The New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence's annual membership meeting convened on Monday, March 4, 2024, drawing over 100 attendees representing primary purpose domestic violence programs, New York State Agency Representatives, and allies. The day commenced with a powerful land acknowledgment, harmonious song, and cleansing smudging ritual led by Tsionatiio Thompson, Keena King, and David Arquette of the Seven Dancers Coalition.
Centered around the theme of "Lessons in Leadership," the meeting featured Dr. Wendy B. Mahoney, Interim President and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, who received a standing ovation for her insightful discourse on her journey into social change leadership, emphasizing the significance of self-investment, awareness, and maintenance.
A panel of esteemed local domestic violence program leaders delved into the essence of leadership and shared their strategies for maintaining their roles effectively. Megan Allen, CEO of the New York Council of Nonprofits, unveiled compelling insights from their recent State of Nonprofit Sector Report, shedding light on the challenges confronting programs within the nonprofit realm.
Updates from NYSCADV staff highlighted the past year's accomplishments and outlined forthcoming initiatives. Sr. Training and Capacity Building Coordinator Abigail Murat unveiled the imminent launch of NYSCADV’s Core Competencies eLearning training, slated for release later this year. Public Policy Coordinator Shannon Wong also provided an overview of the Coalition's legislative advocacy efforts and shared insights from the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s 2023 DV Counts Day, an annual 24-hour unduplicated snapshot of domestic violence services across the US and its territories.
Economic Project Manager Esmeralda Peña announced the upcoming Economic Empowerment Summit scheduled for June 11, 2024, in Albany, NY, while Lauren Pearce provided illuminating perspectives on the National Restoryation Project, which utilized storytelling to comprehend the collective experiences of domestic violence service providers during the tumultuous years, particularly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
We sincerely thank the speakers, presenters, and attendees for their invaluable contributions to the success of the 2024 Annual Membership Meeting. We look forward to what the year has in store for us and our partners.
