A new beginning

My name is Linda Dooley Johanek and I am the Executive Director of Domestic Violence Center (DVC), serving the Greater Cleveland area. I was appointed E.D. in October this year and am thrilled to be leading such a great organization and a staff - who are so committed to the women, men and children we serve every day. I have been with the agency for 13 years in a variety of positions and absolutely enjoy my work.

I am very excited to have a blog associated with the work we do at the Domestic Violence Center. I have so many thoughts and reflections - related to the inspiring people we serve, the loyal donors, the committed volunteers, the dedicated board of trustees, and the strong partners who collaborate with us in the community. I often wish I could personally thank each and every supporter - but I can't. Blogging is one way that I can convey my thoughts on a regular basis and hopefully start a much needed conversation about domestic violence. I know there are many individuals in our community who would like to "converse or reflect" about the important issues related to domestic violence. I would like to hear from you - bringing those voices together can be a powerful tool. It would be great to have an internet community of people who lend their support, share their own reflections about domestic violence, and work to create change in our society.

I know my days can be hectic - consisting of a range of feelings and activities: being frustrated with the injustice I see, comforted by watching a mother and child hugging, smiling when a child says he feels safe now, pained by the stories of the women in shelter, grateful for the generous and unexpected donation, and happy for the many new beginnings in life that victims create every day. All of this and more... But I never want to lose site of the powerful mission of the Domestic Violence Center: "to empower individuals, promote justice, and mobilize the community so that all people are free from violence and abuse in their relationships and homes".

I hope you will join me in raising awareness of domestic violence and creating a community where we feel safe. I want to thank everyone for supporting our agency, but most importantly, thank you for lifting up the people we serve.

Linda