Dear Friends,

I am writing today as a fellow supporter of the work of the Women’s Resource Center. I am proud to be a former board member and current member of the Development Committee. I was asked to join the Development Committee in 2015. I had a co-worker and dear friend at the time that was escaping an abusive relationship. She filed a restraining order and had to appear at the Newport Courthouse. She was not versed in the legal proceedings necessary to file a restraining order and thought it would be an easy process. She discovered that it was more difficult than she anticipated; it was very difficult to navigate legal proceedings when you are under emotional distress. Luckily, there was a court advocate that day from Women’s Resource Center that was there to assist her. She told me that if it wasn’t for the Women’s Resource Center, she wouldn’t have been able to get through it all! We were both extremely grateful for the Women’s Resource Center that day. My friend is now happily married in a healthy relationship and remains an active supporter of the WRC. And, I will continue to remain an active supporter for as long as I can.

I think of all the people that are faced with abuse and the enormity of the emotional stress that it causes. I think of how difficult it must be to work and survive when you are in an abuse relationship. I think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how he puts our most basic needs, which are deemed the most important, at the bottom of the pyramid. Our most basic physiological needs include breathing, food, water, shelter, clothing, and sleep. He puts safety and security in the next most important of human needs. I would venture to say that many of our neighbors that have experienced domestic violence would disagree with Maslow. Without safety and security, it is difficult to breath, it is difficult to eat and it is difficult to sleep. All of our neighbors deserve to feel safe and secure.

Each year, the Women’s Resource Center serves 1,200 of our neighbors who are experiencing abuse. The WRC simply couldn’t do that without the support of our community. I hope that you will stand with us today, and throughout the year, to ensure that our doors are open when we are needed most.

One in three women in Rhode Island experience domestic violence in their lifetime. We each know someone impacted by domestic violence. We each know a survivor. Your gift today will help the WRC continue to provide free and confidential services to our neighbors seeking a future free from violence. Please join me in helping to support a very worthwhile cause. If you’ve yet to give to our annual appeal, please donate today!

Sincerely,

Gina Helm

Development Committee 

Continue reading e-newsletter.

Dear Friends,

I could not be more proud to serve the WRC in this critical role. During the 4.5 years I have been a member of the board, I have witnessed the talented, dedicated staff live and breathe the mission of the organization time and time again. As the ONLY domestic violence resource organization serving the Newport-Bristol-East Bay communities, the WRC has been providing free and confidential services to victims and survivors for more than 45 years. Each year over 1,250 individuals experiencing domestic violence turn to us for help.

I step into this role at an exciting time for the WRC. We have big goals and big dreams and we know we cannot achieve them without you, our community. As we look to the future of our organization and how to better serve those who have experienced abuse, we are committed to a focus on long-term healing versus short-term intervention, and to creating a whole-person experience that helps survivors gain the strength to help themselves.

It is with enormous gratitude that I thank you, the WRC staff and leadership, and my fellow board members for supporting our organization and making it possible to continue our critical work. I look forward to seeing you in the community!

Sincerely,

Heather Jensen

President

Continue reading December News & Updates

Dear Friends,

It has been my honor to serve as President of the Women’s Resource Center over the past two years. I have had the privilege of a front row seat to the amazing dedication of the staff. These devoted folks, committed to our mission, ensured our preventive and support services did not suffer as a result of the pandemic; a time when these services were needed more than ever.

Now it is my pleasure to introduce our new Board President, Heather Jensen. Heather holds a Master of Education in School Counseling from Cambridge College and brings 20 years of diverse experience to her work with youth and families. From working with high-risk and truant youth at a teenage runaway crisis center, to providing direct care and counseling roles within a family institute, to overseeing and developing student affairs at the college level, Heather’s passion for student wellness and advocacy is unmatched. Today, Heather works as the Director of Transition Services at an independent boarding school in Narragansett, RI, specializing in identifying post-secondary goals and developing individualized plans for students and families.

Heather is also passionate about her community and joined the board of Women’s Resource Center in 2019 and has served on the executive, governance, and development committees, as well as serving as co-chair of its fundraising event, the Butterfly Ball. Heather served as Vice President for the past two years, and I am confident that her strong leadership skills will serve the WRC well as she steps into the role of president of the board. In my final year on the board, I look forward to supporting Heather and ensuring a smooth leadership transition.

Thank you for your continued support of the Women’s Resource Center and the survivors we serve. If you’ve yet to give to our annual appeal, please donate today!

Sincerely,

Tracy McCaughey

Immediate Past President

Continue reading December News & Updates

Dear Friends,

The fierce heat today serves as a reminder that Labor Day is the unofficial end to summer. I hope folks are staying cool and hydrated!

Like many folks I’ve spoken to recently, I can’t believe it is already September. One of my favorite summertime traditions is our annual trek to a lake in Maine, where 9 of us pile into a rental house, unplug, and connect with each other. My child and my nephew live 3 hours apart, so these weeks are magical times for the cousins to spend quality time together, including sitting on the dock enjoying breakfast in their pajamas. 

As an organization, we are committed to all of our staff having time to unplug and connect with their families, friends, pets, and their own self-care needs. The work our advocates do every day to help survivors is emotionally taxing; secondary trauma and burnout are persistent challenges for our field. The WRC was excited to participate in the North American pilot of a 4-Day Workweek as one way to recruit, retain, and support the mental health of our staff. The results of the pilot are highlighted below. 

Ultimately, taking care of our staff in this way translates into better services for our clients. One staff member shared “the clients get to speak with someone who is not burnt out and is more helpful ultimately because of that.” Prioritizing our staff’s well-being is an extension of our commitment to providing high quality services to survivors in our community.  

In Solidarity,

Jessica Walsh

Executive Director

Continue reading Summer News & Updates