January 2026

JANUARY NEWSLETTER:
JANUARY IS NATIONAL STALKING AWARENESS MONTH
THE COUNSELING & CARE CIRCLE

FINANCIAL WELLNESS IS PART OF HEALING

 JOIN OUR RESPONSE TEAMS OF MERCER COUNTY
JOIN US: A CONVERSATION ON VIOLENCE ACROSS GENERATIONS
SUPPORT OUR ANNUAL APPEAL
INTRODUCING THE YOUNITY STORE: WEAR YOUR SUPPORT

A message from our CEO & President, Nathalie S. Nelson

As we begin a new year, Younity remains focused on what matters most: safety, healing, and support for those impacted by domestic and sexual violence.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to increase understanding of behaviors that can escalate and place people at serious risk. It is also National Financial Wellness Month, recognizing that financial stability is often a critical part of healing for individuals rebuilding their lives. This month’s newsletter highlights how counseling, education, and practical support work together to promote long-term safety and independence.

We are also introducing our first Counseling & Care Circle, a new section of the newsletter dedicated to the vital work of our Counseling Services & Support team. Their trauma-informed support provides consistency, guidance, and hope during moments of crisis and transition.

As the need for services continues, we are recruiting Volunteer Advocates to join our Response Teams of Mercer County. These volunteers help ensure that when someone reaches out for help, they are met with compassion and knowledgeable support.

As our Annual Appeal comes to a close on January 31, I want to thank our community for making this work possible. Your generosity ensures that Younity can continue answering calls, providing counseling, and responding when help is needed most.

With gratitude,

Nathalie S. Nelson
CEO and President

NATIONAL STALKING AWARENESS MONTH:

When Stalking Is Dismissed, Lives Are at Risk

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of a crime that is often misunderstood or minimized until it escalates. Stalking is a pattern of behavior that can cause fear, disrupt daily life, and place people at serious risk. In our full article, we explore what stalking really looks like today, why early intervention matters, and how Younity supports those seeking safety.

WELCOME TO YOUNITY’S
COUNSELING & CARE CIRCLE

The Counseling & Care Circle is a new section of our newsletter dedicated to the trauma-informed work of Younity’s Counseling & Support Services team. In recognition of National Stalking Awareness Month, this month’s feature highlights insights from counselors and advocates and reminds our community that free, confidential counseling and support services are available for individuals navigating healing, safety, and recovery.

UNDERSTANDING STALKING

with Johanka Lantigua, MSW

Bilingual Counselor Advocate

 Stalking often begins quietly and can be hard to recognize, especially when it is framed as concern, attention, or care. Over time, these behaviors can escalate into constant monitoring, fear, and a loss of safety.

In this article, Johanka Lantigua, a bilingual counselor with Younity’s Counseling & Support Services team, explains how stalking manifests in clients’ lives, why it is often minimized at first, and how safety planning can help people regain a sense of control. She also highlights practical tools and strategies that can support safety and peace of mind.

GETTING A  RESTRAINING ORDER

with Lisseth Dzurkoc

Senior Bilingual Court Advocate

 Seeking a restraining order can feel overwhelming, especially for people already navigating fear, stress, and uncertainty. Understanding the court process and feeling prepared can make a meaningful difference.

In this article, Senior Bilingual Court Advocate Lisseth Dzurkoc explains how restraining orders work in stalking cases, what judges look for, and why preparation matters. She also shares how Younity’s Court Advocates help individuals organize information, understand their options, and feel supported before stepping into the courtroom.

 NATIONAL FINANCIAL WELLNESS MONTH
Financial Abuse and Power & Control

Financial abuse is one of the most common—and least recognized—forms of abuse. It is often used as a way to gain power and control, limiting a person’s ability to access money, make decisions, or live independently. Financial abuse can affect people of all ages, including older adults, and its impact can last long after the abuse ends.

At Younity, our Education & Prevention Program offers workshops that help community members recognize financial abuse and understand how it fits into broader patterns of control. Through our collaboration with Isles, we also support clients in building financial knowledge and stability as part of their path toward independence and safety.

JOIN YOUNITY’S RESPONSE TEAMS OF MERCER COUNTY

Younity is seeking compassionate, dedicated volunteers to join our Response Teams of Mercer County as Volunteer Advocates. This is more than a volunteer role—it’s a chance to be a lifeline for someone in crisis.

Response Team Advocates provide critical, in-person support to victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence, working alongside law enforcement to ensure safety, care, and connection to Younity’s comprehensive services. Volunteers receive 64 hours of professional training in crisis response, trauma-informed care, and community resources, preparing them to guide survivors through some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

“Every call is a chance to make someone feel seen, believed, and safe,” says Varonda N. Kendrick, Response Teams Coordinator. “Together, we are stronger than abuse.”

Training Dates:

March 10 – April 26, 2026

Format:

Tuesdays & Thursdays (6–8:30 pm) via Zoom;

Saturdays (9 am–1 pm) at local police stations

Application Deadline:

February 25, 2026

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

On Relationship Violence Across Generations

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. – Southern New Jersey Chapter invites community members to a timely and important virtual conversation focused on understanding, preventing, and addressing relationship violence across generations.

This discussion brings together professionals in domestic violence response, prevention education, and legal advocacy to explore how relationship violence affects women, girls, and families, and how communities can work together to promote safety, awareness, and healing.

Younity is honored to participate in this dialogue alongside statewide advocacy partners, sharing insight from direct service, prevention work, and survivor-centered response.

Featured Speakers

Rev. Susan Victor
Chief Operating Officer, Client & Community Services
Younity

Grace Flagler
Prevention & Community Educator
Younity

Varonda Kendrick
Response Team Advocate
Younity

Denise Higgins, Esq.
Legal Director
New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Together, speakers will address the realities of relationship violence, share practical prevention strategies, and highlight legal protections and resources available to those seeking support.

Event Details

Date:

January 22, 2026

Time:

6:30 – 8:00 PM

Location:

Virtual Event 

Must register to receive the link

This conversation is designed to strengthen understanding, encourage prevention, and support healthier futures for individuals and families across our communities.

SUPPORT OUR ANNUAL APPEAL

Your Gift Matters, Now More Than Ever

Every step toward safety begins with support.

As we approach the January 31 Annual Appeal deadline, individual donations are more critical than ever. Gifts from community members like you help ensure that Younity can continue providing counseling, advocacy, shelter, and education to those impacted by domestic and sexual violence—exactly when they need it most.

This month, we are deeply grateful to the Reed Family Fund, which has generously committed to match every dollar donated, up to $10,000. That means your gift today can go twice as far in supporting safety, healing, and independence.

The Reed family’s connection to Younity runs deep. Ingrid W. Reed, a longtime advocate for equity and justice, previously served on Womanspace’s Board of Trustees. Alongside her husband, Marvin Reed, the Reed family leaves a lasting legacy of public service and community care—one that continues to strengthen Younity’s mission today.

Your generosity honors that legacy and helps ensure that more people can take their first steps toward safety.

Make your gift by January 31 and help us unlock the full $10,000 match.

INTRODUCING YOUNITY’S NEW ONLINE STORE

We’re excited to share a new way to support Younity’s mission. Our online store features apparel and accessories created for people of all genders, reflecting our shared commitment to safety, healing, and community.

Every purchase helps fund counseling, advocacy, and crisis response services for victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Mercer County. When you shop, you’re not just choosing meaningful merchandise — you’re helping make safety and support accessible for those who need it most.

We are grateful to Creative T-Shirt Printing for bringing this collection to life and for their partnership in supporting our mission.

Thank you for standing with us in purpose and compassion.
Together, we are stronger than abuse.

UPCOMING EVENTS

JANUARY
18

NATIONAL STALKING AWARENESS MONTH:

DAY OF ACTION

January 18 marks the National Day of Action for Stalking Awareness, a day dedicated to honoring victims and survivors and raising awareness about the realities of stalking. This date was chosen in remembrance of Peggy Klinke, whose life was taken by her stalker, and whose legacy helped launch National Stalking Awareness Month.

On this day, people across the country participate in the #SparkleAgainstStalking campaign by wearing or sharing something sparkly to show solidarity with victims and survivors and to help keep this often-misunderstood crime visible.

If you participate, please tag @younitynj so we can help amplify your post and share our collective message of awareness and support.

Awareness matters. Stalking is serious, pervasive, and can escalate over time. Together, we can help name it, recognize it, and support those impacted.

JANUARY
19

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

On this day, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose unwavering commitment to justice, dignity, and compassion continues to inspire us.

At Younity, we are reminded that building safer, more equitable communities requires showing up for one another, listening with care, and standing against violence in all its forms. Dr. King’s vision continues to guide our work as we support individuals and families through moments of crisis and toward healing.

JANUARY
22

Join Younity staff and community partners for a virtual conversation on understanding, preventing, and addressing relationship violence across generations.

Time:

6:30 – 8:00 PM

Location:

Virtual Event 

Must register to receive the link

JANUARY
31

LAST DAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO

YOUNITY’S 2025 ANNUAL APPEAL 

Your gift helps ensure children, families, and individuals impacted by domestic and sexual violence have access to safety, counseling, and support when they need it most. Thank you for supporting Younity’s work and the people who rely on us every day.

YOU DESERVE TO BE HEARD AND SUPPORTED
We Are Here to LIsten

Maybe someone crossed a line.

Maybe you’re feeling uneasy about something that happened, but you’re not sure what to call it.

Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed, confused, or just need to talk it through.

Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to carry it alone.

Our trained staff are here 24/7 to support you—confidentially, compassionately, and without judgment.

You can contact us anonymously by phone or chat. You don’t have to give your name. You don’t have to file a report. You can simply talk to someone who will listen and help you understand your options. You’ll never be pressured to take a step that isn’t right for you.

Whether you’re calling for yourself or someone you care about, we’ll meet you where you are. Our team includes bilingual staff and has access to translation services, ensuring that language is never a barrier.

What happened to you matters.
And so does what happens next.

We’re here to help you take the next step—whatever that looks like for you.
Because when we work together, we are stronger than abuse.

WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS

We are deeply grateful to our Annual Sponsors, whose year-round support helps sustain our mission and provide safety, healing, and hope for victim-survivors in crisis.

TOGETHER, WE ARE STRONGER THAN ABUSE

Your support makes Younity’s work possible—from walking alongside victim-survivors in crisis to empowering young people with the tools to build healthy relationships. Every gift, no matter the size, helps create a safer, stronger community.