Your donation can provide double the financial resources to help victims of domestic and sexual violence. In honor of #GivingTuesday, a generous donor, Robin Gosnell, has offered to match all gifts made on November 27, up to $1,000. #Giving Tuesday is a day of global giving, celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which helps to kick off the charitable season. Click here to learn more.

Your support will help Womanspace provide crucial services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Please click here to make a donation, or you can send a check to our office (1530 Brunswick Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648), dated November 27. Thank you for helping us to prevent abuse, protect families, and change lives.

Womanspace kicked off our 17th Annual Communities of Light project with a launch event on October 23 at D & R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, N.J. The evening included a free reception with food and drink donated by D’Angelo Italian Market, Terhune Orchards, Pennington Quality Market, and Terra Momo Restaurant Group, and music by young artists Sahil Navani and Dillon Schindler from Fusion Academy Princeton.

Pam Mount, owner of Terhune Orchards, served as the Communities of Light Honorary Chair and spoke to guests about the importance of community in supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence.

This annual campaign, which marks National Domestic Violence Awareness month, will culminate with a county-wide lighting of luminaries on December 3. Communities of Light helps Womanspace raise money and awareness about domestic and sexual violence, while spreading a message of peace and hope. For more information, or to purchase a luminary kit, please click here.

Special thanks to Pro One Photography.

Help make the holiday season extra special for our clients! Please see our Thanksgiving wish list below or click here to download a copy. See our holiday wish list below or click here to download a copy. If you wish to make a monetary donation or to see our year-long list of needs, please click here. 

Please note that we cannot accept frozen food and request that Thanksgiving donations be dropped off by November 16.

Please drop off holiday donations by December 1.

Womanspace’s Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday, October 16 from 12-2 PM at the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton. The meeting included the annual report on the state of the agency and recognition of Womanspace staff and Board Members. Special thanks to McCaffrey’s and Milk & Cookies for donating desserts, and the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton for their hospitality. We were pleased to honor the following …

Staff:

Marsha Collins (10 Years)

Linda Singleton (20 Years)

Susan Adams (30 Years)

Board Members:

William Spain (21 Years)

Meaghan Cannon (24 Years)

Frances Zeitler (29 Years)

Maeve Cannon (29 Years)

Ed Schmierer (32 Years)

Executive Director Pat Hart with staff honorees Susan Adams and Linda Singleton.

(From Left) Board Members Ed Schmierer, Meaghan Cannon, Executive Director Pat Hart, Board Members Fran Zeitler, Maeve Cannon, and William Spain.

NJ Man of Strength and Board Member Ed Schmierer with Executive Director Pat Hart.

Board Member Fran Zeitler reads a poem about Domestic Violence.

Attendees enjoying lunch and the program.

Desserts donated by McCaffrey’s and Milk & Cookies.

Communities of Light 2018 Honorary Chair: Pam Mount

We’re excited to announce that Pam Mount, owner and operator of Terhune Orchards, will serve as our 17^th Annual Communities of Light™ Peace Begins At Home Honorary Chair. Pam is an avid conservationist and agrotourism leader in New Jersey. Womanspace is thrilled to be working with Pam, a longtime supporter of Communities of Light and active member of the Mercer County community.

In addition to her role at Terhune, Pam has served on numerous state and local councils and boards, including the Lawrence Town Council, New Jersey Agricultural Society, Sustainable Jersey, and the Lawrence Community Foundation- just to name a few. Pam also served as mayor of Lawrenceville, and as a Peace Corps volunteer in the South Pacific. Pam was honored by the New Jersey Society of Women Environmental Professionals (NJSWEP) for her efforts to promote environmental sustainability in the local community and beyond, and has been honored for her Sustainable Jersey work. Pam has three children and nine grandchildren.

The Communities of Light campaign occurs every October in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness month. Beginning with our launch event on October 23, we encourage businesses, neighborhoods, and community organizations to purchase luminary kits, raise awareness of Womanspace’s services, and spread the message that “Peace Begins at Home.” The campaign concludes with a countywide luminary lighting on December 3, which serves as a powerful symbol of hope for those impacted by domestic and sexual violence in Mercer County.

Please join Womanspace for a free reception on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at the D&R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, New Jersey at 5:30 PM. All are welcome, but space is limited. Be sure to register by calling 609-394-0136 or emailing eat@womanspace.org.

Click here for sponsorship opportunities and more information on Communities of Light.

POSITION SUMMARY: Provide educational instructions under a home-schooling model to resident children of the Emergency Services.

REQUIREMENTS:  A time commitment of at least 6 months, with at least 4 hours scheduled per week.  Experience in teaching, or related degree preferred.

SPECIFIC DUTIES: Meet Monday through Thursday morning with children who are participating in the Home Schooling Program. Provide instructional lessons utilizing NJ Education Curriculum. Document all interaction.  Work either as a head tutor or assistant.  Maintain communication with Educational Coordinator.

TRAINING:  Womanspace volunteers are expected to complete trainings on the following topics: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Effects of Domestic Violence on Children.  Training related to the home schooling program activities is also expected.

SUPERVISION:  Weekly or bi-weekly meetings with Educational Coordinator.

Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Susan Adams at saa@womanspace.org or 609-394-0136 for more information.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our 24th Annual Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award Dinner, held on Thursday, May 24 at the Westin in Princeton. Womanspace was proud to honor L.Y. Marlow, founder and CEO of Saving Promise, a national domestic violence prevention organization. Ms. Marlow left a successful corporate career to start Saving Promise, motivated by her own family’s experience of five generations of domestic violence. Saving Promise “advances evidence-based strategies, cross-sector collaboration and front line engagement to prevent intimate partner violence.”

Ms. Marlow graciously accepted her BBS Award and spoke to the audience of nearly 300 about the importance of family in overcoming abuse. The gratitude and love that L.Y. expressed for her step-father, a man who treated his family like gold and endeavored to “do the right thing” was particularly moving. Womanspace Executive Director, Pat Hart, Board President, Dr. Danielle Coppola, and Barbara Boggs Sigmund family members Stephen and Ruby Sigmund echoed Ms. Marlow’s words, reiterating the familial and community support that has sustained Womanspace for over 40 years.

This night would not have been possible without our sponsors, volunteers, and staff members. Thank you again for your generosity and support in our mission to end domestic and sexual violence in Mercer County.

Please be sure to check out our Summer 2018 Newsletter for more pictures! Coming soon to your mailbox.

BBS Event Committee and honoree L.Y. Marlow.

 Honoree L.Y. Marlow addressing the crowd.

Guests enjoying the dinner and presentation.

Volunteers assisting at registration.

Guests Jan Noonan, Landy Eaton, and friends.

 
Event Co-Chair Jigna Rao and friends.

Board Member Kristin Keller and her husband, Howard Keller.

Board Member Michelle Bajwa and husband, Rashaad Bajwa.

Development Director Lauren Nazarian and husband, Rony Nazarian.

Board Members Denise Taylor and Joanne Barlow with Denise’s daughter and honoree L.Y. Marlow.

Board President, Danielle Coppola, with son Max Kilbourne and honoree L.Y. Marlow.

Members of NJ’s Deaf Advocacy Project.

Sponsor and longtime supporter Cyndi Ricker and guests.

Board Member Charles Walker and guests.

Sponsors Mathematica.

 
Sponsors NJM Insurance.

Board Member Kristin Keller and sponsors Spur Marketing.

Executive Director, Pat Hart, with Raffle Winner Maeve Cannon.

 Guests enjoying the cocktail reception.

Sponsors Sleep and Wellness Associates.

Presenting Sponsors Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

This year’s Communities of Light (COL) kicked off on October 24, with a launch party at D & R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, N.J. This annual campaign, which marks National Domestic Violence Awareness month, culminated in a county-wide lighting of luminaries on December 4. COL helps Womanspace raise money and awareness about domestic and sexual violence, while spreading a message of peace and hope.

Kristin Appelget, Director of Community and Regional Affairs at Princeton University, served as this year’s honorary Community of Lights Chair. Every municipality in Mercer County participated in COL, and 12 retailers helped to sell our luminary kits. In addition, we sold virtual luminaries to those who were unable to participate in a physical lighting. Special thanks to our sponsors (listed below) for making our 16th annual COL a success!

October 31, 2017- Womanspace is proud to announce the appointment of our newest Board of Directors members. We are pleased to welcome, Charles Walker, Joanne Barlow, Salim Manzar and Michelle Bajwa.

Charles Walker has over 30 years of leadership & business experience, having served as a US Army Infantry Officer, a Marketer at Johnson & Johnson, and an Executive at several Software Companies and Advertising Agencies. Currently, Charlie is Co- President & Chief Operating Officer of Cadient Group, a global advertising agency acquired by Cognizant. Charlie lives in New Hope, Pennsylvania with his wife, and the last of five children. He enjoys motorcycle riding, golf, and playing the guitar and piano in his spare time. Executive Director, Pat Hart states, “Charlie comes to the Board after much success in the business world with an eye toward financial management we are excited for the agency to benefit from his expertise and his sensitivity to the agency’s mission.”

Joanne Barlow is the Human Resources Manager for BWAY Corporation. She’s also worked for the YMCA of Trenton, and is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) National. She resides in Trenton, NJ.  Ms. Hart says, “Womanspace is so fortunate to count Joanne as one of our newest Board members.  Her extensive experience in the field of Human Resources and her strong connection to her community add an important dimension to the organization.”

Salim Manzar is the CEO of Princeton Advisory Group, LLC –a management consulting company. In 2004, as CFO of the company international business, after a 30 year career with MetLife, Salim elected to take early retirement with view to rebalance his life. His career at MetLife included serving as Global-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, member of the Executive Governance Board for MetLife International, Chairman of the Board for MetLife India, President-Commissioner for MetLife Indonesia, and Member of the Board for MetLife Mexico. He devotes significant time and energy in supporting various humanitarian causes and relief efforts in the USA and abroad, as well as promoting understanding and dialogue embracing diversity within our community. In addition, he is a Womanspace response team volunteer.  “Salim is a wonderful addition to the Womanspace Board having demonstrated a commitment to our mission through completion of our 80 hour training and his volunteer activity responding to survivors at the police department.  With a long history of business success he is a perfect compliment to the agency”, voices Ms. Hart.

Michelle Bajwa co-founded Domain Computer Services, Inc. with her husband Rashaad Bajwa during their Junior year at Rutgers University, a period referred to as the “Dot-Com Boom.” Domain was borne from the vision of providing intelligent, well-informed and highly customized IT services for small to medium sized businesses with a unique edge:To deliver refined and relatable customer service by leveraging inter-personal skills. Michelle enjoys running and participating in annual half-marathons and 10K races, studies yoga and meditation, finds joy in cooking, travelling, hiking with her children and researching and volunteering in programs/charities furthering development of women of all ages. Ms. Hart utters, “We are thrilled to welcome Michelle to the Womanspace Board of Directors.  Innovative and creative in her professional life we look forward to working with her on strengthening our development activity translating her talents into a wonderful partnership with the organization.”

Womanspace is thrilled to expand our Board of Directors with these new members, who will help relay our mission to new communities, businesses and friends.  Welcome to Womanspace as we celebrate 40 years of fearlessness, and helping victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Charles Walker Joanne Barlow Michelle BajwaSalim Manzar