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Every Woman's Place/Webster House Youth Services publishes a quarterly newsletter highlighting recent news and updates about the agency. Click on the picture for our latest publication, or browse the archives linked below.
Join Every Woman’s Place/Webster House Youth Services for the eleventh Cheers and Chocolate fundraiser. Cheers and Chocolate will be held at the Baker College Culinary Institute of Michigan on Saturday, March 6 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Thanks to Meijer for being our major event sponsor this year.
Tickets are $40.00 and can be purchased at Courses or Sweet Spot, 336 W. Clay Ave. or by credit card through PayPal.
Alcoa Foundation has awarded Every Woman’s Place a grant in the amount of $10,000 to support victims and survivors of domestic violence and their children. The funding would support victims in three service areas specific to the operation of the safe shelter: 1) Transportation, 2) Serving of Personal Protection Orders, and 3) 24-Hour Crisis Line.
“Alcoa Foundation, along with our local employees, is pleased to have an opportunity to support families in the Muskegon County area. The issue of domestic violence has affected many families with three murders related to domestic violence in the past year in Muskegon County. This is an issue our community needs to pull together and support,” commented Amy Heisser, Director, HR Alcoa Howmet.
“These funds will help our clients receive the services that are crucial to their safety,” commented Dr. Susan Johnson, CEO for Every Woman’s Place. “It allows our clients the ability to help their children and themselves. Thanks to The Alcoa Foundation for their support”
In fiscal year 2008/2009, the agency housed 211 women and 158 children in the domestic violence shelter. The average stay for a woman with children is 23 days while the average stay for women who enter without children is just 11 days. The barriers facing women with children seem to be more complicated and require additional support in these specific areas. Transportation, Personal Protection Orders and the 24-Hour Crisis Line are all areas where funding was needed. Thanks to the Alcoa Foundation for their support and for recognizing the need to support the prevention of family violence in our west Michigan community.
I read with gratitude your "As We See It" editorial on March 12 that focused on personal protection orders in cases of domestic violence. It is heartening to know that this issue is on The Chronicle's radar screen, as it continues to decimate the lives of so many in our community and across the nation.
Domestic violence is a pattern of controlling abuse and exploitative behavior by one person against a partner that occurs on a variety of levels and can be physical, mental and/or sexual in nature. The behavior is NOT related to stress, substance abuse or mental illness. The decision to batter is just that, a calculated choice.
Although the definition may seem a petty concern to some, it is an indicator of a larger problem. It enables a perception that the issue is not as serious as it is, and allows us to be less than diligent about identifying perpetrators and holding them accountable. It also results in a a lack of sympathy for those living with the issue.
If we view an issue as less important, we give it less attention. In these cases, public resources to address the issue tend to be limited and the public continues to share a sense of confusion over the dynamics involved. This confusion leads people to believe that there must be something "wrong" with the victim and that they must be somehow, at least in part, to blame. The belief that the victim is somehow to blame makes it easier for us to continue to discount the crucial nature and extraordinary consequences of the problem. This cycle is a self-feeding one that we must break.
The measures of tethering/monitoring called for in your editorial are in use in other communities. We provide an emergency cell phone service for victims that enable them to contact 911. These strategies have had positive results in determining when and if a perpetrator violates a PPO and getting help to a victim as quickly as possible. Counseling is available for free from our agency for anyone suffering in a violent relationship. Batterer's intervention services are available through Catholic Charities. These strategies are helpful, but not the real answer if we indeed believe that the violence must end.
The real answer is to engage this community in a campaign to end this tragic and appalling issue and to bring about real social change. To accomplish that end, we have several steps we must take:
These steps would go a long way toward addressing the issue of domestic violence and hopefully prevent the type of tragedy suffered over the March 7-8 weekend. It should be noted and honored that the last action of this courageous woman was to protect the children in the home. Don't we, as a caring community, owe it to her and all the others still suffering to do our part to protect not only her children, but her as well.
If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic abuse, I encourage you to contact our agency. Our services are free.
Our 24-hour crisis line number is 722-3333.
Our regular business phone is 759-7909.
We welcome walk-ins from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday - Friday at 1221 W. Laketon.
Individual appointments are available to fit a variety of schedules and support groups occur weekly.
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Hand Made Quilt Donated to Every Woman’s Place
to be Raffled at National City Bank
Muskegon, MI – Every Woman’s Place/Webster House Youth Services has received a hand-made quilt donated by Jeannette Mansfield and Debra Becker.
The quilt will be raffled on Monday, May 18 at 12:00 noon at Every Woman’s Place located at 1221 W. Laketon, Muskegon. Tickets will be sold at local National City Bank branches.
About the Quilt: The quilt pattern is called Cinnamon Stitches and was designed by Piece of Cake. The hand stitching and quilting took one and a half years to complete. This quilt would be a lovely addition to any bedroom or a gorgeous wall hanging as it truly is a work of art! The prominent colors are yellow, reds, and greens. The contrasting colors enhance the detail in the stitching and quilting.
About the Quilters: The quilt top is hand stitched by Jeannette Mansfield of Muskegon County with machine quilting by Debra Becker of Fremont. Jeannette and Debra have 20 years of quilting instruction in the Kent and Newaygo county areas. Each quilter has donated hundreds of quilts to agencies throughout the area such as Every Woman’s Place and the Mission. This particular quilt is unique.
How to Get Tickets: Raffle tickets will be sold at the following National City Bank branches: Muskegon Main Office, Broadway, Laketon, Norton, Northside, Cloverville, Holton Road, Whitehall, Apple, Grand Haven and at Every Woman’s Place. Tickets are just $2.00 each. Name and Phone number required on each ticket. The quilt will be displayed at the following National City Bank locations and on these dates:
April 28 – May 3 - Norton Avenue - 878 W Norton Ave
May 4 – May 10 - North Side - 1375 Whitehall Rd
May 11 – May 17 - Whitehall - 119 S Mears Ave
About the Agency: Every Woman’s Place is a safe haven for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The agency is complete with emergency shelter and support services like counseling and advocacy. All services are free of charge.
Webster House Youth Services is a full-service agency dedicated to helping youth in crisis and their families. Our staff is available as a resource for youth experiencing conflict in their lives and will support the entire family through the healing process.
All services are free of charge. 24 Hour Crisis Line is 231-722-3333.
For more information, please contact Every Woman’s Place at 231-759-7909.
An Initiative for Every Woman’s Place/Webster House Youth Services
The capital campaign to support the renovation and expansion of the current facility continues to receive support from local donors. With the recent economic downturn, the campaign has slowed slightly, but the need is still greater than ever.
The agency is experiencing an increase women, youth and children who need safe shelter. Currently, the shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children is housing 13 women and 15 children. Webster House for Youth is housing 6 teens ages 11 – 17 while the long term transitional living shelter for ages 18 – 22 is at capacity with 8 young adults staying here and 14 homeless living on the streets or couch surfing.
The increase in need continues to take its toll on the current facility, originally intended for use of nuns for Catholic Central Schools years ago. The plumbing and electrical are inadequate for a staff of more than eighty and forty clients…all under one roof.
If you would like more information on how you can help with the capital campaign, please contact the Development Department at 231-759-7909 ext. 239.
GIRLS ON THE RUN 5K RUN SATURDAY!, May 16 at Reeths Puffer High School
MUSKEGON, MI -- “GIRLS ON THE RUN IS SO MUCH FUN! WHOOO!” That’s what you will hear from over 850 voices Saturday, May 16th at Reeths Puffer High School at 8:30 am during Muskegon County Girls on the Run Celebration 5k event. This grand fainale run is a culmination of what 3rd through 8th grade girls participating from Muskegon County elementary and middle schools have been working toward since March. These girls have been meeting twice a week after school to learn about healthy choices, self-esteem building, and teamwork all while training toward their 3.1 mile running goal. Quite an accomplishment for young girls!
Last year, more than 700 girls from Muskegon County ran in the 5k fun run. Snacks, water and prizes were given out. This year, it is anticipated that 850 girls representing 29 schools will run at Reeths Puffer’s High School track and surrounding area.
The Girls on the Run program, coordinated through Every Woman’s Place, is made up of hundreds of volunteers: coaches, assistant coaches and school liaisons
“The run is such a great way to celebrate these young girls and all they have worked so hard for throughout the season. It is not easy running a 5k, at ANY age. We hope our community will come out to cheer them on and celebrate their accomplishment with them,” commented Melissa Reid, Muskegon County Girls on the Run Volunteer Council Director.
Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls ages eight to thirteen years old. The program combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development.
The Girls on the Run objective is to reduce the potential display of at-risk activities among its participants. The goal is fewer adolescent pregnancies and eating disorders, less depression and suicide attempts, as well as fewer substance/alcohol abuse problems and confrontations with the juvenile justice system.
“Every Woman’s Place is proud to be the host agency for the Girls on the Run Council of Muskegon County. This program is another opportunity for this agency to work toward prevention of at-risk behaviors and build self-esteem among young girls in our community,” commented Dr. Susan Johnson, CEO for Every Woman’s Place/Webster House Youth Services.
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