STATIONS AND DV AGENCIES FOR DIRECT AID FROM WHAT WE CALL OUR GET C FUND WHERE THE TOP HELP IS FOR EMERGENCY HOTEL STAYS.
AS KIMBERLY MENTIONED EARLIER, DV SHELTERS ARE ALMOST OFTEN FULL AND THE NEXT TOP AID THAT IS REQUESTED IS ESSENTIAL NEEDS SO FOOD, CLOTHES, TOILETRIES ETC..
ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH BASE ON IS FOLKS HAVE CLAIMED THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. YES. OFFERING TRAININGS FOR THESE
GROUPS ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE ABUSE AND REFER TO TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES WHO CLOSELY WORK WITH TRUSTED CULTURAL FAITH BASED AND IMMIGRANT ORGANIZATIONS. SURVIVORS OFTEN TURN TO WHO
THEY TRUST. SIMPLE YOU KNOW ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT UNKNOWN TO ME WHAT THEY'RE DOING A SIMPLE BUT HERE'S SALONS FOLKS ARE OFTEN DISCLOSING WHAT'S HAPPENING TO
THEM TO THE HAIRDRESSER. SO GETTING INTO THESE SPACES WHERE CHURCHES WHERE FOLKS ARE DISCLOSING WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEM TO BE ABLE TO TRY AND MITIGATE PREVENTION.
MORE AWARENESS WORKSHOPS AROUND DV AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS FOR TEENS I KNOW THAT WAS ALSO NAMED BY VARIOUS FOLKS I THINK ANY OF THE GROUPS THAT SPOKE TODAY CAN ATTEST TO THE VALUE ADD THIS BRINGS AROUND
PREVENTION AFTER PRESENTATIONS THAT WE PUT ON KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS AT HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OFTEN STATE THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE EXPERIENCING ABUSE THEIR MOM IS GOING
THROUGH IT OR A FRIEND IS GOING THROUGH IT AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP. AND SO PROVIDING THAT RESOURCE FOR THEM IS SO VALUE ADD COMMUNITY TRAININGS TO EMPOWER A MORE UPSTANDER LIKE THE ONES
WHO HEARD WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN ALLSTON THIS WEEK I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE MATTAPAN CASE FOR INSTANCE CASE EARLIER THIS WEEK WHERE ONE MALE WITNESS MENTIONED IN PART THAT HE SAW
THINGS BEING THROWN OUT THE VICTIM'S WINDOW BUT HE THOUGHT IT WAS A COUPLES FIGHT BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS HERE A LOT AND QUOTE THESE ARE THE FOLKS COMMUNITY NEIGHBORS, PASSERS
BY. THESE ARE THESE ARE THE ONES THAT THAT WE NEED TO REACH AS WELL WHO HEAR THE RUCKUS HAPPENING BUT THEY DON'T FEEL IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO
SOMETHING BECAUSE THE VICTIMS ARE KEEP GOING BACK AND THEY LIKE IT RIGHT. OR THEY THINK THAT THEY WILL GET IN TROUBLE BECAUSE IF THEY IF THEY WOULD THE ABUSER IF THEY HAPPENED TO CALL. SO YOU KNOW, THESE ARE SOME
OF THE THE THE THE THE SUGGESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO BRING HERE TODAY AND I JUST AGAIN APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR FOR THE WORK THAT EACH OF YOU ARE DOING AND THANK YOU THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY IF YOU'RE HERE I HOPE YOU'RE ALL STILL HERE. FIRST WE HAVE NIA WILSON ON NIGHT NIA WILSON WHO YOU STILL
HERE? OKAY. YOU CAN COME RIGHT HERE TO THIS MICROPHONE WITH THE LAPTOP IN FRONT OF IT AND IF YOU COULD JUST STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR
ORGANIZATION AND EVERYONE HAS 2 MINUTES OR MORE TO SPEAK. SURE. OH, GOOD F WELL, IT'S NOT AFTERNOON THIS EVENING NOW BUT MY NAME IS NAYA WILSON.
DR. WILSON AND I WORK FOR JUSTICE FOR HOUSING. I AM WHAT THEY CALL THE HANDS ON DEFENSE PROGRAM MANAGER AND I'M ALSO A SURVIVOR OF BOTH
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO I HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND I'M TODAY I'M JUST HUMBLY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF LESLIE CRADLE. SHE'S OUR FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND SHE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE ACTUALLY SHE'S FILMING A DOCUMENTARY FOR LIFETIME ABOUT THE WORK OF JUSTICE FOR HOUSING. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE AS PART
OF OUR MISSION WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENDING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND HOMELESSNESS FOR INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION AND THOSE CRIMINALIZED FOR BEING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THEY HAVE SURVIVED IT AND ARE PUNISHED. SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE CDC, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILL AFFECT ONE IN THREE WOMEN AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFETIME
AND ONE IN FOUR EXPERIENCED SEVERE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. 44% OF LESBIAN WOMEN EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE AS AN INTIMATE PARTNER IN THEIR LIFETIME AND ONE IN
FOUR GAY MEN AND ONE IN THREE BISEXUAL MEN EXPERIENCE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. SO THIS YEAR WE BEGAN AT JUSTICE FOR HOUSING TO FOCUS ON THE WORK OF SUPPORTING WOMEN AND MEN WHO WERE VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND IN JUST TEN SHORT MONTHS WE PROVIDED PERMANENT HOUSING FOR OVER 32 MEN AND WOMEN. RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK WE HAVE
TWO WOMEN WHO LIVED WHO HAD TO FLEE WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND PLACED IN HOTELS IN BOSTON AS MANY PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT ONE WOMAN AFTER SPENDING SIX WEEKS IN A
HOTEL WITH HER THREE CHILDREN, WE FINALLY ARE PUTTING HER IN A FOUR BEDROOM APARTMENT TOMORROW. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE ISSUE IS IS THAT WE SPENT
OVER $12,000 IN HOTEL COSTS AND $900 TO PAY A DRIVER TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE WAS FEARFUL THAT THE ABUSER WOULD WOULD BE WAITING THERE AT THE SCHOOL FOR
HER. TOMORROW WE'LL BE SPENDING 17,500 ON FIRST CLASS AS SECURITY BROKE A FEE AND FURNITURE FOR HER.
OUR DV CASE MANAGER WILL PROVIDE STABILIZATION SERVICES BY DOING WEEKLY HOUSE CHECKS UNTIL THEY BOTH FEEL SAFE DEVELOP SAFETY PLANS, PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT SEARCH, FINANCIAL
EDUCATION AND ANYTHING ELSE AND ANYTHING AND ANYTHING THAT SHE'LL NEED IN ORDER TO STABILIZE HER. AND THAT'S THE WORK OF WHAT DV SUPPORT LOOKS LIKE. SO WE LOVE TO CONTINUE THIS
WORK. WE HAVE FOUND THE INTERSECTION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DV THAT IT'S PREVALENT.
WE DO NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT SO WE'RE REQUESTING THAT $250,000 IN AARP FUNDING TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY HOUSING AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS
OF BOSTON. WE ALSO HAVE RIGHT AFTER ME IS JADA GOFORTH. SHE'S BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK SO PLEASE WELCOME HER AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE PANELISTS THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLE TIME FOR ME. IT WAS OF IT WAS HEARTFELT BECAUSE OF WHAT I HAD BEEN THROUGH IN MY LIFE.
AND SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. THANK YOU. JADA, YOU ARE NEXT.
THANK YOU FOR IT. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CHICAGO FORT. WELL, I'M SORRY. LET ME START OVER. GOOD EVENING. CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND GUESTS. MY NAME IS JAY TO GO FORTH. I AM A MOTHER. I AM A SURVIVOR AND TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU JUST FOR
MYSELF BUT FOR THOUSANDS OF WOMEN FAMILIES ACROSS THE CITY WHO ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE. BUT I'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH. FIVE YEARS AGO I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY DAUGHTER WHEN THE FIRST PERSON I TRUSTED MOST HER FATHER TURNED TO VIOLENT WHICH
STARTED WITH SHOUTING TURNED INTO SHOVING AND INTO BEATINGS THAT NO WOMAN, NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD EVER HAVE TO ENDURE ESPECIALLY NOT WHILE CARRYING LIFE INSIDE OF THEM. I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THAT I
GOT OUT RIGHT AWAY BUT I DID IT LIKE SO MANY WOMEN I STAYED OUT OF FEAR OUT OF HOPE THAT HE WOULD CHANGE AND BECAUSE I HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO WHEN I FINALLY FOUND THE STRENGTH TO LEAVE I WAS ALREADY BROKEN
PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. WHAT FOLLOWED WAS A SAFETY. IT WAS HOMELESSNESS. I WAS SLEEPING ON FRIEND'S COUCHES OFTEN IN MY CAR. I HAD A NEWBORN IN MY ARMS AND
NO KIDS TO CALL MY OWN. I WAS IN SURVIVAL MODE EVERY SINGLE DAY NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR MY BABY GIRL. MY BABY GIRL'S NAME IS READING AND SHE'S FIVE NOW. SHE LOVES TO SING. SHE LOVES PLAYING VIDEO GAMES
AND SHE COULD TALK GEAR UP ALL DAY. THANKS TO JUSTICE FOR HOUSING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE, MY DAUGHTER ACTUALLY HAS A PLACE TO CALL HOME AND I APPRECIATE THAT HOUSING GAVE
ME MORE THAN SHELTER. IT GAVE ME THE SPACE TO BREATHE, TO HEAL AND BEGIN REBUILDING A LIFE THAT WAS TORN APART FOR ME AND MY BABY GIRL. AND IT ALSO GAVE US A FUTURE TO LOOK FORWARD FOR.
OH LOOK FORWARD TO SORRY. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST A PRIVATE ISSUE. IT'S A PUBLIC CRISIS AND IT'S A HOUSING CRISIS. WE DON'T NEED PITY. WE NEED POLICY. WE NEED INVESTMENT.
I'M LIVING PROOF OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN WE INVEST IN OUR SURVIVORS. MY LIFE IS STILL HARD BUT I'M STANDING. I'M STRONGER AND MORE THAN THAT I'M FIGHTING EVERY DAY NOT FOR
JUST ME AND MY DAUGHTER BUT FOR EVERY WOMAN OUT THERE AND STILL WONDERING IF ANYBODY CARES. PLEASE SHOW THEM THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, JADA. SHEILA GUBAR, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED COUNSELORS. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY. MY NAME IS SHEILA. GO BAR. I SERVE AS A SUPPORT TO END EXPLOITATION NOW PROGRAM
MANAGER AT THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF SUFFOLK COUNTY. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CC ABOUT THE NEEDS AND SERVICES THAT ARE VITAL TO ONE OF BOSTON'S MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IMPACTED BY SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. A GROUP OFTEN UNINTENTIONALLY LEFT OUT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE PERVASIVE HARMS CHILDREN TALKING ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL
ABUSE IS DIFFICULT. IT IS COMMON FOR COMMUNITIES TO WANT TO BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE IS RARE. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. STIGMA, SHAME AND FEAR CAN MAKE CHILD ABUSE HARD TO DISCUSS AND
EVEN HARDER FOR CHILDREN TO DISCLOSE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ONE IN FOUR GIRLS AND ONE IN 13 BOYS WILL EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ABUSE BEFORE THEY REACH THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAY. MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND
PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY FACE HEIGHTENED RISK AND WITHOUT THE RIGHT SUPPORT. THE IMPACT OF ABUSE ON CHILDREN BEING MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY CAN BE DEVASTATING.
THIS IS WHY THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER EXISTS. SINCE 1995 THE CDC HAS LED THE RESPONSE TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, SERIOUS PHYSICAL ABUSE AND COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
OF CHILDREN HERE IN BOSTON AND IN SUFFOLK COUNTY. TOGETHER WITH OUR TIRELESS PARTNERS, THE CSC STRIVES TO ENSURE SAFETY, HEALING AND JUSTICE FOR YOUNG VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THE HEARTBEAT OF THE CDC'S WORK IS COLLABORATION AND WE COORDINATE WITH OVER 25 PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING INSTRUMENTAL PARTNERS AT THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEIR INCREDIBLE FAMILY JUSTICE UNITS YOU GOT TO MEET SOME OF THEM EARLIER. THE SUFFOLK COUNTY DA'S OFFICE, BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HEALTH
CENTERS, COMMUNITY BASED CENTERS, HOSPITALS, LIBRARIES AND MORE. TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES AND TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE AT OUR SITE WE SPECIALIZE IN
MULTIDISCIPLINARY COORDINATION VICTIM CENTERED FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, MULTILINGUAL CASE MANAGEMENT EXPERT MEDICAL SERVICES THROUGH THE SAME PROGRAM AND ONSITE EVIDENCE
BASED BILINGUAL TRAUMA. THE RESULTS OF PROMPT CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND COORDINATED INTERVENTION FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.
LAST YEAR THE CC RECEIVED 1655 REFERRALS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF OUR FREE TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES. AND WHILE THIS NUMBER IS STAGGERING, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS ONLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE
HERE IN BOSTON WHEN IT COMES TO IDENTIFYING CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS . LAST YEAR OUR CC DELIVERED 114 CUSTOM TRAININGS TO MORE THAN 4000 PARTICIPANTS TO RAISE
AWARENESS, PREVENT ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION AND ALSO TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS ABILITY TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO CHILD VICTIMS.
AND WHILE WE'RE MOTIVATED BY THIS PROGRESS, WE KNOW THAT MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO REDUCE THE STIGMA AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR BOSTON FAMILIES KNOW WHERE TO GO TO SEEK HELP AND SUPPORT. IT'S AN HONOR FOR US TO HELP
FAMILIES AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE CRITICAL NEEDS FOR CHILDREN HERE IN BOSTON. THANK YOU ALL FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE TODAY FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND
SUPPORT FOR BOSTON'S MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SEVERAL I WISH I HAD WILLIS BUT CAN I READ YOUR TESTIMONY INTO
THE RECORD YOU SHOOK IT SO FAR. IF YOU'RE LISTENING I'M SORRY THAT WE COULDN'T GET YOU TO YOU KNOW SHE HAD TO GO TO A CHILDREN'S PARTY. BUT I MEAN AND ALSO THIS IS A PHENOMENAL PANEL AND THERE ARE
SO MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO COULD HAVE BEEN ON THIS PANEL WHO ARE DOING THIS WORK SO KNOW THE GOOD DOCTOR SHOUTED YELL OUTS JUST WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN. BUT TAVARES WAS A PERSON WHO COULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN A PANELIST.
SHE SAYS GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALVARO WILLIS. I'M A RESIDENT OF DORCHESTER AND I WORK AT BROOK HOUSE AND THE COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES MANAGER. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE WORKED WITH SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPING THEM FIND THE SAFETY AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO REBUILD
THEIR LIVES. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE PERSONAL TO ME BECAUSE I SURVIVED BOTH. THESE AREN'T JUST TOPICS I TALK ABOUT THEY ARE PART OF MY STORY. I KNOW THE FEAR, THE SILENCE
AND THE PAIN BUT I ALSO KNOW THE STRENGTH IT TAKES TO SURVIVE, TO HEAL AND TO RECLAIM YOUR VOICE. THAT'S WHY I ADVOCATE BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD FEEL ALONE IN THEIR STRUGGLE. AND IF SHARING MY TRUTH HELPS EVEN ONE PERSON FEEL SEEN,
HEARD OR EMPOWERED THEN IT'S WORTH IT AS A SURVIVOR MYSELF. I UNDERSTAND THE WAY DV HAS THE POWER TO IMPACT EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE NOT JUST PHYSICALLY BUT EMOTIONALLY,
PSYCHOLOGICALLY, SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. AND THOSE IMPACTS ARE NOT ONLY LIMITED TO THE PERSON EXPERIENCING THE ABUSE. CHILDREN ARE OFTEN THE INVISIBLE OR UNSEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN THE HOME.
WHAT THEY OBSERVE AND ABSORB IS TRAUMATIZING AND IT CAN AFFECT CHILD'S ABILITY TO LEARN THEIR BEHAVIOR AT SCHOOL THEIR ABILITY TO SOCIALIZE WITH PEERS AND MORE. WHEN EVALUATING THE EFFICACY
AND THE SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THESE YOUNGEST UNSEEN VICTIMS MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED AT BROOK VIEW. WE FOCUS ON BREAKING THE INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLE
OF POVERTY AND HOUSING LOSS AND WE DO THAT BY TAKING THE WHOLE FAMILY SYSTEM INTO ACCOUNT. TELLING OUR SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL FROM A TRAUMA INFORMED LENS. WE ALSO OFFER CRISIS INTERVENTION DANGEROUS
ASSIGNMENT SAFETY PLANNING AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO THOSE FACING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. LAST YEAR MORE THAN 200 INDIVIDUALS ACCESS TO OUR DV SUPPORT SERVICES. IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF FAMILIES PRESENTING FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SOME WAY. FOR MANY IT IS THE REASON WHY THEY ARE THERE AT ALL. ESCAPING AN ABUSER OFTEN GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH CREATING
FINANCIAL AND HOUSING INSECURITY FOR ONESELF AGAINST CHILDREN REQUIRES GREAT COURAGE TO FACE SUCH RISK. WE WE CAN HELP SURVIVORS AND FIND RESILIENCE AND INNER STRENGTH. WE CENTER THEIR NEEDS AND ONE THING EVERY SURVIVOR WITH
CHILDREN ABSOLUTELY NEEDS LIKE ANY PARENT IS FOR THEIR KIDS TO BE SAFE, HEALTHY AND WELL-RESOURCED SO THEY MAY ALL HEAL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DELIA.
HELLO. HI. MY NAME IS DELIA VEGA AND I AM A SENIOR SURVIVOR MENTOR AND POLICY SPECIALIST WITH MY LIFE, MY CHOICE. AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW
WHO MY LIFE MY CHOICES IS, IT'S AN ORGAN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED. AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED I'M NOT ONLY A SURVIVOR BUT I'M ALSO A
MENTOR. AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT THE YOUNGEST PERSON THAT I'VE WORKED WITH AS A MENTOR IS AT 12 YEARS OLD. AND SO THERE'S A LOT THAT I WANT TO SAY A LOT HAS ALREADY
BEEN SORT OF PUT OUT THERE. BUT I WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION THE LACK OF LANGUAGE SUPPORTS LANGUAGE BARRIER SUPPORTS IS
ONE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADD FOR FOLKS LIKE ATTORNEYS I THINK I THINK THAT IN PARTICULARLY WITH A PARENT WHO YOU KNOW, FAMILY
ATTORNEYS BECAUSE PART OF WHAT I'VE SEEN SO I GET A SURVIVOR OF ALL THE GENDER BASED VIOLENCE THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED HERE TODAY OF TRAFFICKING OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. SO I THINK AND AS A PARENT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH WHEN I WAS TRYING TO REBUILD MY LIFE IS NOT HAVING ACCESS TO ATTORNEYS.
I MEAN SOMEONE HERE MENTIONED THAT YOU GO TO THAT COURTHOUSE AND YOU KIND OF HAVE TO NAVIGATE THAT SYSTEM ON YOUR OWN WITH THE PAPERWORK. I'M LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.
AND SO LIKE I HAVE TO BRING IT BACK AND YOU KNOW AND I AM ALSO A POLICY SPECIALIST SO I HAVE NAVIGATED SYSTEM FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND STILL IT'S DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING FOR ME. SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WITH
PARENTS SO HAVING ATTORNEYS READILY AVAILABLE. AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS MENTIONED OR ADDED AS WE'RE CREATING OR YOU
ALL CREATING POLICIES THAT PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY OF CREATE OF THE CREATION NOT ONLY THE CREATION BUT ALSO THE
REGULATIONS PIECE AND THE IMPLEMENTING ACTION BECAUSE WHAT STARTS OUT AS SOMETHING REALLY WELL INTENDED DID BUT AREN'T INCLUDING RIGHT SO FOLKS
WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE ARE INCLUDED IN THE CREATION PIECE BUT WE'RE OFTEN TIMES WERE NOT CREATED IN THE REGULATION AND THEN THE IMPLEMENTATION PIECE. AND SO ALTHOUGH SOMETHING
WONDERFUL WAS CREATED SOMEHOW THINGS GET LOST AND IT CREATES A BIGGER BARRIER FOR FOLKS IN THE MAIN YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S TIME TO PRACTICE IT. AND SO I ALSO WANT TO MENTION
YOUNG PEOPLE. SO AGAIN I WORK WITH YOUNG KIDS AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN A CHILD TURNS 18 THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN
THEY'RE THIS ADULT AND THEY'RE THEIR BRAIN IS IS FUNCTIONING. I'M HERE TO SAY THAT AT LEAST FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN MY OWN CHILDREN LIKE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND SO I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT
THERE AREN'T MANY SERVICES TO FIT YOUNG PEOPLE. RIGHT. SO AGAIN AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR FOR FOR MY WORK AS EXAMPLES BUT I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH
A YOUNG WOMAN NOW WHO AGED OUT OF PROGRAMS AND THE CHALLENGE THAT SHE'S HAVING RIGHT NOW IS THAT SHE CAN GO TO A SHELTER BUT THOSE ARE ADULT SHELTERS AND IT'S LIKE SHE'S STILL KIND
OF NOT REALLY THERE WHO HAS A HISTORY OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING AND SO THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS FOR FOR HER AS WELL.
AND THEN YEAH, SO A LOT OF FOLKS MENTIONED THAT THE CULTURAL COMPETENCIES AND THEN SO THE OTHER YOU KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED HERE SO MY BACKGROUND PREVIOUS TO MY LIFE MY CHOICE
HAS BEEN I WAS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR A REALLY GRASSROOTS ORGANIZER FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND MY MY MY WAS WAS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND EDUCATION JUSTICE,
RECREATION, JUSTICE. SO ANYWAY, PART OF WHAT I REALIZE IS IT DOESN'T MATTER AND AGAIN I SAY THIS BECAUSE AS WE THINK ABOUT WRAPAROUND
SERVICES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE KEPT UP FRONT IS THAT SOMETIMES VICTIMS HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS AND SO LIKE SO AGAIN LIKE YEAH WE HAVE THIS WE CREATE THIS PLAN.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS PERSON HOUSING, WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM ENROLLED IN EDUCATION AND ,WE'RE GOING TO DO ALL THESE THINGS. BUT THEN WE LOOK AT WELL SORRY WE CAN'T GET YOUR HOUSING BECAUSE OF YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR CERTAIN GRANTS.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT WAS MENTIONED HERE WAS WAS THERAPY . THERE ARE HUGE WAITING LISTS
SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, FOR KIDS. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M HOPING YOU KNOW, YOU ALL CAN PUT YOUR YOUR FOCUS ON BECAUSE AS IT WAS MENTIONED
HERE LIKE IT TAKES A YOU KNOW, A HOLISTIC APPROACH LIKE A FAMILIAR APPROACH. AND PART OF THAT I BELIEVE AND I'VE SEEN WE'VE SEEN THAT WORKS IS IS THERAPY AND FAMILY THERAPY.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE NOT YOU KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER THAT LANGUAGE YOU KNOW THERAPISTS THAT SPEAK LANGUAGE BUT THEN ALSO IN GENERAL THERE AREN'T MANY THERAPISTS WHO ARE READILY AVAILABLE. BUT ANYWAY, I JUST THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND I GOT TO RUN. IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT IS IT FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
I'LL GO TO MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE CLOSING STATEMENTS. I AM I WAS NERVOUS AND I SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING FOR THIS HEARING BECAUSE OF JUST LIKE
THE WEIGHT OF THE ISSUES BUT THIS IS THESE ARE THE WEIGHT OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU DEAL WITH EVERY DAY, THESE STORIES. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THIS INCREDIBLE PANEL. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL WHEN MY OFFICE PUT IT OUT TO HAVE YOU ALL COME HERE AND
TALK AND GIVE US THE URGENCY THAT WE NEED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REALLY BE RESPONSIVE. I HAVE OUR MARCHING ORDERS IN
THE THINGS THAT YOU ELEVATED AND SO THIS WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO ME. I DO HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL SHOULD ALWAYS BE TO ERADICATE ALL FORMS
OF VIOLENCE, ALL FORMS. THAT'S WHERE WE START. HOW DO WE ERADICATE ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE STATE SANCTIONED VIOLENCE, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE AND
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP IN THAT AND I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE IT BECOMES ESPECIALLY MORE POSSIBLE WHEN WE WORK OUTSIDE OF OUR SILOS.
AND SO AND WHEN WE ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES IN A CULTURALLY COMPETENT MANNER WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT SO BEAUTIFULLY ELEVATED SO NATURALLY FROM ALL OF YOU BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO
BOTH IN LANGUAGE CAPACITY AND IN CHALLENGING US TO I THINK IT WAS SOMEONE WHO OFFERED TESTIMONY TO ALSO BE A BIT MORE
EXPANSIVE AND WHEN WE THINKING ABOUT INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND WHAT WHO VICTIM VICTIMS ARE SO I MEAN EVERYTHING FROM SUPPORT FOR STATE LEGISLATION CASH FUNDS LANGUAGE AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE LANGUAGE ACCESS
AND INCLUSION HELP WITH 298 ORDERS AN EMPHASIS ON RESOURCES. LANGUAGE CAPACITY AT BPD IN THE DA'S OFFICE CULTURAL COMPETENCY . BREAKING DOWN SILOS PIPELINES
FOR MULTICULTURAL THERAPISTS PREVENTION AND TO PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN THE CURE ESPECIALLY IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT. HOUSING PLAYING A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SOMEONE WHO STARTED MY
CAREER AS AN ATTORNEY DOING HOUSING WORK IN COURT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ATTORNEYS IN GENERAL DOING LEGAL AID WORK DOING WORK TO REALLY BALANCE OUT THE SCALE. SO THANK YOU FOR ELEVATING THE NEED FOR US TO WORK.
I KNOW GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES IS THERE BUT IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU KNOW THE BREAKS SEE THE BOSTON AREA RAPE CRISIS CENTER THEY COME UP WITH 2.8 ORDERS BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FILL THOSE
GAPS. AND SO YEAH, I JUST TAKE THOSE AS MARCHING ORDERS AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES HERE WHO ARE STILL HERE AT 547 ARE ALSO
TAKING HAVE TAKEN COPIOUS NOTES TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY END VIOLENCE ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE INCLUDING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT.
SO JUST THANK YOU AND BILL SHE SHE NOBODY GOT TO ME. GRACIAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE SHOWED UP AND WHO OFFERED SO MUCH OF YOURSELF IN YOUR HEART BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU DO THIS
FROM THE HEART BECAUSE IT MATTERS SO MUCH TO YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN I MENTION SOMETHING? SURE. YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THE
GENTLEMAN ON ZOOM I HEARD THE OFFICERS MENTION THAT THEY DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN REPORTING AND WE KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
LAST WEEK WE HAD A SITUATION WITH A DV VICTIM REFUSE. THIS WAS THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
SHE REFUSED THE THE HUSBAND SAID THAT HE WOULD KILL HER AND THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES TOLD HER THAT SHE HAS TO REPORT SHE HAS
TO GO TO THE POLICE AND IT TOOK DAYS SHE REFUSED. SO FINALLY A LOT OF ORGANIZATION TEND TO COME TO US WHAT DO WE DO WITH SEEKING ADVICE? SO WE TALK WITH THE WOMAN IN
THE RIGHT WAY LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND SHE DECIDED TO PUT IN A POLICE REPORT AND SHE GOT A RESTRAINING ORDER.
NOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE WITH A LOT OF NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS WHETHER THEY BE HAITIAN DOMINICAN, VENEZUELAN, WHATEVER THE CASES.
NOW WE ARE IN AN IMMIGRATION CRISIS. IT'S JUST LIKE WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC THE EARLY YEARS. AT OUR FARM THE CASES TRIPLED
IN A SHORT TIME AND THESE PEOPLE DID NOT WANT POLICE INVOLVEMENT. SO WE HAVE THE SAME THING EVEN TO A FASHION LEVEL.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF NEWLY ARRIVED FOLKS OR THEY CAN BE NOT SO NEWLY ARRIVED IS JUST THAT THIS STATUS IS NOT WHAT WE CALL LEGAL.
SO THOSE FOLKS WILL BE VERY RELUCTANT IN IN GETTING A RESTRAINING ORDER IN FILING A POLICE REPORT. BUT I ALSO I KNOW THERE'S A
LAST QUESTION COMING. I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT YESTERDAY I ASKED ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS TO PUT IN A SURVEY AND SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY SEES.
THAT'S HOW WE FUNCTION GRASSROOTS. WE TRY TO GET COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. CLYDE INVOLVEMENT IN I THINK WE ARE UP TO 70 PEOPLE RIGHT NOW
AND WE PULL SOME QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF KEY QUESTION BUT I WANT TO SHARE TWO THINGS. SHELTER NUMBER ONE SHELTER HOUSING FOR, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
VICTIM AND LEGAL SERVICE. WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING LEGAL AID SO YES, WE DO WORK WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS REBELS IN SO MANY
OTHERS DE NOVO, ETC. BUT I THINK THERE'S A DIRE NEED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ATTORNEYS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO WE TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION. I WOULD LOVE IT THAT WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR OF SOME AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR
BRINGING US TOGETHER FOR THIS IMPORTANT HEARING. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST INFORMATIVE HEARINGS I'VE BEEN OUT IN A LONG, LONG PERIOD OF TIME SO I WANT SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS WELL BUT REALLY TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU WERE DOING AND FOR OUR PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM AND BOSTON POLICE
OFFICERS AS WELL THAT WERE HERE LISTENING TO YOU IN YOUR STORIES, IN YOUR EXPERIENCES HELPED HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER CITY COUNSELOR AND LEARN
MORE ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULTS, REPORTING SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS, THE ROLE OF THE COURTS, THE ROLE OF THE POLICE, THE ROLE OF THE
COMMUNITY WAS A FORMER PROBATION OFFICER AT SUPERIOR COURT AND I SUPERVISED A LOT OF MOSTLY MOSTLY MEN WHO WERE CONVICTED OF A LOT OF THESE
CRIMES AS WELL. BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON ,MADAM CHAIR, AND ESPECIALLY AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET SEASON IS HOW DO WE SUPPORT NONPROFITS, HOW DO WE SUPPORT
SURVIVORS, HOW DO WE SUPPORT OUR YOUNG KIDS IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OR IN THE OR PEOPLE IN THE GETTING COUNSELING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AS WELL?
HOW DO WE SUPPORT THEM AND WHAT IS THE ROLE FOR US DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR VARIOUS OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN?
SO THAT'S THAT'S MY FOCUS GOING FORWARD INTO I MIGHT EVEN LISTEN TO THE VIDEO AGAIN BECAUSE I THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION AND YOU PROVIDED A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
MADAM CHAIR, I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION BUT I GO TO A LOT OF THESE HEARINGS OBVIOUSLY TO LEARN ABOUT A SUBJECT BUT ALSO
THE PUBLIC DOES ALSO LISTENING TO THE LISTENING TO THIS. BUT IF THERE'S A SURVIVOR THAT MAYBE PICKED UP A LITTLE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO THE SURVIVOR BUT
MAYBE TWO TO THE CHAIR IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THIS VIDEO COULD SOMEHOW BE PLACED ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SOME MORE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SURVIVORS COULD SEE
IT MAYBE THAT MAYBE IT HELPS THEM AS WELL? YES, DEFINITELY. WE COULD SEE WITH CANDICE TO PUT IT ON THE CITY COUNCIL FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM PAGE ANY OTHER WAYS WE CAN PUT IT OUT THERE, MAYBE EVEN THE
PUBLIC HEALTH WE ARE LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA AND AND ADVANCEMENT. YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE PANEL AND THANK YOU THANK YOU TO. THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM THAT
WAS HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR FLYNN JUST REMINDED ME THAT ONE THING THAT I MEANT TO DO IN THE BEGINNING THAT WE DIDN'T DO ESPECIALLY FOR ANY
SURVIVORS OR FOR ANYONE WHO WAS EXPERIENCING ANY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE RIGHT NOW IS TO JUST GIVE THE NUMBER OF SAFE LINK. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE AND ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING HAS AN INFORMATION.
OF COURSE IF YOU'RE IN EMERGENCY CALL 911 BUT SAFE LINK IS THE STATEWIDE 24 SEVEN RESOURCE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND THAT NUMBER IS 8777852020 AGAIN THAT NUMBER IS 8777852020. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND YOU CAN ALWAYS ALSO IF YOU
REMEMBER EASIER 911 OR 311 CAN ALWAYS ALSO CONNECT YOU TO THOSE RESOURCES BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TOO. THE ADMINISTRATION WHO WAS HERE
FIRST AND STILL HERE YOU KNOW YOU ALL DO SO MUCH AND HELP SO MANY PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU KNOW YOU'RE MAKING NOT JUST
OUR CITY BUT THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE AND YOU CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND JUST YOUR STORIES ABOUT YOU KNOW, HOW YOU ADVOCATE AND HOW YOU SHOW UP IN
THE POPULATION WHICH SO MANY OF US YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY TOUCH SOMETHING AT MOST PEOPLE NEED YOUR HELP. RIGHT. AND THERE'S JUST NO WAY I THINK YOU KNOW, MY JOB I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE OH, I CAN NEVER GET TO
EVERYONE BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE DEEP HARD WORK YOU'RE DOING EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THE RESOURCES IS BUT ALSO YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF RIGHT AND THAT
YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH YOU THAT YOU MUST WORRY ABOUT ALSO WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT. SO THAT'S IMPORTANT ALSO. AND YOU MENTIONED DAWN AND YOU
KNOW ALL MY YEARS AS A TEACHER I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL NURSE WAS ALWAYS WAY MORE THAN A SCHOOL NURSE. SHE WAS YOU KNOW, NOW IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS BOTH THE ADVOCATES RIGHT.
THESE WOMEN THESE PEOPLE WHO FIND SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THEM CULTURALLY, SOCIALLY AND SPEAKS THEIR LANGUAGE, THEY JUST MUST NOT WANT THEM TO LEAVE. RIGHT. THAT THEY HAVE FINALLY FOUND
SOMEONE WHO WILL LISTEN TO THEM AND THERE'S ALWAYS SO MUCH MORE. RIGHT. IT'S LIKE YOU START OFF I WOULD I WOULD SAY A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, YOU KNOW, THE MOM DROPS OFF THEIR CHILD AND YOU'RE GOING TO HELP THEM LEARN TO READ. BUT THEN THEY HAVE FINALLY
FOUND SOMEONE WHO CAN MAYBE HELP THE OLDER BROTHER GET A JOB OR YOU KNOW, THEY NEED FOOD SERVICES. SO IT'S THE TYPE OF WORK THAT YOU'RE ALL DOING. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT BUT
ALSO LIKE HOW CAN WE ON THE COUNCIL SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENTS? WE DO HAVE SO MANY DEPARTMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WOMEN ADVANCEMENT AND ALL MOYER AND EVERYTHING BUT YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S THE WORK THAT WILL
KEEP US UP AT NIGHT. THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING AND ALSO UPLIFTING THE CHILDREN AND YOU MENTIONED THE KIDS BUT IT'S ALSO YOU KNOW, THE MOTHER OF IT THE BROTHER'S LIKE EVERYONE
AFFECTED THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND COUNCIL OFFLINE. YOU DID MENTION IT BUT WE DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE I DO KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN PRIVACY
BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHER IN MANY TIMES YOU DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATE THING AND YOU MAY FEEL SHAME BUT HOW CAN WE HELP MAKE SURE THAT THE
SCHOOLS ARE PROVIDED WITH SERVICES IF THERE'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR WHEN THERE'S COMMUNITY VIOLENCE? RIGHT. LIKE WE DON'T PING AND MAKE SURE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS ARE AWARE LIKE HEY, THIS HAS
HAPPENED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU MAY NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS AND SOMETHING I KNOW WE CAN WORK MORE WITH MARC AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES HOW DO WE HELP ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND MEMBERS
THAT ARE AFFECTED? BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY? I KNOW THIS IS TO ME AT LEAST THE BEGINNING AND LIKE YOU SAID COUNCIL OFFLINE VERY
INFORMATIVE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES DEPARTMENTS KNOW JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE HELPING. BUT IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS BEFORE WE END PLEASE FEEL FREE. YEAH, DEFINITELY. I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND.
COUNCILOR FINE. THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE CITY CAN SUPPORT THE WORK OF NONPROFITS AND JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO MENTION HAVING DONE DIRECT SERVICE TRAUMA RESPONSE
ORGANIZING POLICY WORK AND PREVENTION IS WHEN FUNDING GETS CUT VERY OFTEN PREVENTION IS THE FIRST THING TO GO AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT WORK.
I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE ORGANIZING WORK BECAUSE AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, PREVENTION IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN TRAUMA RESPONSE. WE WANT TO STOP THE TRAUMA FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE ORGANIZING WORK
PARTICULARLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TELL US WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE, WHO TELL US WHAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BE SAFE AND I REALLY WORRY THAT THAT VERY CRITICAL WORK THAT ALSO TOTALLY GOES INTO
PREVENTION IS GOING TO GET LOST AS WE FEEL THE IMPACT OF THE FEDERAL DISRUPTION TO FUNDING. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO ECHO YOUR YOUR
SENTIMENTS ABOUT THE PANEL. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SILOS AND BROKEN SILOS AND I THINK WE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB IN SHOWING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND I HOPE
WE CAN EXTEND THIS CONVERSATION OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR INVITED SHAQIRI'S STORY TO BE HERE TODAY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU AND THE CITY COUNCILS HAVE
SHOWN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT YOU STAND WITH SURVIVORS AND YOU BELIEVE SURVIVORS ARE COMING UP VERY SOON IS MAYDAY WHICH THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL HAS MADE AN OFFICIAL DAY IN RECOGNITION OF DANGER
NICOLE JENKINS MINUS. SO I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT HER IN THIS SPACE AND ALSO TO SAY THAT FOR ANY TEENS OR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING VICTORIOUSLY HEARING ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THERE ARE A
PLETHORA OF OPTIONS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM AND ONE THAT I DID HEAR EARLIER TODAY AND WE GOT TO WORK WITH WAS STRONG WITH SOME YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PHENOMENAL AND ON FIRE AND HAVE JUST AS MUCH EXPERTISE AS WE DO
ON THE ISSUE. AND SO TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILOR FLYNN, IN REFERENCE TO HOW DO WE MITIGATE RISK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, I THINK IT'S GOING AFTER GROUPS THAT WORK SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES ANSWERING THE CALL TO DISRUPT IN THE CYCLE WOULD BE A FIRST START OBVIOUSLY CALLING BUT I THINK INCLUDING THEM IN THE CONVERSATION I THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE TO HAVE SOMEONE
FROM START STRONG SITTING UP HERE WITH US AND REPRESENT AND REPRESENTATION TODAY FOR WHAT THIS ISSUE BRINGS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING US FOR BRINGING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SHARE A STORY TO BE IN THE ROOM ONCE AGAIN WITH SOME OF OUR FELLOW
PARTNERS. IT IS INCREDIBLE TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I JUST WANT TO ECHO EVERYBODY'S SENTIMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND BRINGING US TO TABLE. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. THIS HEARING ON DOCKET 0183 IS ADJOURNED. Q Q THANK YOU