Unfortunately, where domestic violence is happening, mediation and couple’s counseling aren’t very helpful. However, the legal system isn’t always a safer option, either, especially for people who have experienced harm from the legal system. So if mediation, couple’s counseling, and the legal system aren’t options for someone, what else is left?

The survivor art exhibition is an annual event in which the experiences and realities of survivors of domestic violence are highlighted in the survivors’ own visual expressions.

Frequently asked questions about volunteering with Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center.

Back in 2021, Walnut Avenue published its support of Black Lives Matter, both as a principle and as a movement, along with seven commitments to action.

In honor of Juneteenth, we wanted to publish an update of where we are in those commitments since our last update.

More details about our summer potlucks for our program participants, happening on the First Friday of June, July, and August.

The survivor art exhibition is an annual event in which the experiences and realities of survivors of domestic violence are highlighted in the survivors’ own visual expressions.

Harmony’s personal story of domestic violence. Harmony is not a resident of Santa Cruz County.

Trigger warnings: sibling abuse; parental collusion with abusive sibling; scapegoating.

Part of our Survivor Voices project.

This year, our TDVAM theme is “I Draw the Line…” This theme asks young people what relationship behaviors from friends/partners they draw the line at.

This post isn’t going to address the wider phenomenon of contemporary radical feminism, although Dworkin’s work has been so influential to the shaping of contemporary radical feminist thought that it will necessarily come up. Instead, the purpose here is to acknowledge the personal complexities of Andrea Dworkin as a person while explaining why her legacy has caused harm to many of the marginalized survivors we support every day.

The survivors and families we serve must always come first in our priorities at Walnut Avenue.

C’s personal story of domestic violence. C is a resident of Santa Cruz County.

Trigger warnings: references to sexual abuse and gaslighting of a minor, childhood abuse, ableism.

Part of our Survivor Voices project.

While survivor safety is the highest priority in our work, it is still important to note that domestic violence affects more than just the person who chooses harm and the person who is harmed. It can affect anyone else living in the house, and it can even have a wider ripple effect. There is a lot of information about how to leave a violent relationship, but very little information on what to do if you find out that your friend is abusive.

Advocacy (n): the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal, including on behalf of the interests of a person or group of people.

Our community engagement coordinator and advocates are looking for some support in regards to social media!

Quick updates about Walnut Avenue and our volunteer programs for November 2021!

Creating change is more successful over the longterm when it involves utilising the skills, resources, and benefits you already have. You don’t need to change careers and become an advocate to be a support person for survivors. You don’t need to have a formal degree, a large income, or meet some other kind of standard to be an effective agent towards change. There is no one correct way to be part of the work towards social change.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the theme for #DVAM2021 is resiliency.

On January 22nd, Walnut Avenue published a statement regarding why it supports Black Lives Matter as well as seven commitments to action. Six months later, after the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder and as Black adults and children continue to experience violence, this is a preliminary report of the progress that our organization has made on those commitments so far.

During April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month, we take special care to promote the ways in which people throughout our local communities can build supportive networks and positive experiences for children of all genders, identities, and ages. Even though we can’t protect children from every negative experience without suffocating them in well-intentioned wool, we can recognize the ways in which child mistreatment is preventable and how children can work on healing from it when it does occur.

Youth advocates teamed up with local high school teachers and students to make a TDVAM art show!

For Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, youth advocates at Walnut Avenue connected with Santa Cruz High School art teachers and students to collaborate on an art project around healthy relationships. Trained youth advocates presented in several virtual classrooms around the county on the topic of healthy and unhealthy relationships.

From award-winning movies to popular chart-topping songs, the sentiment that “the kids are all right” has been a cliche repeated throughout generations. Teens have a perception placed on them that, because they’re young, life can’t be that bad. Just wait until you’re an adult. You have it so easy as a kid.

And yet, millions of children and teens in the United States alone experience dating violence at horrifying rates.