We’ve done it. Together. Another Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) may be behind us, but the knowledge lives on. We can’t thank you enough for your support and engagement.

Awareness needs an audience. Our audience is you. We thank you for your social media follows and shares. We thank you for your willingness to have difficult conversations about domestic violence with family, friends, and employers. We thank you for showing up to community events to show support and solidarity.

All of this is what makes DVAM, well, DVAM. Your efforts signal to victim survivors that you are a believer. You are a believer in them. You are a believer in their story. You are a believer that domestic violence has no place anywhere.

Thank you for all the ways you take a stand against domestic violence. We know your commitment didn’t end on October 31. We know you will continue to raise awareness about domestic violence. We know you will share your knowledge. Together, we can show how a community can make a difference. For all of this and so much more, the UDVC thanks you.

Now what?

So, now what? What happens next? In the past, my priority at the beginning of each November was to take some time away from the computer. This year, I’m just not ready to move past DVAM. I’m not ready to put my mind elsewhere. Not just yet. I suppose that I’m feeling we could have done more to raise awareness. We need to do more for this cause that is important to many of us. If you are reading this now, you are one of these people.

You told us. We heard you.

I’ve been chatting with the staff. I’ve been responding to messages posted on our social media accounts. I’ve been asking people (and oh, they’ve been telling me!) what type of content they want to see. What do they want to hear from the UDVC? How do they want to hear it? I’ve asked other people the same questions I’ve been asking myself. Now what?

I’ve been energized by these conversations. There is an overwhelming sentiment that people want to talk about domestic violence. They need to talk about domestic violence. These are year-round conversations that need to happen. They must happen.

People want content that goes beyond our social media posts and newsletters. They want more stories. They want the UDVC to host spaces that share and elevate the voices of victim survivors. These stories need to be heard. They need to be shared.

People want to hear from the staff about their jobs. They want to hear about their passion for doing this type of work. Who is answering the LINKLine when people call, send a chat request, or text the hotline? People are interested. People want to know.

Lights, camera, action!

How nonprofits engage with online followers continually evolves. If you don’t have video content, you are missing the opportunity to connect with a significant portion of your online community. I previously said that people want to hear more from the UDVC staff. So, we are going to create some video content. My amazing coworkers are ready to take their turns in front of the camera. I think you’ll enjoy getting to know them just as much as I have.

Our new blog is here.

If you’re reading this, then you know that the UDVC has a new blog. We started this project as a way to invite more people to share their opinions, experiences, and expertise. As I mentioned, people want to hear different voices. There are stories out there that need to be shared. They might break your heart, but we also hope that they will also demonstrate the resilience and strength of victim survivors.

Stay tuned for the content you asked for.

The UDVC is committed to bringing you new, fresh, and impactful content. We hear you. Get ready, because here we go.