JDI awarded the 2021 Economic Empowerment grants totaling $10,000 to 10 sexual and domestic violence programs on behalf of 11 survivors from across the Commonwealth. The grants reflect the resilience, creativity, and dedication of survivors. Scroll down to read their stories.
Since 2012, JDI has distributed 106 grants totaling $89,533 in Massachusetts to demonstrate how a small investment of cash can result in enormous positive change in the lives of survivors and their families. Funding for these grants was made possible with support from The Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse program.
WHY IT MATTERS: Victims of sexual and domestic violence experience many hardships when it comes to economic stability and independence. A frequent aspect of domestic violence occurs in the form of financial abuse, which can result in ruined credit scores, an inability to pay for training and education, and limited experience managing finances. Additionally, survivors who experience sexual assault or stalking while in high school and college are more likely to drop out and have difficulty completing coursework, disrupting their educational plans and impacting their long-term earning potential. With such formidable barriers in place, it is paramount for survivors to have access to resources and support in order to establish financial stability and gain autonomy over their decisions, careers, and passions — economically and otherwise.
“Buenos dias. Quiero compartir con todos mi felicidad ya que pude obtener este gran premio que me va ayudar alcanzar parte de mis metas. Gracias a todos los que hicieron esto posible.” – Survivor
“Thank you for the opportunity to become an EMT. I hope to complete my certification in the next few months. I am particularly excited to help women and children utilizing my new skills. As a survivor of abuse, I hope to share information about trauma and survivor needs with my fellow first responders. I am eager to gain financial stability and more independence and I am excited to do all that while doing something I enjoy.” – Survivor
GET INSPIRED: Debra J. Robbin, Jane Doe Inc.’s Executive Director, said, “We have been inspired by the ways in which these modest grants have enabled so many survivors of sexual and domestic violence to advance their goals and dreams. These funds have fostered economic independence in the areas of education, healthcare, therapy, and entrepreneurship, and we are thrilled to support the resilience of survivors.”
Through providing survivors these grants, Jane Doe Inc. and The Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse program make an investment in survivors’ futures and provide them with another tool to aid in the meaningful transition to independence and empowerment.
Mary McDermott of the Allstate Insurance Company noted, “We are proud to partner with Jane Doe Inc. to support them and their member programs who provide financial education, job-training and work-readiness programs for survivors of sexual and domestic violence in Massachusetts.”
GRANT RECIPIENTS:
Please note that unless the survivor wished otherwise, JDI has opted to use the singular pronoun “they” in order to protect the identity of the survivor, not because the survivor uses a gender-neutral pronoun. Click on the image below to open full size.
Smells Like Success
After having to flee for the safety of their child and themself, this survivor was unable to continue to run their business of selling scented candles on Etsy. However, with this grant, they can purchase a laptop as well as materials for their candles and resources for the shop. Now, they will be able to reopen their business and promote their candles again, providing economic stability for them and their child.
The Masterful Medic
Even after immigrating to the US to escape an abusive relationship, this survivor and their child still experienced violence from their abuser. Now living in a shelter to feel safe from their abuser, this survivor will use this grant to take English classes and use their medical degree from their home country to eventually work in the medical field. This boost, combined with their perseverance, will help this survivor find a life of independence and stability for both themself and their children.
Healing Together
Having suffered from domestic violence, this survivor hopes to create a safe space for other survivors in the form of a studio for health coaching, trauma-informed yoga teaching, and reiki healings. With support from this grant to fund their training and certification classes, this survivor is blazing their own path and using their voice to help other survivors as well as support themself and their three young children.
Learning to Help
After immigrating to the US with a college degree in social work and experience as a social worker, this survivor experienced an abusive relationship. After obtaining a restraining order against their abuser and custody of their child, they went out in search of job opportunities. To become a licensed social worker in the US, this survivor will use the grant to take summer courses and improve their English, giving them the opportunity to find economic stability for them and their child.
Tech Check
Having escaped domestic violence and immigrating to the US with their parent and sibling last year, this survivor is using the grant to purchase a personal laptop to use as they pursue higher education. After a year of remote learning, they found they were greatly in need of a personal computer, and now having it will assist them in their journey through college and into employment and financial independence.
Student, Worker, and Parent, Oh My!
A perseverant single parent, this survivor has a child in daycare, works 30 hours a week, and goes to school full-time. They are using this grant to cover the costs of their textbooks, and now with this support, they can finish school next year with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. With this degree, this survivor has great potential to get a higher paying job, which will help them support their family and continue on a path of financial stability.
Nailing it!
A hardworking parent of two, this survivor will use this grant to fund their training as an esthetician. This training, coupled with the survivor’s nail license and experience working at a nail salon, will give the survivor the opportunity they need to improve their family’s life and budget for their children’s future.
Paying it Forward
Though they’ve suffered from medical issues, this survivor has dreams of becoming a counselor for young adult transgender and genderqueer survivors, giving them support to express themselves and their identities to the fullest extent. With this grant, this resilient survivor can take courses to become accredited in professional skills to build community with clients. This boost will help this survivor to make crucial connections with others in the industry and eventually get hired for their dream job.
Crafting a New Future
With this survivor’s determination and flair for sewing and art, she hopes to create a craft business that can support her and her family better than her current low-paying job. She works late into the night making handbags, napkins, vases, and paintings that she hopes to sell at the local farmers’ market. With help from the grant to cover the costs of equipment and a table at the market, she hopes to build a strong reputation and grow her business, for which she is already developing a website
Responding to the Call
After working intermittently before and throughout the pandemic, this survivor hopes to find stability and independence. Using their experience as a certified, volunteer first responder along with an EMT certification course, they will have the opportunity to take shifts with an ambulance company until they have enough hours to start training as a paramedic. This grant will provide the funding needed for the EMT course as well as equipment and supplies for the course, ultimately allowing this survivor to advance their journey towards helping others in a stable job in emergency response
For more information about Jane Doe Inc.’s continued economic empowerment efforts, please visit: https://www.janedoe.org/economic-empowerment/
For more information about The Allstate Foundation’s work to help End Domestic Violence, visit: https://allstatefoundation.org/what-we-do/end-domestic-violence/