Working w/ Crime Victims, I’m very impressed with this article from the NYT.  I’ve only posted a portion of it and then posted the link where you can find the remainder of the article!  Its a MUST read!  -iRobyn 

Divas Unisex Hair Salon in Inwood is one beauty shop where stylists are being trained to recognize signs of domestic abuse.

 Published: November 19, 2008

Ms. Vasquez said she was not surprised by the call. Troubled clients tell her their personal stories all the time. “They are so tormented, they just come in and share,” she said.

The privileged, often therapeutic relationship between hairdressers and clients has long been the subject of magazine articles and movies. A growing movement in New York and across the nation tries to harness that bond to identify and prevent domestic violence, a pervasive problem that victims are often too ashamed to reveal to law enforcement or other public officials.

Ms. Vasquez, Ms. Castillo and Ms. Florentino are all stylists in Manhattan who have been trained (or are being trained) as part of a one-year-old program by the city’s Administration for Children’s Services in beauty salons in the Washington Heights area, where a high number of cases of abuse and neglect in homes have a component of violence that is not necessarily aimed at children. The initiative joins similar efforts that have been sprouting across the nation; perhaps the best known, called Cut It Out and based in Chicago, has trained 40,000 salon professionals in all 50 states to recognize telltale signs of domestic abuse. In the past few months, the Cut It Out program was also adopted by the Empire Education Group, which has 87 cosmetology schools, and endorsed by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, the trade organization representing another 800 schools.

Nearly 600,000 women and girls were victims of violence by an intimate partner in 2006, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In New York last year, the police received hundreds of domestic disturbance calls every day and recorded about 55,000 crimes connected to domestic violence — everything from stalkings to killings.

Neither the city’s program or the much larger Cut It Out, founded in 2002, tracks how many women they have referred for help, so it is hard to assess the effectiveness. But law enforcement officials in New York and nationally have praised the beauty-shop approach for reaching a population that normally hides from authorities.

Kathy Ryan, chief of the Domestic Violence Unit of the New York Police Department, said that battered women were such a hard population to reach that “preventing even one death should be considered success.”

The police have tried doing outreach to victims by, among other things, setting up domestic violence education tables at community events, only to find that no one wants to be seen near them. But the atmosphere is different in the safety of a beauty salon.

“The salon may be one of the few places women might be without their abuser around,” said Laurie Magid, a former state prosecutor who is acting United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “This program really addresses a need. You don’t have a case unless you have a crime reported in the first place and that is the difficult area of domestic violence.”

While Cut it Out trains stylists offsite, the Washington Heights workshops, conducted in Spanish, take place inside beauty parlors during the hours that clients are served, which not only makes it easier for people to participate, but also enhances the comfort factor.

“The salon is a place where everyone already feels at home,” said Sharon Kagawa of the Administration for Children’s Services, the agency that recruits salons for the program. “So they can be more honest.”

The Washington Heights program started in 2007, when a woman walked into Porto Pelo Unisex salon, just north of the George Washington Bridge, and unashamedly began telling everyone in shouting distance her marital saga.

She told of how her children had been removed from her home by the city because her husband beat them and her, but said she could not leave him because she feared deportation. As she wept, stylists and customers gathered around to offer comfort, but they had little advice on how to get help.

But Ingrid Dominguez, the director of the child welfare agency’s Washington Heights Family Preservation Program, who happened to be getting her hair done at Porto Pelo that day, knew where to get help. She knew all about nearby therapy and community resources, and knew all about violence in the home. She estimated that domestic violence was the root cause of about 95 percent of the hundreds of cases that crossed her desk each year, some as seemingly simple as student absenteeism.

For page 2 of the article, please go to the NYT, directly.  Click here.  The link takes you to the article’s 2nd page!

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

An Open Letter to Barack Obama

BY ALICE WALKER | TheRoot.com

Alice Walker on expectations, responsibilities and a new reality that is almost more than the heart can bear.

AFP/Getty ImagesTYPE SIZE READ MORE FROM ELECTION NIGHT. Nov. 5, 2008

Dear Brother Obama,

You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.

I would further advise you not to take on other people’s enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people’s spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to “work with the enemy” internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,
Alice Walker

© 2008, Alice Walker

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

The election is coming toward us-our future is every changing, indeed [a Moltmann reference], and I am happy to be alive and well during this time.  See you on election night, virtualily, cof course…until then!

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

On a more personal note, and rarely do I write from a place of existence, but today I am.  Today I dropped off my Advance Directive w/ my Bureau Chief, including my advance directive statement regarding medical treatment [an addendum, if you will].  As I sat on the 13th floor of my building, doing the good work I believe that I am doing on behalf of crime victims, there I sat as the song of my childhood rose up within me:  ”When peace like a river attendeth my soul…”  

Each day I rise…I rise both with a sense of certainty and uncertainty–it is, if you will, an existential disposition, I think!  I walk each day with intention, praying and hoping for every good thing, yet today there was a sense of urgency.  What rose up in me today-was that any different?  Was it NOT well w/ my soul today?  If not, why?  This is the mystery of life with which I live, and mystery, I might add, is well with my soul.  As a theologian, I seek to believe in life, love and death, the second of which uniting the first and third.  Love is embodied and love is something that is well with my soul.

Though anxiety may rise up and uncertainty and mystery come beside me, and a sense of urgency becomes my friend, it is well with my soul…

So, whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, yes, it is truly well, with MY soul.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul, 
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
 Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

- Words by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
- Music by Philip P. Bliss, 1876
The words to this hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially. Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram: “SAVED ALONE.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, he was inspired to write these words.

Bliss originally named the tune “Ville de Havre” after the ship on which Spafford’s four girls perished, the SS Ville de Havre. Ironically, Bliss himself died in a tragic train wreck shortly after writing this music.

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

A sudden change of heart may allow you to see things more clearly today, yet it could be hard for you to accept this new perspective. You are still being led by your idealistic hopes and even a sobering wake-up call cannot destroy your beautiful illusions. Accepting the truth doesn’t mean that you have to let go of your dreams.Sunday, October 12, 2008 

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

Should you find yourself in a place of namelessness, find rest in the Drummond Cross.

Certainly, my favorite Latin American Cross hangs in my home, but there is something special and evocative about this cross from Scotland:  concrete and sturdy, yet picturesque of the intertwining reality of the Spirit who is infused and breathing life into this world. 

The paragraph below is taken from the “tag” which hangs on the cross:

This design was taken from a cross found beside the ancient ruins of the church in the little village of Muthill.  The square tower and a double row of wonder arches are all that remain of the old church.  The cross has no name, but as the Drummond Castle with its magnificent formal gardens is just a short distance up the foad, we decided to call our design the Drummond Cross.  The design is typically Celtic with panels of interlaced knotwork-a symbol of everlasting life

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

Anzaldúa escribes:

Cuando vives en la frontera
people walk through you, wind steals your voice,
you’re a burra, buey, scapegoat
forerunner of a new race,
half and half - both woman and man, neither-
a new gender;

To live in the Borderlands means to
put chile in the borscht
eat whole wheat tortillas
speak Tex-Mex with a Brooklyn accent;
be stopped by la migra at the border check points…

Es la verdad, si?!  Claro que si! Necesitas leer Anzaldúa ahora!  This is what it means to speak about God from more than one place and to follow Jesus in and around the border, at the margins of life which are teeming with the joys of the world.

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

Taken Fall 2007 @ a WI cycling hotel

Written September 18, 2008–the politics of life brings special friends along the way; for me, it was a dog.  You’ll never know how special he was, for after all, he was named “dog” in Hebrew, after all!  He was Stephanie’s birthday present in 1999 & we loved him dearly.  This is the letter I sent out to many of my contacts.  I’m sharing it now on the information superhighway.  The letter is certainly a tribute to the love that we received from Caleb, from a dog who birthed in us a desire to live fully–for one another and for the world.

As I write from my blackberry (from the operating waiting room, no less), I’m aware of the difficulties life brings, yet, I’m aware of the deep and abiding joys that this life brings.  

This week, Stephanie and I lost Caleb.  This was more than a blow to the human psyche; this was a major devastation to our family.

First, Caleb was not “just” a dog; he was my buddy who sat w/ me when I read, worked on my computer, napped w/ me, and he was Stephanie’s soul-mate who gave her nothing but love and kindness!  He sat and snuggled w/ her and followed us around wherever we went!  In many ways, he was an embodied spirit and chose us in 1999 in Abilene, TX.

He was diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma this past January, but the disease was being treated and the vet expected a full recovery!  This was great news.  He had a few rough days recently w/ coughing episodes which we addressed, but there was not any progression of the disease.

On Tuesday, however, Caleb got a hold of a papertowel-something he had a habit of doing!  He began to choke, Stephanie reached into his mouth to grab the object at which time he clamped down on her hand.  He became unresponsive and Stephanie proceeded to perform CPR on Caleb.  She gave him 2 rescue breaths and followed thru w/ CPR.  Caleb started to breathe!

Tuesday afternoon, following a brief vet checkup, I noticed that Stephanie’s hand was was not looking good from when Caleb clamped down on her hand; therefore, we proceeded to the ER.  Wednesday morning, however, turned that much more traumatic!

At about 1:20 I woke up and Caleb was coughing.  I called Stephanie and proceeded to give him his cough medicine.  At some point in the night, however, he jumped down off the bed, got into his favorite position, went to sleep and never woke up.  I found him when my alarm sounded Wednesday morning for work-my TX son had gone to rest, forever.

As a friend of mine reminded me:  we ask the impossible of nature-the absolute impossible!  Creation is certainly amazing, and we deeply deeply love Caleb; we always will!

Wednesday afternoon, though (if the morning wasn’t enough) we found ourselves back in the ER for Stephanie’s hand!  She was admitted for the dog bite b/c it was progressing and continued to progress.  She ended up having to have surgery which is where she is now: hand surgery for the hand wound!

Certainly, this has been the week that is unreal-where does this fit into reality?  Does it fit into reality?  Grief is an interesting and painful process, albeit tricky!

And so, while Stephanie is in surgery, I wanted to update you.  We both appreciate your intentional kind thoughts during this most painful time.

Robyn

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.

earlier this summer I met a woman and our friendwhip began to flower and bud into what we are linking to a Lotus Flower.  We’ve both been through the ringer, but thankfully, we’ve had special people who’ve loved us and now we’ve found a special friend in one another:  that’s PuraVida  & is Spanish for “pure life.”  Ella is mi amiga mejor y plans to open un restaurante somewhere on planet Earth–I’m rooting for Chicago, IL!

The law of the land in Costa Rica. The expression is used in many forms, from a greeting, to a synonym for “excellent.” Ticos follow this lifestyle and are some of the most wonderful people on earth. A synonym of “hakuna matata.” Life is wonderful; enjoy it.

©2008 iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite. All Rights Reserved.