“Each year Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes and goes with little fanfare. There’s virtually no purple merchandizing, no purple cleats on the NFL gridiron, no public outcry demanding solutions, and no celebration of domestic violence survivors. Why? Because domestic violence is ugly; it makes people uncomfortable.”
— Alli O’Malley, RESOLVE Executive Director
What is RESOLVE?
RESOLVE of Greater Rochester Inc. develops and delivers innovative solutions to bringing an end to domestic and sexual violence, with a focus on the suburbs of Greater Rochester.
At RESOLVE we are dedicated to preventing domestic and sexual violence. Most organizations working in this field focus on the crisis. RESOLVE instead focuses on breaking the cycle by helping survivors to heal and rebuild.
We do this by engaging with a diverse cross-section of organizations — schools, colleges, healthcare, and the faith community — to deliver adaptable prevention programming that challenges the paradigm that allows this devastating violence to persist at such alarming rates.
As RESOLVE works to support survivors, it is also working to change cultural norms that condone domestic violence.
While some think of domestic abuse as a “city” problem, the reality is it is happening every day in the suburbs as much as in the city. In Monroe County, intimate partner violence was reported slightly higher in suburban neighborhoods (51 percent) than urban (49 percent).
Why and when did RESOLVE get started?
RESOLVE of Greater Rochester Inc. began as two separate organizations, Safe Journey, and Stand Up Guys. Both organizations were searching for ways to make a greater difference in the fight to end violence against women.
Safe Journey was focused on intervention with female survivors, and prevention education with youth and the general community, while Stand Up Guys focused on prevention by engaging men in conversations about the violence done to women by men. Out of our discussions, we realized that working together we could have a greater impact and indeed, open eyes and change lives.
What kinds of programming and services does RESOLVE offer to local families?
Our services help people move from surviving to thriving.
Healing and rebuilding after an abusive or violent relationship is one of the hardest things a person will ever do. Our services empower people to heal and move forward with their lives. We believe you can move on and create a life for yourself and your children that is stable, joyful, and peaceful.
We serve people in Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Livingston counties from our secure location in southeastern Monroe County.
RESOLVE services are provided at low or no cost. All clients are invited to “pay as you can” but nobody will be turned away for non-payment. Services are confidential and provided by NYS licensed practitioners with expertise in trauma.
Services include individual counseling, support groups, empowerment workshops, and financial and career counseling.
At RESOLVE we believe that everyone deserves to and can live safely, free from physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, financial, or any other type of abuse.
RESOLVE can help whether you have concerns about your relationship or feel stuck and alone, or even if you are presently out of the abusive relationship.
What are the statistics regarding domestic abuse?
They are pretty startling:
- One in three women will experience intimate partner violence.
- One in four men will experience intimate partner violence.
- One of two of LGBTQ will experience intimate partner violence.
However, American women and girls continue to be victimized at higher rates than men.
- One in five women will be raped.
- One in four women on a college campus will be raped.
- Three women die each day at the hands of their partner.
- Countless women are harassed or threatened at work, on the street, in school, or in their homes every day.
Children are the silent victims. Being exposed to intimate partner violence — as witness or victim — creates numerous developmental challenges for kids. Children who live with intimate partner violence are at the greatest risk for transmitting violence to the next generation.
Working together as women and men we can eradicate intimate partner violence.
Tell us about your eye-catching, awareness campaign featuring purple outhouses that say “Domestic Violence Stinks.”
For our third year RESOLVE is raising awareness in the community and on college campuses throughout the month of October by declaring “Domestic Violence Stinks” across the front of six-foot, purple-painted wooden outhouses.
Bottom line is, domestic violence does stink. It hap +pens behind closed doors and is seldom talked about openly. So we are putting this uncomfortable topic in your face, on front lawns and at businesses and on campuses. This campaign forces us to talk about domestic violence, as we learn more about what to look for when one is in trouble.
In our first two years, we’ve heard stories of survival, as well as fear, from friends and family of victims. Many men responded with compassion and some with anger. One visibly agitated father said, “Yeah, it stinks! It happened to my daughter. A man that hurts a woman is a coward.”
Another man comforted his partner as she made a donation; then lovingly took her hand as they walked away. While another reflected on his violent father and how helpless he felt when he couldn’t protect his mom.
One of the most poignant responses came from a woman working a drive-thru window, who saw the outhouse in the back of a volunteer’s truck. When she handed the driver his order, she couldn’t stop the angry tears when she said, “What you are doing is so important! It happened to me and I felt so alone.” If you want to became involved with the “Domestic Violence Stinks” campaign, as a volunteer or donor, please contact us at RESOLVE.
If someone is in need of help, or has a friend in need, how should they contact RESOLVE?
Those in need should call (585) 425-1580, and speak with a counselor who will help you decide if our short term, counseling program is right for you.
Since we do not provide emergency or crisis response, we may not be the right provider for everyone; but we strive to respond to every call with compassion and to support you in finding solutions.
Does RESOLVE need volunteers?
Yes! RESOLVE is an ideal volunteer opportunity for those looking to help women and girls. With a small staff and budget, volunteers are the heart of our organization. Volunteer projects include help with fundraising, offering prevention and awareness education, staffing a booth at community events, mentoring a client, babysitting during client events, or working in the office. Contact us at (585) 425-1580 or
in**@re*********.org
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She Rocs magazine thanks Alli O’Malley for her help with this Community Spotlight. She is executive director of RESOLVE of Greater Rochester and a domestic violence survivor.
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