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Women, girls, and gender-expansive youth of color are at a higher risk for safety concerns across the nation and, more specifically, in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. Girls 16-19 years of age are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victim-survivors of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. In the District alone, 50% of women in DC have experienced physiological aggression perpetrated by an intimate partner; 39% have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. During the pandemic, many agencies have seen an increase in need and a lack of resources to meet all of those needs. The intersectionality of identities such as gender and race calls for an approach that addresses these concerns, centers the needs of survivors and ultimately, eradicates these harmful experiences.
We understand that there is an urgent need to invest in the safety of women, girls, and gender-expansive youth of color in our community, now more than ever. As part of our unwavering dedication to this cause, we have taken decisive action to support numerous organizations throughout the Washington metropolitan region through our Stand Together Fund. This initiative serves as a catalyst for fostering a safer environment for this vulnerable population.
Today, the Fund continues to support community safety and promote more flexible investments in violence prevention, supportive services, and advocacy.
During our inaugural grant cycle, we proudly invested a total of $100,000 in organizations dedicated to offering culturally specific support to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. We were thrilled to partner with the following organizations:
In our second round of funding, we proudly invested $136,750 to support 336 female care workers, including family childcare providers, early childhood educators, in-home health aides, and medical aides, all across the region. To ensure the efficient distribution of these funds, we partnered with the following organizations:
Our third round of funding includes investments in organizations focused on advocacy, safety, and the prevention of violence. Investments totaled $130,000 and was awarded to the following organizations:
In our fourth round of grants, we continued our commitment to empowering survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence by awarding a substantial total of $105,000 to organizations that provide culturally specific support. These organizations include:
Washington Area Women’s Foundation mobilizes our community to ensure that economically vulnerable women and girls of color in the Washington, D.C. region have the resources they need to thrive. Since 1998, The Women’s Foundation has worked to transform the lives of women and girls in our region and across the world.
© 2023 Washington Area Women’s Foundation