by Sarah E . Wilson , Esq .
Spotlight on Grantee : Women ’ s Freedom Center
The Vermont Bar Foundation ( VBF ) continues its series highlighting grantees that provide legal services for low-income Vermonters . Through IOLTA monies and other contributions , the VBF is able to help fund a range of competitive and noncompetitive grants throughout Vermont . The Women ’ s Freedom Center , based in Brattleboro , Vermont is a competitive grant recipient . The Women ’ s Freedom Center ( the Center ) has been advocating for Vermont women and men experiencing domestic abuse for over 40 years . The past year ’ s IOLTA grant funds received by the Center provided 57 hours of legal services to 13 women across Windham County . In the past grant cycle , the Center used funds to assist in what are critical and safety-related areas of legal representation , including divorce , custody , immigration and relief from abuse . Examples include a case where a survivor of domestic violence was assisted by counsel to obtain a relief from abuse order against a former partner who had been stalking her and breaking into her car while she sat at red lights . In another case , the Center used the funds to provide legal representation to a survivor who had been strangled by her partner several times and felt unsafe reporting the crime to law enforcement . The funds helped the client develop a safety plan and obtain an emergency relief from abuse order with the assistance of counsel .
I had a chance to speak with two advocates from the Center , Donna and Sherry . It was important for them both , first and foremost , to express their profound gratitude for the Vermont legal community ’ s work with those facing domestic abuse and violence . They especially wanted to thank the attorneys who have generously shared and continue to share their legal expertise through low-bono and pro-bono representation . Like most non-profit organizations , the Center stretches the grants and donations it receives , to maximize its impact on Vermont communities . The Center uses these funds to serve the Brattleboro , Bellows Falls , and surrounding communities with a wide range of innovative and notable programs .
Crisis Hotline and Advocacy
The most impactful service that the Center provides is their 24-hour hotline reachable in Windham ( 802 ) 254-6954 , Southern Windsor ( 802 ) 885-2050 & Toll Free ( 800 ) 773-0689 . These hotlines are confidential and provide direct access to an advocate who can assist with resources and give direction to callers in crisis . Advocates also personally meet with victims at hospitals , accompany them to court hearings , review and explain Relief from Abuse orders , provide housing and economic services , and connect them with community and state programs .
Youth Education
The Center also focuses on Vermont teens with their youth outreach , where they work with schools in Windham and Southern Windsor counties to address issues such as dating violence , sexual assault , healthy relationships , and the impact of social media . The Center currently has two full-time community outreach coordinators working in Vermont school systems . Sherry shared that many of the issues facing Vermont teens revolve around digital stalking and sexual harassment by way of intimate photographs being used to shame , humiliate and control victims . Donna suggests that educating youth early about bystander empowerment , consent , and personal rights , is an important component in promoting healthy relationships and avoiding future violence . She further stressed that advocates at the Center are not mandated reporters . Donna believes that because of this , the Center finds their advocates are able to have frank and meaningful discussions with student victims , who are not likely to ask for help from educators who are required to notify authorities .
Women ’ s Film Festival
Outreach to the community is an important role for the Center . They reach out to the community each year by providing women from Vermont , and throughout the world , a platform for discussing important matters , such as women ’ s rights , diversity , rape , human exploitation , and domestic violence . One example is the Women ’ s Film Festival , which was held this year in Brattleboro at the New England Youth Theater located on Flatt Street . This event , in its 27 th year , intro- duces Vermonters to unknown women filmmakers , featuring a variety of relevant topics . The Center uses this three-weekend festival as their major fundraiser . This is an extremely exciting event where over 50 movies and shorts are screened for Vermont audiences each year . The film festival is kicked off with an opening champagne gala . This year ’ s gala featured a revolutionary theme , with participants dressing as their favorite revolutionary character . For more information go to www . womensfestival . org .
As Donna and Sherry summarized , the Center has really expanded their focus and message from one of primarily addressing crisis , to that of education and awareness for the rural population of Vermont . While the Center still assists those facing domestic abuse and those in crisis , they also put their energies and resources toward informing and educating Vermonters on the issues of relationship violence and culture . Community outreach and education has been a large part of the Center ’ s work over the past few years . The Center is available to facilitate a variety of educational workshops and presentations for school systems and is interested in doing the same for the various county bar associations around the state . As Sherry explained , relationship violence , sexual assault and harassment cross all socio and economic boundaries , and the Center can provide attorneys with resources and tools that would be beneficial in advocating for all clients . Donna and Sherry encourage interested attorneys to contact them for more information on the Women ’ s Freedom Center and to visit them at http :// womensfreedomcenter . net /. ____________________ Sarah E . Wilson , Esq . practices in Bennington and serves on the Vermont Bar Foundation Board and its Promotions Committee .
40 THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • FALL 2018 www . vtbar . org