Over 5 years of volunteering

The reason I chose to work in the domestic violence movement is because both my sister and her son (my nephew) were physically and verbally abused during her marriage, and the results have followed both of them for years after the marriage ended. Today (about 10 years later), my nephew has serious issues - he doesn't work well with people at school, and was placed under house arrest for physical violence against one of his classmates. I hoped to be able to do something to help the cause through my participation as a Gateway volunteer. I've seen results here in Colorado, even though they haven't translated into a better situation for my sister and nephew.

I want to help victims of domestic violence because there's far too little education, poor enforcement and insufficient group and individual services available today to serve the needs of DV victims. Without the benefit of intervention, education, court advocacy, counseling and residential services such as those provided by Gateway, it seems our society is sure to see the horrible behaviors of today's abusers replicated in future generations. I believe Gateway and its broad range of services make a tremendous impact on domestic violence here in Colorado (specifically in Aurora), and it's been a great honor for me to be able to contribute in small ways toward that result.

My favorite Gateway memories are probably hearing our guest speakers (survivors) share their stories at our annual luncheons. They really make the victim's struggle, denial phase, difficulty in deciding to leave the situation, and subsequent life transformation all come alive for me. Additionally, I'd say that the entire experience of serving to fight DV along with a group of such dedicated and passionate people has had a significant impact on me. The experience has helped me in many other areas of my life, including my efforts as a board member with other non-profits.