Healing Roots Collaborative: Healthy Relationship Groups

In this episode, we explore the critical intersection of healthcare and DV advocacy. Today’s discussion features Hannah Decker a general surgeon-in-training and National Clinician Scholar at UCSF and Dr. Tasce Bongiovanni an acute care and trauma surgeon and critical care specialist. Through their research, they have been working on a screening program designed to support survivors by integrating trauma-informed screenings into surgical and medical settings, ensuring that those experiencing intimate partner violence receive the care and resources they need.Hannah Decker is a general surgeon-in-training and National Clinician Scholar at UCSF. She is passionate about advancing health equity and access to high-quality surgical care for all patients, particularly Veterans, those from marginalized backgrounds, and those who have experienced trauma. She has helped to design and lead a screening program for intimate partner violence in injured patients at Zuckerburg San Francisco General Hospital since 2019. And here are some links to the academic work we have published on this project!https://www.journalofsurgicalresearch.com/article/S0022-4804(21)00319-X/abstracthttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38064979/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39174441/The American College of Surgeons Guidelines on Surgeons' Role in Intimate Partner Violence: https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/professional-growth-and-wellness/ipv/Dr. Tasce Bongiovanni is an acute care and trauma surgeon and critical care specialist. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at University of California, San Francisco and San Francisco General Hospital. She provides care for patients with acute surgical needs, who are critically ill, and who experience traumatic injuries. Dr. Bongiovanni has a particular focus on improving hospital and discharge care for patients who have presented to the hospital with an emergency surgical or traumatic injury, especially older adults from marginalized communities. Her research seeks not only to better understand disparities among older adults, but also to actively address them through implementation science. 

Final Episode of the SF Healing Roots Collaborative Series. In this final episode of our six-part series, we feature an important internal discussion with the dedicated team at Woman Inc. As we recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this episode serves as a powerful reminder of the critical need to support survivors and reinforce that they are never at fault for the abuse inflicted on them. The Woman Inc. team shares insights and reflections on their ongoing efforts to ensure that survivors have access to the support and resources they need. This conversation highlights the significance of creating a safe space for open dialogue within the organization, emphasizing the collective responsibility we share in addressing domestic violence and advocating for survivors. As we conclude this impactful series, we encourage our listeners to reflect on how we can all contribute to a community that uplifts and supports those affected by domestic violence. Woman Inc's Website.

This is the 5th episode of our six-part SF Healing Roots Collaborative Series. It features a discussion with Saara Ahmed and Su Young Jung of Asian Women’s Shelter (AWS). This episode is a stern reminder that although we have organizations we regularly work with; we don’t always know the various ways our partner organizations show up for the community. AWS is a huge resource for language accessibility in the SF area, they are providing a need they see the community needs, which is so important in DV work. Su Young Jung (She/Her) Associate Director has had a steadfast commitment spanning 15 years, Su Young Jung has dedicated her professional journey to advocating for and supporting survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Currently serving as Associate Director overseeing direct services at the Asian Women's Shelter, Su Young has been actively involved in developing and implementing programs that prioritize the safety, well-being, and empowerment of survivors. Su Young holds a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from City College of New York and Master of Public Administration from Columbia University. Saara Ahmed Communications and Community Engagement Specialist Asian Women's Shelter Saara believes in the power of shifting culture to eradicate inequality and violence. She has advocated for survivors for over 15 years, including through community based approaches and prevention campaigns. Saara brings her previous experiences as an activist and organizer to her work in the domestic violence field by lifting up voices from the community. She has a strong interest in building intersectional approaches to meet the needs of those who are most vulnerable. She is currently the Communications and Community Engagement Specialist at Asian Women’s Shelter where she works closely with her team to bring the mission of AWS to our local communities and enhance culturally specific services and language access for survivors in the Bay Area. More on AWS: https://www.sfaws.org/Let’s Talk About Us campaign

This is the 4th episode of our six-part SF Healing Roots Collaborative Series. It features a discussion from Ivy Lee & Bobbi Lopez and their preliminary findings from a recent needs assessment, The focus of which was on violence intervention, prevention, and service strategies. Figuring out the ways that institutions and organizations that service the community, can be clear on the directs thoughts and opinions from the community.  Ivy Lee is an attorney whose practice has focused on defending and advancing the rights of survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault. She currently serves as San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed’s Policy Advisor in the areas of public safety and victims’ rights – developing alternatives to a police response, strengthening the effectiveness and accessibility of victim services, and preventing stranger and community violence are priority issues. Prior, Ivy served as the legislative director for San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ President Norman Yee and as Supervisor Jane Kim’s chief of staff. During that tenure, she staffed legislation designed to expand opportunities for marginalized communities, such as the Fair Chance Act to remove unnecessary barriers to stable employment and housing for individuals with criminal convictions; Eviction Protections 2.0 to provide tenants with a chance to resolve petty nuisances with their landlords prior to any eviction action; the Free City College program which established San Francisco’s City College as the first free institution of higher learning in the U.S.; and legislation to fund affordable early care and education for all San Francisco families, including a wage increase for providers.  Barbara "Bobbi" Lopez is a Deputy Director of Violence Prevention in the City and County of San Francisco. She also served Chief of Staff for Oakland Vice-Mayor Rebecca Kaplan and was the former Policy Director for San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim. Throughout her tenure, Mrs. Lopez has spearheaded significant policy initiatives, including the creation of an Oakland charter amendment establishing the Office of Inspector General for police department oversight; the implementation of a civilian response system for non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls; and vigorous advocacy for substantial budgetary allocations towards violence prevention in Oakland. Additionally, she played a pioneering role in establishing the nation's first transgender cultural district and initiated one of the nation’s first governmental task forces aimed at alleviating the disproportionate impact of fees and fines on marginalized communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Prior to her governmental career, Mrs. Lopez dedicated herself to advocating for youth with disabilities and those facing suspensions and expulsions within the San Francisco public school system. She was also instrumental in community development efforts in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, where she founded La Voz Latina, a program fostering leadership and organizing skills among monolingual low-income Latinas. Moreover, she co-founded the Safe Passage program, dedicated to ensuring the safety of children and elders during their journeys to and from schools, after-school programs, and senior centers. Mrs. Lopez also represented unionized civilian employees within police departments in the cities of Emeryville, Fremont, and Oakland, with a focus on enhancing their working conditions. She has previously spoken on panels including a two-day workshop with the Working Families Party, providing policy overviews to newly elected California representatives as well as at a national conference in Washington D.C. on the impacts of homelessness. 

This is the 3rd episode of our six-part SF Healing Roots Collaborative Series. It features a discussion on economic justice and some of the major financial obstacles that stand in the way of ending domestic violence. This episode features Destini Davis of Young Community Developers and Rachel West of In Defense of Prostitute Women's Safety Project, and Kali Shebi of San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. Destini Davis Destini Davis, AMFT is the Clinical Coordinator at Young Community Developers. She has been engaged in mental health work in the community for almost 10 years. Destini currently works with groups and individuals engaged in job readiness training. In addition, Destini created and facilitates a healthy relationships group for YCD participants. Kalkidan (Kali) Shebi is the Economic Security Program Manager for the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. Kali also has over 7 years of experience working in the international development space advocating for girls’ and women’s rights, particularly advancing women's economic empowerment. Kali currently serves on the YWCA's (Berkeley/Oakland chapter) Board of Directors supporting the Policy & Programs committee and the Y’s mission of empowering marginalized women and ending racism in the community. Kali's lifelong advocacy for gender equity and economic justice is rooted in her vision to one day have a world where all girls and women, especially those often left behind, can live a life of freedom and prosperity. 

This is the 2nd episode of our six-part SF Healing Roots Collaborative Series. It features a discussion on some of the major obstacles that stand in the way of ending domestic violence. This episode features Laura Jiménez of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Destini Davis of Young Community Developers, Rachel West of In Defense of Prostitute Women's Safety Project, and Cameron Lucas of the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. Laura Jiménez has served as the Executive Director at CLRJ since 2011 and brings to this work the passion and commitment of close to 30 years of activism in the Reproductive Justice movement. She was raised in Santa Barbara, California, and since then, has made her way across the country and back. Along the way, she worked with the National Latina Health Organization in Oakland, California where she led a girls' mentorship program and initiated a collaboration between the organization and UC Berkeley to offer a class entitled, “Redefining Latina Health: Body, Mind and Spirit”, as well as the serving as the Development Officer with the Dominican Women’s Development Center in Washington Heights, New York. Laura was a part of the birth and growth of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective from 1998 to 2011, becoming the Deputy Coordinator in 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. During her time with SisterSong, she co-coordinated two national conferences and established the Latina Encuentro – a gathering of Latina leaders in the Southeastern Region which had as a goal relationship building and leadership development of Latinas across the South. The birth of her two daughters brought home the issue of reproductive justice, encouraged her interest in the area of birthing work, and recommitted her to the healing of women of color. Laura is an innate healer, mother, and seer. She is a daughter of the ocean and a holder of hands and hearts. Rachel West is the Program Director of the In Defense of Prostitute Women's Safety Project (IDPWS) in San Francisco, which raises awareness and educates the public about violence against sex workers. IDPWS campaigns for city and state policies, which prioritizes protection over criminalization of sex workers, and for all women’s safety. She is also with the US PROStitutes Collective (US PROS), one of the collaborating groups in IDPWS. US PROS advocates for decriminalization and resources so no one is forced into prostitution through poverty. Destini Davis Destini Davis, AMFT is the Clinical Coordinator at Young Community Developers. She has been engaged in mental health work in the community for almost 10 years. Destini currently works with groups and individuals engaged in job readiness training. In addition, Destini created and facilitates a healthy relationships group for YCD participants. Cameron Lucas is the Executive Management Assistant for the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. Cameron is passionate about the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in the provision of governmental services and ensuring that government truly works inclusively and equitably for everyone.

This is the 1st episode of our six-part SF Healing Roots Collaborative Series. It features a discussion with Nicole Santamaria, El/La’s first intersex Executive Director of trans experience, and Pablo Espinoza, Co-Executive Director at Community United Against Violence (CUAV.) Nicole Santamaria, El/La’s first intersex Executive Director of trans experience, has led the shift in our organizational culture toward a trauma-informed, holistic approach. Her leadership is rooted in 28 years of experience working with survivors of violence (including HIV+ cis and trans women, LGBT women, indigenous communities and people with disabilities in the U.S., Latin America & the Caribbean) as well as her training as an art therapist. She has worked successfully to provide more visibility for El/La and the TransLatina community through her involvement in various partnerships, as well as her position as a city advisory commissioner in the LGBTQI+ Advisory Committee of the City and County of San Francisco. She has also worked with staff and consultants to create a strategic plan to increase El/La’s capacity and set the organization on a track for sustainable growth.   Learn more about CUAV and El/La Para TransLatinas by visiting their websites  https://www.cuav.org/  https://ellaparatranslatinas.org/ Our SF Healing Roots collaborative includes representatives from YCD, SF Department On the Status of Women and W.O.M.A.N., Inc.

We are excited to be presenting a 6 episode podcast series with local nonprofits and city partners. The series is slated to start in June 2023. Together, we will explore the topic of domestic violence and discuss its true costs across our city's communities. We'll also lift up what is being done to intervene and prevent domestic violence here in SF. Please listen to our introduction episode & learn a little more about what's to come! This series is due in part to funding from the Blue Shield of California Foundation.

You probably remember Pamela Tate, Co-Executive Director at Black Women Revolt Against Domestic Violence and Destini Davis, AMFT, Clinical Coordinator at Youth Community Developers from past podcast episodes. In THIS episode, they are joined by Cameron Lucas, Grants and Policy Associate at the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women and Jill Zawisza, Co-Director at W.O.M.A.N., Inc. to discuss the Healing Roots collaborative. Though this particular project is sunsetting, the group takes a moment to reflect on the past few years, and what the future holds for DV prevention, intervention and the group.  Learn more about DOSW and our organizations via the links below: San Francisco Department on the Status of Women Black Women Revolt Against Domestic Violence Youth Community Developers W.O.M.A.N., Inc. (Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent)

Wondering how NOT to lean into criminal legal systems as a response to DV?…listen to this episode as staff flesh out what that means at WOMAN Inc, where we are at in that process and some overarching reflections on TJ!