Building Bridges to Safety and Justice
As a survivor-centered organization with a foundational commitment to equity and inclusion, Center for Domestic Peace (C4DP) made a strategic investment in 2017 to work with Southern Marin, with a primary focus on Marin City in order to strengthen connections with the Black and African American community. This strategic decision evolved from a review of our data and outcomes of previous work in this community. We found that survivors from this demographic were not utilizing our services as much as other communities.
Upon more research, we discovered a historical mistrust of our organization within this marginalized and underserved community, and there were many unique barriers that needed to be addressed to effectively provide services. Some reasons for this may include fear of not being believed, lack of culturally competent services, and a lack of understanding of the unique challenges faced by African American survivors of domestic violence.
To be successful, C4DP needed to hire the right person who could assist in building bridges and breaking down barriers to increase access to our services – an individual who possesses qualities such as approachability, kindness, and respect, and someone with professional or lived experience working with vulnerable populations. In 2017, we found the perfect fit in Cynthia Williams.
With decades of experience in community-based services and previous work in Marin City, Cynthia brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to C4DP. Initially hired for a four-month contract, Cynthia’s dedication and commitment to our cause have led to her celebrating eight years of service with C4DP. Her special ability to reach people took hold, enrolling faith leaders, community partners, and local businesses. This foundation has helped pave the way for our work as we strive to build and strengthen our connections even further.
Through her efforts, we have been able to establish a strong network of support and collaboration within the community, allowing us to make a greater impact. We have also been able to provide more targeted and culturally responsive support and resources to survivors in the Black and African American community.
Over the past several years C4DP has witnessed an increase in access to our services. We see this as a positive step, but it is only the beginning. We need to continue to actively work towards creating a truly inclusive and supportive environment for Black and African American survivors. This includes addressing systemic barriers, providing culturally sensitive and appropriate resources, and actively promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization. Only then can we truly ensure that all survivors feel welcome and supported in our programs and services.
