Category: News

August 2, 2024 • From August Newsletter — At Womanspace, we believe that strong partnerships are critical to creating safe communities. Our working relationships with police departments in Mercer County’s municipalities and the New Jersey State Police ensure a coordinated community response. This coordinated response between police and Womanspace ensures the delivery of comprehensive support and resources to victims at police stations and hospitals during a crisis. By fostering open communication and providing training, we ensure that officers are well-prepared to handle these situations with sensitivity and expertise. Together, we strive towards a future where everyone feels safe and supported.

Annual Training with Law Enforcement

A key component of the partnership between Womanspace and the police is the annual training of a new class of recruits to the NJ State Police Academy. On June 27, Varonda Kendrick, our Response Team Coordinator and Domestic Violence Victims Representative, attended training for 24 recruits. At the invitation of Detective Jenn Gering, Princeton Police Department’s Domestic Violence Liaison, Varonda outlined the services Womanspace provides to assist victims in finding safety and healing. Varonda’s experience and insight also equip officers with a deeper understanding of domestic and sexual violence issues, helping them respond more effectively and empathetically to victims.

Data shows that, on average, it can take 7 to 8 times before a victim leaves their abuser. Police who have received training on the unique characteristics of domestic and sexual violence, working in partnership with highly trained and compassionate Womanspace Response Team Advocates, can reduce the number of times a victim returns to an abusive situation.

Training provided to police ensures that they are trained and compassionate advocates who can reduce that number at that moment. By joining forces and working together, the potential for significantly impacting victim-survivors experience in our community is increased exponentially. Varonda shares, “Our relationship with Law Enforcement is key to the success of the Response Teams of Mercer County. We need their partnership and support to meet our goals of serving survivors, utilizing our volunteers, and doing our work excellently. It takes a village, and we are proud to have Law Enforcement as a part of ours!”

Join Us at National Night Out

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live. It aims to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement, contributing to an increased sense of community and connection.

Womanspace will have staff present in all municipalities across Mercer County. We invite you to come and meet our team at the following locations:

• East Windsor: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., East Windsor P.A.L Facility, 30 Airport Road, East Windsor, NJ

• Ewing: 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., Ewing Township Community Center, 999 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, N

• Hamilton: 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Veterans Park South Entrance, 2262 Kuser Road, Hamilton, NJ

• Hightstown: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Association Park, Grant Avenue, Hightstown, NJ

• Hopewell Township & Pennington Borough: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Stony Brook Elementary School, 20 Stephenson Rd, Pennington, NJ

• Lawrence: 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., Municipal Building, 2207 Lawrence Road, Lawrence Township, NJ

• Princeton, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., 400 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ

• Robbinsville: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., Robbinsville Township Police Department, 1117 Rt 130, Robbinsville, NJ

• Trenton: 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, Cadwalader Park, 36 Parkside, Trenton, NJ

• West Windsor: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., West Windsor Community Park, 271 Clarksville Rd, West Windsor, NJ

National Night Out allows us to connect with community members, raise awareness about our services, and strengthen our partnerships with local police departments. By working together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those affected by domestic and sexual violence.

Through our collaborative efforts, our goal is to create a safer environment for all community members. Whether through joint training sessions, community events like National Night Out, or day-to-day interactions, our partnership with law enforcement is a cornerstone of our work. We look forward to continuing our work with law enforcement and engaging with our community to fulfill Womanspace’s mission to prevent abuse, protect families, and change lives through empowerment and a safety net of supportive services.

Are you a leader in education, government, healthcare, community of faith, nonprofit, or business? Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of others? Then we need you! Join our new collaborative and community outreach effort — The Womanspace Violence Prevention Coalition.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Womanspace Violence Prevention Coalition is to assess and address the needs of our community, create a network of support, and develop effective violence prevention strategies.

OUR GOALS

Assess and Address Community Needs:

We will share our knowledge to assess and understand the root causes and prevalence of power-based personal violence in Mercer County. This data will inform our strategies and interventions.

Create a Network of Support:

We are committed to building a strong network of individuals, schools, organizations, and businesses dedicated to preventing violence and supporting survivors. This network will provide resources, advocacy, and solidarity to those affected by violence.

Develop Violence Prevention Strategies:

Drawing on research, best practices, and community input, we will develop comprehensive violence prevention strategies tailored to the needs of Mercer County. These strategies will encompass education, advocacy, and intervention efforts.

MEETINGS

The Womanspace Violence Prevention Coalition will convene on the first Wednesday of the month at 10 A.M. via Zoom. These meetings will provide opportunities for members to collaborate, share resources, and discuss progress toward our goals.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the coalition is open to representatives from schools, organizations, businesses, and individuals who share our commitment to preventing power-based personal violence. Members are expected to actively contribute to the coalition’s mission and participate in meetings and activities.

NEXT STEPS

If you want to join the Womanspace Violence Prevention Coalition or learn more about our work, please register here:

or email Grace Flagler at gef@womanspace.org.

We welcome your participation and look forward to working together to create a safer, more resilient Mercer County.

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Womanspace, a Mercer County nonprofit dedicated to serving individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault, is pleased to welcome three new board members.

Malina Poshtova Delamere is the founder and president of Vida Rose Coaching Solutions, an executive coaching practice for women whose business, career, and life are in growth mode. With over 20 years of business leadership experience, Ms. Poshtova is also a former Fulbright Scholar, with degrees from New York University and the University of Sofia in Bulgaria. Malina firmly believes that life is an adventure and opportunities often come in disguise.

Ektaa Sanghvi Shah is a certified public accountant and recent graduate of Rutgers Business School. A business owner passionate about helping her clients, she currently works in her family’s tax practice, cpa4tax, alongside her father. As a young professional, Ms. Shah is excited to be part of our community and use her skills, professional and otherwise, to give back.

Stephen Sigmund is a communications and public affairs professional with over 25 years’ experience as an executive, advisor, and spokesperson for some of the region’s and the nation’s leading public and private sector organizations. He currently serves as Chief of Public Outreach/Chief Spokesman for the Gateway Development Commission. Mr. Sigmund teaches at Columbia University, and serves on the boards of the Center for an Urban Future and Interact Community Theater. Most importantly to us, Mr. Sigmund is the son of former Princeton mayor and Womanspace founder, Barbara Boggs Sigmund.

“We are honored to accept these exceptional individuals as the newest members of the Womanspace Board of Directors.

We respect that representation matters. The life experience, expertise and connections brought in by Malina Poshtova Delamere, Ektaa Sanghvi Shah, and Stephen Sigmund will greatly enhance our Board’s governance abilities in supporting and advocating for our mission,” said Womanspace Board President Michelle Bajwa. “We are grateful and ask our wonderful community to join us in celebrating and welcoming them as allies in support of victims and families impacted by domestic violence and sexual abuse.”

For information on agency events and updates, follow Womanspace on Facebook and Instagram.

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Womanspace President & CEO Nathalie Nelson was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, the only statewide network for all charities in the state.

Thank you to all who participated!

On Monday, December 6th at dusk, Mercer County shone brightly for the 20th Annual Communities of Light. Thank you to our supporters for a successful Communities of Light earlier this week. Because of you, over $35,000 was raised to fund our life-saving services. We lit 1200 luminary kits across Mercer County as a symbol of hope for men, women and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

Once again, thank you so much to all that participated. This event serves as a powerful symbol of hope in our community and spreads the message that Peace Begins at Home.

Hamilton Lighting with Kaitlynn Ely, Development Associate; Mayor Jeff Martin; Assemblyman Benson; and Hamilton Police

Princeton Lighting with Mayor Mark Freda; Nathalie Nelson, Associate Executive Director; and Board Members Fran Zeitler and Joan Bartl

Princeton Police Department

Pennington Lighting with Mayor James Davy and his wife Lucille Davy with Pennington Police

Old Hights Brewing Company with Michelle Bajwa, Board of Directors President and Councilwoman Cristina Fowler with friends

The Lawrenceville School Stanley House

Lawrenceville Community Members with Lance Maloney, COL Committee member and Paula Sollami-Covello

On June 30th, 2021, Womanspace was awarded a $10,000 grant from the NextGen Giving Circle Fund at Princeton Area Community Foundation. NextGen is comprised of millennial donors, who pool their contributions, and then collectively decide which charities will be awarded grants. The Giving Circle was created in 2017 by Jeremy Perlman, a Risk Advisor at Borden Perlman in Ewing, to help the millennial generation learn about philanthropy and nonprofits in the Central Jersey area.

These funds will support Womanspace’s work in protecting families and providing a safety net of supportive services to prevent abuse. We are very pleased to have backing from generous organizations such as the Princeton Area Community Foundation and the NextGen Giving Circle who support Womanspace’s mission.

Thank you for helping us continue to provide valuable lifesaving programs and services to survivors during this time.

On June 24th, Womanspace was awarded a $2,000 Neighborhood Grant from The Starbucks Foundation. The Starbucks Foundation’s Neighborhood Grants program supports grassroots, community-led nonprofit organizations through catalytic investments in the form of small grants. Through this unique program, The Starbucks Foundation invites Starbucks partners (employees) to nominate a local organization in their community. Neighborhood Grants also help build sustained local impact and inspire increased partner engagement with nonprofits organizations that work in our communities.

Womanspace was one of more than 1,300 nonprofits selected to receive a Neighborhood Grant this year. The funds from this grant will go towards continuing our effort to support victims of domestic violence in our region. These funds are intended to address the critical needs of New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents, whose health and livelihood continues to be threatened by the pandemic. We are very pleased to have backing from generous organizations such as The Starbucks Foundation who support Womanspace’s mission.

Thank you for helping us continue to provide valuable lifesaving programs and services to survivors during this time.