In this issue of the Coalition Chronicles, we explore the intersection of ageism and violence, including domestic abuse. We draw attention to ageism because it is one of the “-isms” that is often ignored, yet it is dehumanizing; ageism is embedded in our culture, contributing to a climate in which people across the lifespan are marginalized, and in which violence against them can thrive.

Join us for our 6th Annual Soar Above Gala in support of domestic abuse survivors. This online event will address the grim realities of domestic violence while holding essential space for accessing the joy we collectively need, deserve, and work towards as part of the anti-violence movement.

  This week the world has watched devastating scenes of violence in Afghanistan and witnessed the desperate attempts being made to evacuate the country. Scenes from the airport in Kabul show chaos as thousands of people face violence from the Taliban when trying...

On July 21, during the VOCA signing ceremony, U.S. President Joe Biden shared a story that moved him – a story that End Abuse Director of Policy and Systems Change Jenna Gormal offered from her previous experience as a shelter advocate. As she lobbied for the #VOCAFix over the past several months, her advocacy included educating lawmakers about the complex dynamics of abuse and the need for stable funding for local programs.

On July 20, with an extraordinary vote of 100 to 0, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 1652, the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 ("VOCA Fix"). The bill will impact over 6,000 local domestic violence shelters, child abuse treatment programs, elder fraud and abuse services, rape crisis centers, and legal services programs in every U.S. state and territory.

The latest edition of Transformative, our quarterly newsletter for advocates & multi-disciplinary teams, is released for Summer 2021, with a focus on PRIDE MONTH! With dedicated sections including Local Voices, Policy Spotlights, and Practices for Healing and Accountability, Systems Change Coordinator Tegan Swanson provides tools to foster change, accountability, and healing in our personal and professional communities.

Each year, we ask all who use our services – domestic violence program staff, allies, & survivors statewide – to take a survey that asks: How can we best work together? From trainings & resources, to help and support, it’s a chance to tell us how we’ve done, reflect on where we are, and shape where we should go. Share your thoughts, and form the future of our work!

Founder and current NCALL Director, Bonnie Brandl, is retiring after 30 years of leadership at End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin. Brandl has worked in the gender-based violence movement since 1982, and as a recognized leader within the elder abuse field and domestic violence movement, Brandl’s career holds many notable accomplishments.

“My goal as Executive Director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin and more generally as a leader in anti-violence work is to facilitate the dismantling of white supremacy in the anti-violence movement and create a movement that serves all individuals who seek support and liberation.”

In the words of Mariame Kaba and Andrea Ritchie: “Ma’Khia Bryant matters not because the timing of her killing allows for a neat juxtaposition, but because her life does.”