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Thank you to the Meyer Memorial Trust for funding this website.
Thank you to the Portland Women’s Foundation for their continued support of PWCL’s Bridge Fund to provide emergency housing vouchers to survivors!
Thanks for coming to check out our blog. Please note that all posts are from PWCL members and are opinion pieces. We do not claim to be reporters. We will try to represent details in our articles to the best of our ability.
Thanks for joining us and happy reading!
Thanks for coming to check out our blog. Please note that all posts are from PWCL members and are opinion pieces. We do not claim to be reporters. We will try to represent details in our articles to the best of our ability.
Thanks for joining us and happy reading!
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2010
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN KROGER HIRES EXPERT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTOR
Erin Greenawald brings more than a decade of experience prosecuting domestic violence
Attorney General John Kroger today announced the hiring of prosecutor Erin Greenawald to lead the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat domestic violence.
“Erin Greenawald has prosecuted domestic violence for more than a decade. She brings just the type of experience we need at the Department of Justice,” said Attorney General Kroger. “There is an overwhelming need for state and local agencies to work together to prevent domestic violence homicides. The Department of Justice recognizes this need and its importance by the creation and support of a new Domestic Violence Prosecutor’s position.”
Domestic violence homicides in Oregon are up significantly by historic standards, with at least 22 in 2009 and 9 so far this year. By contrast, there was an average of 18 domestic violence homicides a year from 1997 to 2003, according to a Department of Human Services study.
Erin Greenawald fills a new position at the Department of Justice that is modeled on DOJ’s very successful coordinated statewide approach to DUII. Greenwald will increase the capacity of Oregon’s criminal justice system to stop domestic violence by providing training, technical assistance and legal expertise to prosecutors, police officers, sheriffs and service providers. She will also assist local district attorneys in the prosecution of complex cases. Greenawald will be responsible for developing training materials, best-practice policies and other publications to improve the identification, investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
Greenawald, a graduate of Willamette University College of Law, has worked since 1999 as a domestic violence prosecutor, first inMarion and then in Yamhill counties. She has also worked on county Domestic Violence Task Forces and a Multi-disciplinary Child Abuse Assessment Team.
Greenawald’s position is funded by a federal STOP Violence Against Women Act grant obtained by the Oregon Department of Justice.
Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department’s mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2010
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN KROGER HIRES EXPERT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTOR
Erin Greenawald brings more than a decade of experience prosecuting domestic violence
Attorney General John Kroger today announced the hiring of prosecutor Erin Greenawald to lead the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat domestic violence.
“Erin Greenawald has prosecuted domestic violence for more than a decade. She brings just the type of experience we need at the Department of Justice,” said Attorney General Kroger. “There is an overwhelming need for state and local agencies to work together to prevent domestic violence homicides. The Department of Justice recognizes this need and its importance by the creation and support of a new Domestic Violence Prosecutor’s position.”
Domestic violence homicides in Oregon are up significantly by historic standards, with at least 22 in 2009 and 9 so far this year. By contrast, there was an average of 18 domestic violence homicides a year from 1997 to 2003, according to a Department of Human Services study.
Erin Greenawald fills a new position at the Department of Justice that is modeled on DOJ’s very successful coordinated statewide approach to DUII. Greenwald will increase the capacity of Oregon’s criminal justice system to stop domestic violence by providing training, technical assistance and legal expertise to prosecutors, police officers, sheriffs and service providers. She will also assist local district attorneys in the prosecution of complex cases. Greenawald will be responsible for developing training materials, best-practice policies and other publications to improve the identification, investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
Greenawald, a graduate of Willamette University College of Law, has worked since 1999 as a domestic violence prosecutor, first inMarion and then in Yamhill counties. She has also worked on county Domestic Violence Task Forces and a Multi-disciplinary Child Abuse Assessment Team.
Greenawald’s position is funded by a federal STOP Violence Against Women Act grant obtained by the Oregon Department of Justice.
Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department’s mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.
0 Comment | ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN KROGER HIRES EXPERT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTOR | Post a Comment
Do you use Google’s Gmail? With the release of Google Buzz this week, the people you frequently e-mail or chat with are automatically published to your public Google Profile.
Just to be clear: the names of people you frequently communicate with via Gmail or Google Talk may be published for all the world to see.
Here’s one example of why this is so bad. A DV survivor has her activity exposed to her abusive ex: http://fugitivus.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/fuck-you-google/.
Here’s detailed information on what Google is doing and how to disable it: http://www.businessinsider.com/warning-google-buzz-has-a-huge-privacy-flaw-2010-2. Unfortunately, disabling it is complicated and confusing.
I rely very heavily on Google tools. Every single e-mail account I have - both personal and professional - is routed to a Gmail mailbox. Google is an extremely generous organization that spends millions of dollars every year to help make the world a better place. The Google employees I know personally are all good trustworthy people. Which is why this gross breach of privacy is so shocking. Instead of defaulting to having users opt-in to exposing their activity, Google Buzz has violated their mantra of “don’t be evil” and done a great deal of harm.
Google: please change the default behavior for exposing personal information to “opt-in”.
Do you use Google’s Gmail? With the release of Google Buzz this week, the people you frequently e-mail or chat with are automatically published to your public Google Profile.
Just to be clear: the names of people you frequently communicate with via Gmail or Google Talk may be published for all the world to see.
Here’s one example of why this is so bad. A DV survivor has her activity exposed to her abusive ex: http://fugitivus.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/fuck-you-google/.
Here’s detailed information on what Google is doing and how to disable it: http://www.businessinsider.com/warning-google-buzz-has-a-huge-privacy-flaw-2010-2. Unfortunately, disabling it is complicated and confusing.
I rely very heavily on Google tools. Every single e-mail account I have - both personal and professional - is routed to a Gmail mailbox. Google is an extremely generous organization that spends millions of dollars every year to help make the world a better place. The Google employees I know personally are all good trustworthy people. Which is why this gross breach of privacy is so shocking. Instead of defaulting to having users opt-in to exposing their activity, Google Buzz has violated their mantra of “don’t be evil” and done a great deal of harm.
Google: please change the default behavior for exposing personal information to “opt-in”.
3 Comments | Massive Google Privacy Flaw | Post a Comment
This is making me reconsider voting the party line no matter the circumstances. Apparently 8 democrats (including the offender himself, of course) voted against expelling NY state Senator Hiram Monserrate after he was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend. He slashed her face with glass and was videotaped dragging her by her hair through their apartment building’s lobby. For 7 democrats this wasn’t enough to warrant Monserrate’s expulsion from the Senate . 53 Senators voted to expel him, but still that number 8 rang in my head when I read the headline. How could anybody make light of what he did? I’m sickened…
This is making me reconsider voting the party line no matter the circumstances. Apparently 8 democrats (including the offender himself, of course) voted against expelling NY state Senator Hiram Monserrate after he was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend. He slashed her face with glass and was videotaped dragging her by her hair through their apartment building’s lobby. For 7 democrats this wasn’t enough to warrant Monserrate’s expulsion from the Senate . 53 Senators voted to expel him, but still that number 8 rang in my head when I read the headline. How could anybody make light of what he did? I’m sickened…
0 Comment | A sad day for Democrats | Post a Comment
I don’t know about you, but I remember high school with vivid clarity even though I graduated what seems like a million years ago. Drama club, Choir, Colorguard, boys…sigh. High School was fun. One of my favorite months of the year was February because of Valentine’s Day. Being the hopeless romantic that I always have been, I looked forward to it with a passion. I couldn’t wait to see if I’d get roses from a secret admirer or be asked out by my secret crush- the biggest nerd in the drama club.
Call me naive, but dating in high school seemed very innocent. I was a “good girl,” but still I didn’t know many girls at all who had gone all the way with their boyfriends or even had a serious boyfriend at all. It seemed like we were all just trying to get our first kiss. We hadn’t even imagined anything bigger than that.
Honestly, I was probably rather sheltered. It could be argued that teenage sexuality has become less restrained over the last 11 years, but I don’t pretend to believe now that none of my friends were experimenting with more adult forms of relationships. Perhaps because I was so sheltered, I don’t recall ever talking with my parents about dating violence. Maybe if I had known about it I could have noticed the signs earlier when I did actually get into an abusive relationship shortly after high school. I don’t blame my parents at all. They were probably operating on the same belief that I was- high school relationships are not very serious.
Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Whether or not more girls than ever before are getting into relationships, they are definitely serious. According to the , “1 in 4 teen girls in a relationship report enduring repeated verbal abuse” and “1 in 3 teens report being text messaged 10, 30, 40 times per hour by a partner inquiring where they are, what they are doing or who they are with.” These are definitely hallmarks of mental, emotional and verbal abuse. I would hasten to say that teenagers know that it is wrong to be hit by your partner, but we don’t necessarily know the early warning signs like possessive jealousy or cruel joking. Dating violence usually starts this way whether you are a teenager or an adult. Most often he won’t punch you on your first date. It is more difficult than many people know to escape once it has gone so far.
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and now Valentine’s Day takes on a whole new meaning for me. You can bet I’ll be talking with the young girl that I mentor about the warning signs as well as about what she can do to help her friends to learn about this important issue. Will you also commit to talking with any teenagers in your life?
Until we have mandatory healthy relationships classes in every high school,
Abby
I don’t know about you, but I remember high school with vivid clarity even though I graduated what seems like a million years ago. Drama club, Choir, Colorguard, boys…sigh. High School was fun. One of my favorite months of the year was February because of Valentine’s Day. Being the hopeless romantic that I always have been, I looked forward to it with a passion. I couldn’t wait to see if I’d get roses from a secret admirer or be asked out by my secret crush- the biggest nerd in the drama club.
Call me naive, but dating in high school seemed very innocent. I was a “good girl,” but still I didn’t know many girls at all who had gone all the way with their boyfriends or even had a serious boyfriend at all. It seemed like we were all just trying to get our first kiss. We hadn’t even imagined anything bigger than that.
Honestly, I was probably rather sheltered. It could be argued that teenage sexuality has become less restrained over the last 11 years, but I don’t pretend to believe now that none of my friends were experimenting with more adult forms of relationships. Perhaps because I was so sheltered, I don’t recall ever talking with my parents about dating violence. Maybe if I had known about it I could have noticed the signs earlier when I did actually get into an abusive relationship shortly after high school. I don’t blame my parents at all. They were probably operating on the same belief that I was- high school relationships are not very serious.
Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Whether or not more girls than ever before are getting into relationships, they are definitely serious. According to the , “1 in 4 teen girls in a relationship report enduring repeated verbal abuse” and “1 in 3 teens report being text messaged 10, 30, 40 times per hour by a partner inquiring where they are, what they are doing or who they are with.” These are definitely hallmarks of mental, emotional and verbal abuse. I would hasten to say that teenagers know that it is wrong to be hit by your partner, but we don’t necessarily know the early warning signs like possessive jealousy or cruel joking. Dating violence usually starts this way whether you are a teenager or an adult. Most often he won’t punch you on your first date. It is more difficult than many people know to escape once it has gone so far.
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and now Valentine’s Day takes on a whole new meaning for me. You can bet I’ll be talking with the young girl that I mentor about the warning signs as well as about what she can do to help her friends to learn about this important issue. Will you also commit to talking with any teenagers in your life?
Until we have mandatory healthy relationships classes in every high school,
Abby
0 Comment | National Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month | Post a Comment
Have you ever wondered why so many survivors hesitate to involve the “justice” system after an assault? Read on.
~Abby
P.S. I agree with the first commenter. Anna Sachse should receive an award for her article. While reading it, I kept thinking about how fantastic it was that she spoke up about her experience and is challenging the system in a way that she is able to- through her writing. I actually do this as well, both through this blog and other media. In what ways might you use your skills to challenge injustice and change the world? We would love to hear from you!
Have you ever wondered why so many survivors hesitate to involve the “justice” system after an assault? Read on.
~Abby
P.S. I agree with the first commenter. Anna Sachse should receive an award for her article. While reading it, I kept thinking about how fantastic it was that she spoke up about her experience and is challenging the system in a way that she is able to- through her writing. I actually do this as well, both through this blog and other media. In what ways might you use your skills to challenge injustice and change the world? We would love to hear from you!
0 Comment | Call of Duty | Post a Comment
Going to the Blazers game tonight?
Don’t forget to bring your used
cell phones and accessories.
Your donation helps prevent domestic
violence in our community. Pass an
assist to HopeLine and earn a 20%
discount coupon redeemable at the
Trail Blazers Fan Shop.
Where & When
Rose Quarter
1 N Center Court St.
Portland, OR, 97227
January 27th, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Going to the Blazers game tonight?
Don’t forget to bring your used
cell phones and accessories.
Your donation helps prevent domestic
violence in our community. Pass an
assist to HopeLine and earn a 20%
discount coupon redeemable at the
Trail Blazers Fan Shop.
Where & When
Rose Quarter
1 N Center Court St.
Portland, OR, 97227
January 27th, 2010
7:00 p.m.
0 Comment | Bring your old cell phone to the Blazers vs. Jazz game tonight! | Post a Comment
I was feeling fairly laid back the day after Christmas, until I came across this headline while perusing People.com: Charlie Sheen Arrested for Domestic Violence. Honestly, I hear about this kind of thing so often that I’m a bit immune to it, but I was absolutely disgusted this time by how People magazine managed (and is continuing to manage) the dissemination of information surrounding this case.
First of all, it jumped out to me that he was arrested on Christmas morning at 11:20 am. That fact alone set my cheeks ablaze with rage. How dare he hit his wife on Christmas?!? Really, domestic violence is wrong any day, but it feels especially vile to me on Christmas morning. Personal rant aside, I continued to read that he was booked on second degree assault, with no mention whatsoever of what this entails. I did some Google sleuthing and came across some information on the website for Colorado Attorney Kevin Churchill (he was booked in Aspen, as he and his family were vacationing there for the holidays). In addition to explaining the exact wording used by Colorado lawmakers when determining the difference between first and second degree assault, “intentionally” caus(ing) bodily injury to another by means of a deadly weapon,” Churchill provides his own clarification for the above legalese. He says, If there was “Heat of Passion,” in other words, you were provoked by the person into committing the assault, then the DA may choose to file the Second Degree Assault as a Class Six Felony, instead of a Class Four, thereby reducing the possible penalties” (emphasis author’s own). Really? Why am I so surprised? Of course a lawyer would repeat the same vomit inducing beliefs of the court. We don’t know yet whether or not Charlie Sheen will be booked on a class six or class four felony, but we do know that according to family friends who were with the couple the night before, both parties were drinking. I want to ask ‘so what,’ but I know this is all it could take for them to reduce his charge. Gross.
Further, the author of this story on People’s website called the abusive incident a “scuffle.” How is assault with a deadly weapon a scuffle? It’s not, plain and simple. Talking to my coworker about this, she brought up a very valid point. Whether he had the gun pointed at her head or the knife at her throat or if he was doing something else with the weapon to cause her injury, it was intended to threaten death. Which brings me to another point; the next story on People’s website read like this, “Charlie Sheen and Wife to Undergo Counseling.” NOoooooooo!!! You do not undergo couple’s counseling when you are experiencing domestic violence! This is so basic; domestic violence is not about losing control of emotions. It is about power and control and set up. He planned this- he set it up. A man does not just keep a gun around and then randomly hit you with it when he loses his temper. He had that gun there on purpose so he could threaten her. I know this is truth with every fiber of my being.
Ugh. At least Sheen has returned to Los Angeles while Mueller has stayed in Aspen. No formal charges have been filed yet, but they are apart. I wish that were the end, but true to form, People delivered once more. In a story posted two days ago, Michael Y. Park captioned a photo shown of Brooke Mueller walking to her car in Aspen with the following vitriol “Oh the weather outside is frightful…but a post-holiday outing in Aspen, CO., is delightful for Brooke Mueller- even after her husband was arrested following an alleged domestic violence incident on Christmas day. Prancing through the posh resort town, Mueller, 32, sported…a big grin that belied the family dispute that spoiled Christmas just days before.” Really? You think she was “prancing?” WTF?! And p.s. So what if she was? Obviously we need to know two things; A. Brooke is who we should be watching at this point and B. How dare she slip a smile after her husband beat her up? Maybe she lied about the whole thing. That is the subtext. Am I right or am I right?
Even though the way this was handled so very precisely models everything that we learn about DV 101 and the culture we live in that perpetuates it, it still pissed me off so bad. I feel angry and helpless- I mean, I don’t buy People magazine and I don’t think many people that read this blog probably do. What impact can we make by pulling our money? We could write letters to the editor and I would suggest we do that. Also, if you live in Colorado, please never consider using Kevin Churchill as your lawyer. More than just putting this bandage on the situation, however, I hope it motivates us to continue educating each other about what domestic violence looks like. We need to stop fooling ourselves through tricks of language and photo-ops. This asshole beat up a woman, his wife, with a deadly weapon. We can’t polish that up and make it pretty again. And despite how ugly it looks, we also need to be brave and educate the young women in our lives. Whether you have a blog that reaches teenage girls or you mentor young women, or you have teenagers of your own, please show them these stories and explain what happened and why it is wrong. Tell them the warning signs to look for, tell them they have services they can access and above all, believe them when they disclose. A listening ear does more to empower than you might realize. Together, we can take steps to prevent this from happening to more young women. It might seem an insurmountable problem now, but take it from this survivor- it isn’t.
I was feeling fairly laid back the day after Christmas, until I came across this headline while perusing People.com: Charlie Sheen Arrested for Domestic Violence. Honestly, I hear about this kind of thing so often that I’m a bit immune to it, but I was absolutely disgusted this time by how People magazine managed (and is continuing to manage) the dissemination of information surrounding this case.
First of all, it jumped out to me that he was arrested on Christmas morning at 11:20 am. That fact alone set my cheeks ablaze with rage. How dare he hit his wife on Christmas?!? Really, domestic violence is wrong any day, but it feels especially vile to me on Christmas morning. Personal rant aside, I continued to read that he was booked on second degree assault, with no mention whatsoever of what this entails. I did some Google sleuthing and came across some information on the website for Colorado Attorney Kevin Churchill (he was booked in Aspen, as he and his family were vacationing there for the holidays). In addition to explaining the exact wording used by Colorado lawmakers when determining the difference between first and second degree assault, “intentionally” caus(ing) bodily injury to another by means of a deadly weapon,” Churchill provides his own clarification for the above legalese. He says, If there was “Heat of Passion,” in other words, you were provoked by the person into committing the assault, then the DA may choose to file the Second Degree Assault as a Class Six Felony, instead of a Class Four, thereby reducing the possible penalties” (emphasis author’s own). Really? Why am I so surprised? Of course a lawyer would repeat the same vomit inducing beliefs of the court. We don’t know yet whether or not Charlie Sheen will be booked on a class six or class four felony, but we do know that according to family friends who were with the couple the night before, both parties were drinking. I want to ask ‘so what,’ but I know this is all it could take for them to reduce his charge. Gross.
Further, the author of this story on People’s website called the abusive incident a “scuffle.” How is assault with a deadly weapon a scuffle? It’s not, plain and simple. Talking to my coworker about this, she brought up a very valid point. Whether he had the gun pointed at her head or the knife at her throat or if he was doing something else with the weapon to cause her injury, it was intended to threaten death. Which brings me to another point; the next story on People’s website read like this, “Charlie Sheen and Wife to Undergo Counseling.” NOoooooooo!!! You do not undergo couple’s counseling when you are experiencing domestic violence! This is so basic; domestic violence is not about losing control of emotions. It is about power and control and set up. He planned this- he set it up. A man does not just keep a gun around and then randomly hit you with it when he loses his temper. He had that gun there on purpose so he could threaten her. I know this is truth with every fiber of my being.
Ugh. At least Sheen has returned to Los Angeles while Mueller has stayed in Aspen. No formal charges have been filed yet, but they are apart. I wish that were the end, but true to form, People delivered once more. In a story posted two days ago, Michael Y. Park captioned a photo shown of Brooke Mueller walking to her car in Aspen with the following vitriol “Oh the weather outside is frightful…but a post-holiday outing in Aspen, CO., is delightful for Brooke Mueller- even after her husband was arrested following an alleged domestic violence incident on Christmas day. Prancing through the posh resort town, Mueller, 32, sported…a big grin that belied the family dispute that spoiled Christmas just days before.” Really? You think she was “prancing?” WTF?! And p.s. So what if she was? Obviously we need to know two things; A. Brooke is who we should be watching at this point and B. How dare she slip a smile after her husband beat her up? Maybe she lied about the whole thing. That is the subtext. Am I right or am I right?
Even though the way this was handled so very precisely models everything that we learn about DV 101 and the culture we live in that perpetuates it, it still pissed me off so bad. I feel angry and helpless- I mean, I don’t buy People magazine and I don’t think many people that read this blog probably do. What impact can we make by pulling our money? We could write letters to the editor and I would suggest we do that. Also, if you live in Colorado, please never consider using Kevin Churchill as your lawyer. More than just putting this bandage on the situation, however, I hope it motivates us to continue educating each other about what domestic violence looks like. We need to stop fooling ourselves through tricks of language and photo-ops. This asshole beat up a woman, his wife, with a deadly weapon. We can’t polish that up and make it pretty again. And despite how ugly it looks, we also need to be brave and educate the young women in our lives. Whether you have a blog that reaches teenage girls or you mentor young women, or you have teenagers of your own, please show them these stories and explain what happened and why it is wrong. Tell them the warning signs to look for, tell them they have services they can access and above all, believe them when they disclose. A listening ear does more to empower than you might realize. Together, we can take steps to prevent this from happening to more young women. It might seem an insurmountable problem now, but take it from this survivor- it isn’t.
6 Comments | Media Framing of Domestic Violence | Post a Comment
In thinking about what to post this week, I stumbled on the latest clip from one of the most gentle agitators speaking out about racism, hip-hop, and Roman Polanski (among many other things) that I’ve ever listened to - Jay Smooth. This is his take on the holiday season.
So once you’ve watched the video, take a moment to think about the people in our community who may not be having a “happy holiday” at all. They could be survivors of violence who have left their homes and communities to find safety, families without a home, people without family or friends to offer comfort, people whose beliefs do not involve a tree or a large man in a red suit or maybe just the individuals who can’t or won’t buy into traditions that have been commercialized until all meaning is lost.
Take a minute and, like Jay Smooth, try to see those people too. And if you are one of the people whose holidays this year are less than stellar, you are most certainly not alone.
Happy holidays (*wink*) and, with genuine hope for social change, let’s wish peace and safety in the New Year for all.
In thinking about what to post this week, I stumbled on the latest clip from one of the most gentle agitators speaking out about racism, hip-hop, and Roman Polanski (among many other things) that I’ve ever listened to - Jay Smooth. This is his take on the holiday season.
So once you’ve watched the video, take a moment to think about the people in our community who may not be having a “happy holiday” at all. They could be survivors of violence who have left their homes and communities to find safety, families without a home, people without family or friends to offer comfort, people whose beliefs do not involve a tree or a large man in a red suit or maybe just the individuals who can’t or won’t buy into traditions that have been commercialized until all meaning is lost.
Take a minute and, like Jay Smooth, try to see those people too. And if you are one of the people whose holidays this year are less than stellar, you are most certainly not alone.
Happy holidays (*wink*) and, with genuine hope for social change, let’s wish peace and safety in the New Year for all.
0 Comment | Holidays and Humbug | Post a Comment
As part of a new effort to help you get to know the wonderful folks at PWCL, I would like to introduce you to Crystal, a Direct Service Specialist in the Sexual Assault Program and the energy behind PWCL’s Sex Worker Outreach Project. Crystal was kind enough to share a few minutes with me so I could introduce her to the PWCL blog world. Bloggers, say hello to Crystal!
Kelsey: Who are you, anyway? What do you do at PWCL?
Crystal: I am a Direct Service Specialist in the Sexual Assault Program and I provide advocacy to sexual assault survivors as well as outreach and advocacy to individuals working in the commercial sex industry.
K: Why do you like your job?
C: I love my job! I especially enjoy connecting with other women and survivors and being able to just be there for them - to listen and offer support that they may not get from anyone else in their lives. I have also really enjoyed the relationships I have built with sex workers. These women are strong, intelligent, resilient people who have shared some of the most intimate details of their lives with me.
K: What is something people wouldn’t necessarily know about your job duties? Give me the dirt.
C: One thing people may not know about my job is that I carry a box of condoms and lube around in my car at all times - for outreach.
K: That sounds like a definite perk of the job, and probably makes for interesting conversation if you get help out at the grocery store. What is your favorite way to practice self-care and relax when you’re not working?
C: For self-care I love taking long hot baths and watching old episodes of Highlander, the series.
K: Highlander, huh? Tell us something else unusual about yourself that you don’t mind sharing with the internet community.
C: I love shopping for temporary dinosaur tattoos at the Dollar Scholar on Hawthorne! It is great fun reenacting prehistoric scenes on my body - another self-care activity of mine.
Thanks for taking some time out to share your deepest, darkest secrets, Crystal. It is great to be able to put a face to the work that is being done, and I hope to continue this with a featured staff or volunteer every month. Keep your eyes peeled for new personalities.
Did you know that this Thursday, December 17th is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers? Did you also know that all week PWCL, in collaboration with the Sex Worker Outreach Coalition, is hosting a film festival of movies related to the sex industry? Today we screened Highway Courtesans at In Other Words Books (Thanks, In Other Words!) and we will be screening Outlaw Poverty, Not Prostitutes tomorrow at 7pm at the Q Center (4115 N Mississippi Ave.). On Thursday, we will screen Live Nude Girls Unite at the Red & Black Cafe (400 SE 12th). Don’t miss out on these opportunities to get more familiar with the issues surrounding the commercial sex industry. Hey, you may even have a chance to chat up with Crystal and ask her about her fake tattoo habits.
See you there!
As part of a new effort to help you get to know the wonderful folks at PWCL, I would like to introduce you to Crystal, a Direct Service Specialist in the Sexual Assault Program and the energy behind PWCL’s Sex Worker Outreach Project. Crystal was kind enough to share a few minutes with me so I could introduce her to the PWCL blog world. Bloggers, say hello to Crystal!
Kelsey: Who are you, anyway? What do you do at PWCL?
Crystal: I am a Direct Service Specialist in the Sexual Assault Program and I provide advocacy to sexual assault survivors as well as outreach and advocacy to individuals working in the commercial sex industry.
K: Why do you like your job?
C: I love my job! I especially enjoy connecting with other women and survivors and being able to just be there for them - to listen and offer support that they may not get from anyone else in their lives. I have also really enjoyed the relationships I have built with sex workers. These women are strong, intelligent, resilient people who have shared some of the most intimate details of their lives with me.
K: What is something people wouldn’t necessarily know about your job duties? Give me the dirt.
C: One thing people may not know about my job is that I carry a box of condoms and lube around in my car at all times - for outreach.
K: That sounds like a definite perk of the job, and probably makes for interesting conversation if you get help out at the grocery store. What is your favorite way to practice self-care and relax when you’re not working?
C: For self-care I love taking long hot baths and watching old episodes of Highlander, the series.
K: Highlander, huh? Tell us something else unusual about yourself that you don’t mind sharing with the internet community.
C: I love shopping for temporary dinosaur tattoos at the Dollar Scholar on Hawthorne! It is great fun reenacting prehistoric scenes on my body - another self-care activity of mine.
Thanks for taking some time out to share your deepest, darkest secrets, Crystal. It is great to be able to put a face to the work that is being done, and I hope to continue this with a featured staff or volunteer every month. Keep your eyes peeled for new personalities.
Did you know that this Thursday, December 17th is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers? Did you also know that all week PWCL, in collaboration with the Sex Worker Outreach Coalition, is hosting a film festival of movies related to the sex industry? Today we screened Highway Courtesans at In Other Words Books (Thanks, In Other Words!) and we will be screening Outlaw Poverty, Not Prostitutes tomorrow at 7pm at the Q Center (4115 N Mississippi Ave.). On Thursday, we will screen Live Nude Girls Unite at the Red & Black Cafe (400 SE 12th). Don’t miss out on these opportunities to get more familiar with the issues surrounding the commercial sex industry. Hey, you may even have a chance to chat up with Crystal and ask her about her fake tattoo habits.
See you there!
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