April 2021 Newsletter
Happy Spring!
March marked the one year anniversary of the global COVID-19 pandemic that changed how we engage with one another and the world around us. During this time, the Domestic Violence Institute (DVI) has learned and pivoted to better serve our clients. We learned that:
Hotels make great shelters due to built-in security personnel and hotel staff, proximity to public transportation, grocery stores, on-site laundry services, and availability across the state. Further, clients report hotels allow them to live with their families in peace and safety, without the concern of being placed in a multifamily location during the pandemic.
Access to and information about safe, reliable data and internet services is critical to our client population, particularly in this pandemic moment where safety is tethered with technology access.
Access to multiple mediums through which someone seeking supportive services can reach the DVI — website, community parter referral, etc. — means more people receive help, in a language of their choosing, by trained advocates and attorneys.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the DVI has successfully served 149 clients.
We are proud of the work we have done to respond to the pandemic in a safe and accessible way, but there is still more work to do, and more individuals and families in need of legal services and support. We continue to meet these challenges head on and find new ways to engage with and support our clients. To find out more about our newest fundraising effort, please visit the DONATE page! Thank you
Our work would not be possible with our donors and supporters. Thank you.
Shelter Updates
Since beginning our Shelter Program on July 1, 2020, the DVI has provided (in partnership with Casa Myrna) shelter, in undisclosed locations around Massachusetts, to 9 families, comprised of 27 individuals, of which 18 were children.
Shelter stays ranged from one to five months, with an average stay of three months.
Our shelter services include: (1) food support; (2) legal support and referrals; (3) long-term housing assistance and referrals; (4) weekly check-ins with Student Attorneys, Student Advocates, or the DVI Case Manager; (5) mental health referrals; (6) free wifi; and (7) any other collateral supportive services a family needs while in shelter.
In March, we began providing gift cards (Target, Amazon, Stop and Shop, Star Market), on an as-needed basis, to families in shelter for food and other immediate needs (PPE, cleaning supplies, and toiletries).
Next month, we will offer (a limited supply of) chrome books to families with children attending school by Zoom.
As with all of our services, our shelter program is free and confidential.
Student Spotlight
Shannon Mathew
Shannon is a third-year law student at Northeastern University School of Law and a Teaching Assistant in the Domestic Violence Clinic. She has been a Student Attorney, representing clients seeking restraining and protective orders in Massachusetts. She currently assists students in the clinic with their advocacy along with representation and intake.
Shannon has completed co-ops (legal internships) with the Committee for Public Counsel Services in the Mental Health Litigation Division, the Georgia Resource Center, the Orleans Public Defenders, and Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit Public Defender. On campus, Shannon is an active member of the NUSL community. She has been on the executive board and is a part of the Middle Eastern and South Asian Law Student Association (MESALSA) and Queer Caucus. Shannon has also been a lawyering fellow for first-year law students and a Student Attorney in the Prisoners’ Rights Clinic.
Prior to attending Northeasern, Shannon received her undergraduate degree from University of Florida (Gainesville) in psychology and sociology, with minors in women’s studies and Spanish. While an undergraduate student, Shannon was an assistant director for a social justice educational program, Gatorship. She developed presentations on the intersectionality of race, socioeconomic status, and gender to engage other undergraduate students to be critical of gender-based discrimination and violence in family, social, and institutional spheres.
Sreenidhi Kotipalli
Sreenidhi “Sree” Kotipalli is a first-year law student at Northeastern University School of Law. She began working with DVI in fall of 2020 as a Student Advocate for the Legal Assistance to Victims Project. Additionally, Sree is working with the DVI to create a resource manual for advocates, attorneys, survivors, and community organizations to support crime victims.
Prior to law school, Sree worked as a talent operations intern for Kiva Microfunds. In this capacity, Sree helped manage the intern and fellow programs while, also studying the impacts of microfinance on global underserved communities.
Sree received her undergraduate degree from American University in economics and political science. During her undergraduate career, Sree completed various research projects regarding the sociopolitical factors that contribute to the prevalence of crimes against women in India. She also worked as a resident assistant, using her platform to conduct educational programming around safe and consensual sex practices, and food insecurity on campus.
In her free time, Sree interns with the Greater Boston Legal Services Welfare Unit, helping clients access their stimulus payments.
Ellie MacLean
Ellie MacLean is a first-year law student at Northeastern University School of Law. As a participant in Northeastern’s 3+3 Program, she began earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science in 2017 before transferring into the law school, where her first year of graduate studies will simultaneously serve as her last year of undergraduate education.
Throughout her undergraduate career, Ellie worked both domestically and internationally writing stories that elevate voices of underrepresented communities. Recurring themes in her work include disparities pertaining to gender, race, sexuality, class, and religion. Her legal interests are rooted in family law with a specific focus on cases involving domestic violence and child welfare.
In the spring of 2021, Ellie began working with the DVI to develop a comprehensive resource manual for survivors of violence. Ellie’s sections outline clothing and furniture resources in Suffolk, Middlesex, and Bristol counties.
Ellie will graduate with honors this May from Northeastern University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
Sarah Weihl
Sarah Weihl is a fourth-year human services major at Northeastern University. At present, she is completing an internship with the Domestic Violence Institute, where she is helping develop a resource manual for DV survivors. As part of her work with the DVI, Sarah compiled a list mental health and therapeutic resources in Middlesex, Bristol, and Suffolk counties. Now, she is compiling a list of free food resources.
Working at DVI helped Sarah learn how domestic violence is intimately connected to other social issues. Especially during the pandemic, accessing social services has become increasingly difficult and working on the resource is one way Sarah is helping tackle this challenge.
Olivia Robbins
Olivia Robbins is a fifth-year undergraduate student at Northeastern University, majoring in health science. She has completed co-ops with Dr. Joan Golub, as a medical assistant, and with Fallon Ambulance Service, as an EMT. Throughout her undergraduate experience, Olivia has worked with her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, to increase awareness of domestic violence in the Northeastern University community. She also volunteered at Rosie’s Place, a women’s shelter in Boston, preparing and serving meals.
As a part of her capstone project, Olivia is working with the DVI to develop a resource manual for Northeastern and Boston area college students. This manual will help students affected by domestic and dating violence access services on Northeastern’s campus and in the Boston community.
Meet the Tech Guru behind the DVILegal.com website
Photo provided by Kyle Lasky (pictured).
Last year, with your support, we created a website for resources and self-referrals for our client population. Kyle Lasky, is the person who helped us develop and design DVILegal, and they work with the DVI on an on-going basis to update the website as needed.
Kyle is a designer and photographer living in the woods of Upstate New York. Kyle is the Creative Director at Vandersall Collective, a fundraising and strategic planning firm that partners with mission-driven organizations, as well as the Director of Communications at Allies in Arts, a non-profit supporting artists who are women, BIPOC, and LGBTQQIA2S+.
Kyle's photography has been exhibited internationally, and their artistic practice centers around trans* and lesbian/post-lesbian identities in an effort to contribute to a living archive of the queer experience. In 2020, Kyle cofounded @transanta, a viral social media campaign that facilitated over $500,000 in holiday gifts for trans youth in need. Kyle has three cats.