WOCN ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PUBLIC POLICY

WOCN is still accepting applications from individuals & organizations interested in being included in our upcoming Resource Guide Update. (Click on the pdf link below to obtain your forms) Women of Color Network Resource Guide Update The Women of Color Network will introduce the third edition of the WOCN Resource Guide in 2008. Since its inception in 1999, the Resource Guide has been a valuable publication, listing over 200 women of color advocates and activists and hundreds of culturally-specific programs across the country. It has also been used for networking, a vehicle to share resources among advocates, and a medium for advocates and organizations to showcase their work. The new WOCN Resource Guide will allow us to update current listings and include many new additions. If you are interested in updating your current listing(s) or would like to place a new listing, please fill out the Resource Guide forms and return to them WOCN. Forms for advocates and activists of color, as well as programs and organizations serving culturally and linguistically specific communities are available at: http://pubs.pcadv.net/wocn/wocnrguforms.pdf. For more information or to obtain forms, contact Jody Rogers, WOCN Administrative Assistant, at jr@pcadv.org or call 800-537-2238 ext. 142. Forms can be returned to the WOCN office via mail, fax, or email at: Women of Color Network 6400 Flank Drive, Suite 1300 Harrisburg, PA 17112 Fax: (717) 545-9456 Email: jr@pcadv.org

Statement created by WVCADV Women of Color Caucus and in partnership with Tonya Lovelace, WOCN Project Manager WEST VIRGINIA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WOMEN OF COLOR CAUCUS STATEMENT ON THE CASE OF MEGAN WILLIAMS October 1, 2007 We, the Women of Color Caucus of the West Virginia Coalition of Domestic Violence, stand in solidarity with allies and in partnership with Tonya Lovelace of the national Women of Color Network from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and issue this statement of concern for Megan Williams and outrage for the crimes committed against her person. Megan Williams, a resident of Charleston, West Virginia, was a victim of domestic and sexual violence as well as a victim of hate crimes based on race and gender. In addition, Megan is a victim of the criminal justice system, of the media and of the community at large, all of whom failed to acknowledge the fullness of her humanity as a woman of color, as a woman with a disability, and as a young woman who experienced extreme torture, dehumanization and gang rape. We are concerned that the criminal justice system failed her by bringing her case of bad checks into the media at the time of Megan’s initial recovery. While she may have some charges of her own to contend with, the timing of Megan’s public arraignment served only to downplay the violence she experienced and diverted attention away from the central issue of her surviving atrocious crimes perpetrated by offenders in callous disregard for her safety. Many women exposed to violence have criminal histories often accumulated as a result of being connected to an abusive partner. Megan’s victimization must remain central in the media as well as in the systems that claim to “serve and protect” her and other victims of violence. We as women of color and allies in West Virginia identify Megan as a survivor and as a woman who represents dozens of women of color who are mistreated, mishandled, disrespected and often dehumanized across this state and across the country. Violence against women of color is often viewed within the context of stereotypes held by police officers, attorneys, judges and even advocates. Women of color may express anger at the scene; may have little money; may have several children; and may fulfill every stereotype. But regardless of life circumstances, women of color deserve support, assistance, protection and fairness. We believe that the crimes committed against Megan are rooted in racism, sexism, and ableism. All women must be, heard, acknowledged and treated with dignity and respect by the criminal justice systems and all other systems seeking to address violence against women. Violence against women must be taken seriously or there will be more Megans who will suffer at the hands of others whose bias-motivated behaviors inflict great harm. As such, we are looking for accountability for those who hurt her, for due process, and for each and every person to evaluate themselves and see what each of us can do to make a difference and to see where we may have collectively failed Megan. We are calling upon each of you to take a stand on gender and racially motivated crime. We are calling for legal reform that recognizes the interplay of hateful gender and racial epithets uttered during the commission of violent crimes committed against those of protected classes. We are calling for the media to offer fair portrayals of victims and to be responsible in seeking multiple voices. We are calling for the criminal justice system as a whole to take violence against women seriously and to hold batterers accountable for their actions. We are calling for advocates to integrate violence against women of color and other marginalized groups into the heart of the work of creating safety in communities around the state and across the nation. We are calling for men to check male privilege and engage in the work of ending male violence against women. And finally, we call upon women of color and people of color to stand up, be heard, and offer support to Megan and her family. With all of us working together, we can bring the issue of violence against women and hate crimes to the forefront. We stand in solidarity with Megan Williams and support all efforts that respond with justice and accountability to the plight of victims brave enough to reveal their identity and their hope for change. For more information regarding this statement, please contact Kenyatta Grant at West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, (304) 965-3552. *This statement was developed by the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Women of Color Caucus and allies at the WV Summit on Violence Against Women and was read to conference participants.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT 2005 Enhancing Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault & Stalking WOCN Policy Position Statement: Defining and Prioritizing Culturally & Linguistically Specific Services Updated on April 7, 2007 The Women of Color Network (WOCN) is a national project that addresses a broad range of violence affecting communities of color – from domestic violence and sexual assault to human trafficking and police brutality. In addition, WOCN examines federal, state, local and tribal policies with a priority around race, ethnicity and language access as it affects those of African/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latin/Hispanic, and Native/Alaskan Native descent. Therefore, WOCN’s approach is based upon intersections across and among diverse communities of color. WOCN seeks not to perpetuate the fragmentation and discord among individuals of color and/or their communities and families, but works to encourage dialogue and to foster approaches that reach across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Finally, WOCN promotes the development and stability of culturally and linguistically specific services that have been historically marginalized and restricted in opportunity to apply and compete for funding. However, there is also an understanding and recognition that people of color are not monolithic; they are and should be self-defined and will seek services based upon their own needs, concerns, and points of contact. Background: The Violence Against Women Act 2005 (VAWA 2005) was reauthorized on January 5th, 2006, and its passage into law signified a crucial step toward eradicating gender-based violence against women of color. Prior to the signing of VAWA 2005, many organizations failed to adequately address the needs communities of color. Organizations often lacked cultural competent staff and services or community-based programs lacked the resources and monies to serve their communities. As a result, women of color vulnerable to violence were unable to access intervention, prevention, and support services that addressed the victims and perpetrators diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic class, religious, sexual orientation, and immigrant background. VAWA 2005 includes a new provision that speaks directly to communities of color in Title I, Section 121, a new program entitled “Enhancing Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking”. Listed below are the eligible parties for this program as written in statute: 1. Community-based programs whose primary purpose is providing culturally and linguistically specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. 2. Community-based programs whose primary purpose is providing culturally and linguistically specific services who can partner with a program having demonstrated expertise in serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. WOCN, a Woman of Color led project responding to the complex and unique challenges in communities of color, is committed to supporting first priority funding under Title I, Section 121 be appropriated to those community-based programs that work directly with their own communities. In addition, WOCN also encourages a secondary and tertiary priority to those organizations that exist which there are staff, services, and a proven history of being a part of, serving and taking direction from communities of color. WOCN urges the following priorities for the eligibility of funding under Title I, Section 121: FIRST PRIORITY is for culturally and linguistically specific community-based organizations that work directly within their own communities to develop or maintain outreach and victims services addressing violence against women. SECOND PRIORITY should be designated for organizations that have demonstrated expertise in and have a specially designed culturally and linguistically specific program approach addressing victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking . Therefore, organizations that show a strong commitment to culturally and linguistically specific services that is reflected in the organization’s mission statement, staff diversity, board or advisory committee, service approaches, resources, outreach materials, and training and technical assistance, or demonstrate some combination of those strong characteristics, would fall under this priority. THIRD PRIORITY should be designated for organizations that address and provide services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking within historically marginalized communities, including the LGTBQ or disabled community, and have staff, mission, advisory and/or boards, and service approaches that are connected to and take direction from communities of color. This specifically recognizes that some women of color victims of violence who are also representative of other marginalized communities (i.e., African-American lesbian or Asian transwoman) may feel more comfortable or find these programs more accessible and accommodating while directly meeting their needs as persons of color. CONTACT US: For any questions about WOCN’s position on culturally and linguistically specific services with VAWA 2005, contact Angela Sutton at 800-537-2238, ext 137, or email at as@pcadv.org. Visit our website at http://womenofcolornetwork.org. WOCN is a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

Disclaimer – WOCN is currently federally funded and does not engage in lobbying practices. However, we will forward information that is relevant concerning time sensitive policy and legislation issues affecting communities of color and violence against women, and we encourage you to contact those listed below for further information. Angela Sutton WOCN Project Coordinator FY 2008 APPROPRIATIONS BRIEFING BOOK A newly updated FY 2008 Appropriations Briefing Book is now available. Please make sure to obtain the revised version at: http://www.nnedv.org/pdf/BriefingBook08.pdf or contact Lucy Melvin Public Policy Specialist National Network to End Domestic Violence 660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Suite 303 Washington, DC 20003 phone: 202-543-5566 fax: 202-543-5626 www.nnedv.org

WOCN is a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence