Women's Initiative Network Wichita

We provide women survivors of domestic abuse with educational and employment opportunities

domestic violence

Help make WIN a homelike place to heal

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Studies show that people recovering from emotional trauma heal faster in an environment that is warm, welcoming and homelike. That’s especially true for the Women of WIN, who are healing from their experience as domestic abuse survivors.

And that’s why we’d like to transform WIN’s roomy-but-plain facility into a place that’s homey and comfortable — and adaptable to our many program activities: job-skill and life-skill classes, individual and group therapy, mentor meetings, production work, and studying.

Currently, group therapy sessions are held in the same space where classes are conducted and work projects are performed. There is no privacy and no sound-deadening walls or room dividers.

For group therapy, WIN would like to create a zone with living room-style seating, area rugs, soft lighting and calming nature-inspired colors. Instead of a sofa, comfortable and durable side chairs would accommodate the participants’ need for personal space; and room dividers, to create a sense of privacy and soundproofing, would further enhance the safe, cocoon-like atmosphere necessary for therapy sessions.

In the classroom/working area participants attend educational presentations during part of the day, then perform a variety of assembly work projects. There, moveable and adjustable work and study tables and chairs are needed, along with bright overhead lighting, and a projection screen for audiovisual presentations is used in class sessions.

We estimate the transformation of WIN’s space will cost approximately $20,000, and we welcome contributions of furnishings, paint and construction materials as well as cash gifts of all sizes toward our goal.

If you would like to learn more about this project and how you can help make it a reality through your financial or material gifts, please call Karen Schmidt or Judy Conkling at 316-262-3960.

WIN launches #ForcedToHide awareness campaign

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Women survivors of domestic violence have no reason to be ashamed. Yet many of them feel “forced to hide” from people who would judge them for their bruises and scars, and from their abusers who too often threaten them long after a relationship has ended.

That’s the message behind WIN’s new domestic violence awareness campaign, #ForcedToHide.

The hashtag is part of advertising appearing on Wichita city buses, billboards, and in other public places frequented by women who may need WIN’s services.

While the campaign initially is to inform women of the help available to them through WIN, it also is designed to remind everyone of the prevalence of domestic violence, said Amber Beck, WIN account manager, who conceived of the campaign.

“One out of three women have been experienced domestic violence themselves – or know someone who has,” said Beck. “We want to shine a light on this ongoing problem so that someday, no woman will have to say she is ‘forced to hide.’”

Beck invites everyone to show their support for WIN and the women it serves by taking a photo of themselves — or of someone else — wearing a mask or otherwise hiding from plain view, then posting it to their social media accounts with #ForcedToHide.  She asks everyone to challenge their friends to do the same. Be sure to like your favorite #ForcedToHide photos and share them to WIN’s Facebook page, facebook.com/wichitawomensinitiativenetwork.

This advertising campaign is funded in part through a Kansas Health Foundation Capacity Grant, received by WIN in October 2017 to raise public awareness of WIN’s services to low-income women survivors of domestic violence.

New mural tells WIN survivor story

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Local artist Dale Shubert, with the mural she created at the WIN offices.

 

When Dale Shubert saw the freshly painted but bare walls of WIN’s workroom, she instantly thought, “What a great place for a mural!”

Volunteers, including her son, Joseph, daughter, Hannah, and Wichita State University student Anais Bardin, spent many long days carefully painting the WIN offices in advance of its 20th anniversary open house in October 2017. In the process, they created the perfect canvas for Shubert’s mural.

Shubert, a busy local artist, was eager for her latest work to tell the stories of the Women of WIN – all survivors of domestic violence. The result is a wall full of images that reflect the women’s “challenges and dreams” she said.

The mural captures women of many ethnic backgrounds and ages on their journeys from pain and despair to soaring hope and freedom. It includes images of ravens – the symbol of impending change – and of butterflies – the symbol of change realized.

For Shubert, who grew up in an abusive home, this project was a way to make up for the helplessness she felt as a child.

“I couldn’t help Mom as much as I wanted, so now I try to give back in her memory to women who have gone through the same thing.”

In the process, she hopes she’ll inspire other domestic abuse survivors to “feel emboldened to break away and make a change for the better.”

“It takes a huge leap of faith for these women to step away from their abusers, one that I could never get my mom to make,” she says.

You’re invited to see the mural for yourself. Just give us a call at 262-3960 and tell us when you’d like to come. Our offices, at 510 E. Third, are open during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

New grants support Incentive Room, parenting classes

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The Wichita Wagonmasters Good Life Grant Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation has awarded $1,000 to WIN to restock the Incentive Room. The funds will be used to purchase household items, personal care products, accessories and gift cards that motivate and reward the women in the program for meeting personal and educational development goals.

WIN also has been awarded $2,000 from the Jessica Good Evans Charitable Foundation to bring the Love and Logic parenting class to the women in the program, and to supplement the Incentive Room purchases.