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From Policy to Protection: A New Era for VAWA

• Genesis Women's Shelter & Support

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Discover the transformative journey of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as we sit down with Jan Langbein, CEO of Genesis, a leading voice in domestic violence advocacy. Jan’s firsthand experience as a senior policy advisor offers a unique perspective on the sweeping reforms introduced in the VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2022. She shares how these critical updates provide enhanced support through economic justice, housing protections, and expanded tribal jurisdiction, ensuring that survivors from all walks of life, including Native American women, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ individuals, receive the justice and protection they deserve.

The episode promises a deep dive into the political landscape surrounding women’s rights, focusing on how recent legislative changes impact survivors’ autonomy and safety. As we explore the significant hurdles faced by those seeking justice, particularly around issues like no-fault divorces and the oppressive control over victims’ rights, Jan offers insights into the ongoing advocacy necessary to combat these challenges. We also shed light on the importance of trauma-informed approaches and specialized training, crucial in effectively addressing and prosecuting crimes against women.

Join us as we recount Jan's inspiring experiences in Washington DC, celebrating the 30th anniversary of VAWA. From attending high-profile seminars to standing on stage with President Biden, her journey highlights the relentless efforts required to foster change. The episode concludes with a focus on the impactful work of Genesis Women's Shelter, a beacon of hope and support for those affected by domestic violence. Listen to the entire episode for dates of upcoming events and a sneak peek at our celebrity guest for the 2025 Genesis Annual Luncheon.

Speaker 1:

Wondering how the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act benefits you or all of us. Genesis CEO Jan Langbein is here to break it down, plus many other exciting updates you do not want to miss. I'm Maria McMullin and this is Genesis, the podcast. Hi, jan, welcome to the show. Thank you so much. I'm glad to be here. It's good to see you. You've been so busy. I've hardly seen you this fall, and most recently you traveled to Washington DC to celebrate a significant milestone for women in this country, and it's specifically related to the Genesis Mission, which is dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, as well as other crimes against women, through the Conference on Crimes Against Women. So to begin, let's talk about the reauthorization of VAWA, why it's important and what it means for women in abusive relationships, and why others, including men, should care about this act.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely so. I would like to give you a quick timeline on the VAW, which is the Violence Against Women Act, and it truly set our country apart for many countries because it's a national response to a national problem, and so it is specifically designated as a response to sexual assault and domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. President Biden, when he was a senator, actually was committed to preventing and addressing gender-based violence, and really this whole issue, I think, has remained a cornerstone of his career. The Violence Against Women Act was passed 30 years ago in September. The Violence Against Women Act was passed 30 years ago in September, so it was then signed by President Bill Clinton in September 13, 1994. That first act provided $1.6 billion toward investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. It imposed an automatic and mandatory restitution on those convicted and allowed civil redress when prosecutors chose not to prosecute the cases. The act also and this is what one of the things that I'm so excited about it established the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice and, as you know, I was incredibly honored to receive, in 2008, a presidential appointment to serve in that office as senior policy advisor to the director of the Office on Violence Against Women. The director at that time was Cindy Dyer, born in Waco, studied at A&M, got her law degree. She actually was in the district attorney's office here but then picked up to then go through the process to be the Senate confirmed director of the Office on Violence Against Women. And she had been in that chair for a little bit and then was able to pluck me up to Washington DC and I just I learned so much in that nine months. It was the end of the Bush administration and from April to when we were all kicked out in January I was able to see across this country programs just like Genesis, doing what we can with what we have, but having a zero tolerance for violence against women. I saw shelters in double wide trailers. I saw shelters and programs in high-rise apartment buildings. So it was interesting to me, from Alaska to Africa, that there are just certain people in this world who are putting on their pants every day and going off to try to make this world a better place for women, particularly so it was authorized.

Speaker 2:

Let me get back to the history of that. It was authorized, signed into law in 94. But in the bill it said that every five years it needed to be history of that. It was authorized, signed into law in 94. But in the bill it said that every five years it needed to be reauthorized. So it just wasn't standing forever and it was. So it was reauthorized three times 2000, 2005, and 2013. And each time the work that went into those three reauthorizations helped stretch or expand access to safety and support for survivors and increase prevention efforts.

Speaker 2:

Since 1994, these programs have been administered through the Office on Violence Against Women, have been administered by the United States Department of Justice. So again, senator Biden wrote this there was no hotline, there was no funding for programs and in fact recently I heard how controversial it was. Even in 1994, there were accusations of, oh, you're trying to split up the family, or oh, you're trying to blame men for women's problems, and on and on. I mean just crazy, crazy conversation. I would have thought it was a no-brainer. It still seems to me to be a no-brainer to me. But again it did get through and it was bipartisan.

Speaker 2:

The next authorization, in 2000, was actually bipartisan, but again they stretched that to cover legal assistance programs for victims. It also included dating violence and stalking. It reauthorized critical grant programs that had been established five years before that and new grant programs were strengthened through this federal law. So now we come to 2005 and the reauthorization produced new and holistic responses and programs to meet the emerging needs, like prevention, like landmark housing protection for survivors, like funding rape crisis centers, like culturally and linguistically specific services. So again, 10 years after the original legislation, we continue to stretch it to where it really does cover the needs of survivors, women who are survivors of gender-based violence, wherever they are.

Speaker 2:

So here comes 2013. It was up for reauthorization in 2010, and it was not because, all of a sudden, this bipartisan effort got all crosswise, because the original documents were wanting to include Native American women and Alaska Native women. Well, why not, right? Right, it now in this 2010 draft was to include immigrants. Right, right, the crimes are being committed in our country, so there needs to be protection against those crimes and holding perpetrators accountable, no matter where they're from. But there was a lot of talk about we're not going to pay for services for immigrants. The LGBTQ plus really hit a wall, particularly with conservative Republicans. This also particularly with conservative Republicans. This also this draft that was for 2010 and didn't get authorized till 2013 also included college students and public housing residents.

Speaker 1:

So I just want to ask a question If it's not reauthorized at the time that it comes up for reauthorization, what happens to?

Speaker 2:

the act. Well, nothing else happens. So if we were getting funds which, as you know, genesis doesn't get funds but if, for agencies that do get funds, they were at that same level, it was kind of a continuing Okay, so it still exists, it's just not it didn't go away. It didn't go away, but there were no additional considerations. There was no additional funds, which, as you know, the costs of everything go up every single year, and so even these service providers could not add programs within their own programs, but your funding didn't go away, right? Unfortunately, there was so much scrapping back and forth that that 2010 reauthorization did not happen until 2013. And again, mostly opposed by conservative Republicans who were very opposed and objected a lot to the acts protections of same-sex couples that was a huge thing as well as undocumented immigrants. So here comes April of 2019, all right, and the House of Representatives passed a reauthorization VAWA bill that included new provisions. However, it didn't get any farther. It didn't get through Senate, it didn't pass at all and they really had to start all over. And you'll think about the administration during that period of time 2014 through 2020 is where we're talking about in that period, and who was over the Senate, who was the majority in the House and so on. It just became really, really political. But we are so pleased that in March 15th of 2022. But we are so pleased that in March 15th of 2022, now it hadn't been improved or extended or refunded increased funding since 2013.

Speaker 2:

But in 2022, president Joe Biden did sign the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. It did things like protect transgender victims. That hasn't been in there. It also and you and I have talked about this this is where banning individuals convicted of domestic violence were prohibited from purchasing firearms. So you and I have had so many conversations about firearms in the hands of abusers. Studies tell us that just the mere presence of a firearm in the house where there is abuse ratchets up the survivor's lethality by 500% just having a gun in the house, right? There was a study not long ago in fact you may have sent that to me about speaking with perpetrators who had murdered their spouse or partner and the question was asked would you have killed her had there not been firearms in the house? And the majority was saying no. No, I wouldn't have at that time. I don't know how much of that I believe, because there are certainly other choices of weapons, but this particular piece of legislation that was signed in 2022 just really really made a huge difference.

Speaker 2:

The Reauthorization Act of 2022, this bipartisan VAWA reauthorization included what I think are groundbreaking provisions to strengthen and modernize the law. The law provides funding for survivors and the thousands of local programs that serve them. It provides for communities with much needed resources for housing, legal assistance, alternative to criminal responses and prevention programming. It also included a new economic justice provision and bolsters access for survivors of all genders by strengthening non-discrimination laws and creating LGBTQ services programs. It restores tribal jurisdiction.

Speaker 2:

Now, this is another thing that I believe you and I have spoken about on this podcast. But prior to this, if a woman, for example, was raped on a reservation a Native American reservation by a non-native white perpetrator living across the highway where the United States starts and the tribal lands stop, he could go across, rape that person and then slither back across the road and could not be charged with a crime, because it didn't happen on American soil and tribal jurisdiction didn't cover non-native perpetrators. So, basically, open season on women, right? Yes, but this 2022 law restored tribal jurisdiction, allowing tribes to hold non-native perpetrators accountable. This one also improved existing housing protections and increases access to emergency and short-term housing.

Speaker 2:

So when I say housing protections, there are a couple of things that we can talk about now, or maybe on another one, but I don't think women in Texas know that they can break their lease if they are survivors of domestic violence. This is relatively new, I think last legislative session, right there's. Also there was a law in place that if the police came out to your apartment you know more than once, more than twice, whatever it was the apartment complex could evict whoever lived there. The intent of that was to weed out drugs and gangs that were taking over apartment complexes, without taking into consideration the impact on survivors of domestic violence. They can either not call the police and have a place to live, or call the police, which they desperately need, and then be evicted from their apartment. So in this, you know, we see we're seeing more and more housing protections through state law and federal law as well, and so that is the history. I know that was a lot and I know I blew through that quickly.

Speaker 1:

I think those were some very valuable updates. We needed the history right. We needed to understand the act and let our listeners kind of hear it again how this was established.

Speaker 2:

But the updates are amazing through the years and you know I'll probably go off on let your voice and your vote be heard in this podcast, but I think it's incumbent upon all of us who to see who voted for it and who voted against it. That period of time when I was saying conservative Republicans with the trying to get this passed in 2012 and 2013,. You know my elected official did not vote for this. My state senators did not vote for this and this was their complaint was undocumented immigrants and same-sex couples, and look at what the rippling effect of that is how many programs across the country couldn't get the resources they needed or how many people were not helped because of this. Stand against immigrants and LGBTQ same-sex couples relationships. Yeah, and I think it's incumbent upon all of us to know how our elected officials vote on the issues.

Speaker 2:

Look through the lens of domestic violence. Look through and say, okay, that sounds nice, but how does it impact women and children? How does it impact the crimes that are committed against women and children? Case in point there is an elected official who's running for office right now who wants to do away with no-fault divorces. No-fault divorce means I can go into court and say my husband beats me and I can be granted a divorce that I don't have to prove that he beats me. Without a no-fault divorce, victims will have to have somebody witness the abuse, like it was in 1950 and 60, or they will have to have several people come forward and testify on her behalf. That's what no-fault divorce means. And this particular candidate has also said you shouldn't change a spouse or a partner like you change your underwear. You shouldn't cast off a marriage even if there is domestic violence. Quote unquote. Wow, so I think we all ought to be very careful about how we are voting.

Speaker 2:

Let's look past some of the rhetoric and some of the slick messages and really take a look at what is that going to mean? When my daughter is battered, what does that mean? Talking about laws, there is a law in Texas that I really hope this legislative session will address, and that is if, for example, if my daughter God forbid were murdered by her abuser, then the family cannot collect her remains without the perpetrator slash husband approving it, without the perpetrator slash husband approving it. So let's think about that. He's in prison. He's got nothing better to do, right? I want to bury my daughter and I can't. I can't claim her body Because he won't release them. He won't release them. So let's you know, I don't know there's so many things that we could do legislatively, but I'm so proud to have had a smidgen of input with regards to the process of the Violence Against Women Act and the Office on Violence Against Women.

Speaker 1:

That's an incredible recap and I also think it's incredible insight into what the future could look like if we didn't have this and if we don't continue to have VAWA, and if we don't continue to have no-fault divorces and rights for women, equal rights for women. So I appreciate you and I appreciate all of that information. Anything else that happened on your trip to Washington DC you want to share with us?

Speaker 2:

Yes, I would love to. So it was. The Office on Violence Against Women had a 30-year celebration of the passage. There were two days where on Thursday of that week, we were invited up for an all-day seminar at the Peace Corps office. So it was cool surroundings anyway, right, and the flags of all the states where the Peace Corps is involved were there, and we heard panel after panel talking about different programs and different laws and different issues and so on. It was really educational and really important. The next day we had an all-day seminar and it was held in the Department of Justice in the Grand Hall.

Speaker 2:

The Attorney General, merrick Garland, spoke, talking about the importance of the issues that face women criminally and how this country he is expecting to prosecute at the federal level some state crimes. We've seen this here in Dallas. Our United States assistant district attorney here in Dallas for North Texas has picked up cases out of the Dallas district attorney's office and prosecuted them federally. And that means there is no plea bargain, there is no get out of jail early. It is hard time the whole time. So is that a deterrent Gosh? I hope so, right, and it usually includes firearms as part of that process. Anyway, general Garland spoke for quite a long time about the importance of the Violence Against Women Act, as did Rosie Hidalgo, who now is the Senate sworn director of the Office on Violence Against Women and, as you know, has been a guest on your podcast. She has, she spoke the deputy director, attorney general, who is just brilliant. So that was a full day of that. But here's the exciting part.

Speaker 1:

Oh, you mean, there's something more exciting there is more so.

Speaker 2:

On Thursday afternoon, president Biden hosted a reception at the White House. Wow, people who had worked on this, been into the administrations, worked on the drafting of the legislations on and on were invited to be on the South Lawn legislations on and on were invited to be on the South Lawn. And he was going to say you know, he was going to address the group. Ruth Glenn of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence spoke a survivor of gun violence herself. She's amazing, she spoke and it was pretty great, anyway. So I'm on the way to the airport, right? And my executive assistant gets another email and says President Biden would like you to join him on the stage during his comments. Oh, I'm like, wait what? And so I said to my assistant I don't know, that doesn't seem like something I would like to do. Oh, heck, yeah, I'm going to do it, right, absolutely. Tell them yes and I'll see him tomorrow, right? So we were just absolutely taken care of. We were invited to go into the East Room of the White House where we stood for maybe an hour or two, getting on a platform so that when President Biden came in we would be set up for a picture with him. So there are probably I don't know 75 people in that room. When he walked in and talked about you know, thank you for what you do I thought it was going to be people who had been appointed during this time, but it wasn't.

Speaker 2:

It was people who work with Asian communities. It was people who you know, men who have been a part of the solution. It was people who work with women of color and people who work with Genesis Women's Shelter and Support here in Dallas, texas, and people who work with Genesis Women's Shelter and Support here in Dallas, texas. So if you picture the back of the White House, where it's got the rotunda right there, and the stairs that come down, we were on those stairs and boy oh boy, was that an amazing opportunity.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that must have been a moment, a real highlight of your life, and that trip as well. So September was an incredible month because, if that wasn't enough, genesis also had another first, with the launch of the Conference on Crimes Against Women Summit Beyond the Bounds, hosted in South Padre Island in Texas. This was our first ever conference outside the city of Dallas and served as an extension of the Conference on Crimes Against Women to highlight the specific gender-based challenges that are unique to coastal cities, rural towns and resort communities, because victims and survivors of coastal cities, rural towns and resort communities are confronted with geographic isolation and transportation issues, as well as a lack of anonymity and limited access to resources and services. To address these issues, the Conference on Crimes Against Women Summit provided education, training and best practice strategies to address some really specific problems. Tell us about that Absolutely.

Speaker 2:

First of all, we have always had concern for rural communities that have the biggest problems and the fewest resources. We have actually done webinars and working with the Office on Violence Against Women, gone into rural communities to help create coordinated community responses. So let's think about South Padre Island. So let's think about South Padre Island. I believe they have seven people on their police force. For a community that is, you know, normally just fine, but then during summer, especially during spring break, it swells to just millions of people coming and going out of South Padre Island. We looked at their particular problems being a coastal resort, being a spring break resort, if you want to call it that, rural, fewer resources. Way down in the Rio Grande Valley and we walked in with I don't know 12 of the best experts from our Conference on Crimes Against Women that we hold in May and we took them south and took them to the beach and we talked about aquatic homicide. Aquatic homicide is proving that she didn't slip in the bathtub, that she was held under or her face was held up under the spigot. She didn't fall off the boat, she was, you know, pushed off and drowned. And how do you investigate those? We also had experts talk about sexual abuse and there was a case, maria, you and I have talked about it and you have interviewed the mother, tracy Matheson. Yes, her daughter, molly Jane, was murdered and raped and murdered in Fort Worth, texas. One of the first rapes of this monster that did it to this child. This woman was on South Padre Island and a woman named Katie was on spring break and she, you know, met this guy and he seemed fun and they were on the beach. He eventually raped her and then he is caught. He said he did it. They got a buckle swab that had a CODIS hit on it and by that time, though, spring break is over, katie goes home, he leaves to go on and rape in North Texas, to rape and murder in Dallas area and rape and murder in Fort Worth. This case was just so solid.

Speaker 2:

The police department of South Padre Island did an amazing job on that particular case wrapped it up with a bow, had all kinds of evidence, his confection Sure, I did it whatever. I did it whatever. I mean. Do you hear me say that I did it whatever? Yeah, it's incredible. So they put the case together and they had submitted it to the DA's office. And you don't hear right away. I thought you kind of could, you know, stick it in the vote counting machine and it'd come right back out saying we take it or we don't.

Speaker 2:

They decided after about I think, 10 months or a year that they were not gonna prosecute that case. Now think about that. Had they prosecuted that case, had they held this monster named Kimbrough accountable, would these two other women be alive? What about all the rapes in between? It just broke the hearts of that department because they were the ones who worked with Katie, continue to work with Katie and imagine a mother of a child who was murdered when this guy slipped through the hands of law enforcement and prosecutorial efforts.

Speaker 2:

Anyway, we talk a lot about sexual assault, how to prove it, how to prosecute it. Also, we talked about human trafficking. So close to the Mexico border. There is a lot of that in that area, and so that was one 911 reporting and how to do it with kind of a trauma-informed approach, which most of those police officers had absolutely no idea what we were talking about when we said those words. Obviously, domestic violence and law enforcement, report writing and nursing and prosecutorial perspectives. So it was a robust two days with experts that the Valley never could have known who they are much less afforded to bring to their community. So I'm super proud of this summit and we look forward to doing it again. It's amazing.

Speaker 1:

I mean there were over 250 people attended 24 workshops, 33 speakers 25 states, maria, that's amazing.

Speaker 2:

25 states, maria, that's amazing. 25 states, and I think it was six tribal nations. Yes, two of our attendees were from Hawaii and I don't know. I don't think they came for the beach, because, even as lovely as South Audrey is Right.

Speaker 1:

It's a little bit of a different experience.

Speaker 2:

But they came to learn these kinds of things. 25 states.

Speaker 1:

Well, that actually makes perfect sense, though I mean the one thing we yes, yes.

Speaker 2:

And here's something so great. Our keynote speaker, who's the country's leading expert on aquatic homicides, then did two breakout workshops on the beach. They taped it off. They had everything from the discovery of the body to the interview of the person who found the body role-played. That reenacted the crime scene. How she was dressed, how you know how typically that is not the way somebody floats up and you know the fact that she was found face down. It had something to do with it as well, because there were scrapes on her knees and they said, oh well, that's just the gravel on the bottom in the sand and it's not. They float up face up. And so they could tell the bruises on her body was not, didn't have anything to do with slipping off the boat. So it was fascinating and I love this part. I'm going to brag on our advocates of the world. I was out there on the beach just watching and they were interviewing, role-playing the interview of the witness, the one who found the body. Oh, my gosh, I think that's a body out there. No, no, it's not there is. There's a body out there.

Speaker 2:

And so a police officer was taking her statement. He stood over her with his arms crossed full uniform elbow on his firearm and was like okay, what happened? And she's like I don't know, I saw something, you know that kind of thing. And so he would say well, I need, you know, I need to do a report right off the bat, right? Finally, an advocate couldn't take it anymore and she said can I just please try this and show you how to do this? And so she gets over there, I level with the witness and said you know what? Can I get you a drink of water? Can I, you know? Is there anything I can get you right now? Have you had anything to eat? I'd be happy to grab something for you. And then, just how are you? How are you feeling right now? Before, hey, what happened? Or whatever. So I could tell the cops sort of cops versus advocates the cops were getting their backs up a little bit Like well, that's not how we do it, or I don't have time for that, or you know, whatever, I still need a report.

Speaker 2:

And at the end of this workshop on the beach, I saw these big old guys nodding their heads and saying I never thought about that. I promise you I'm going to do this differently from now on. And I was like and there you have it, you know, sure. So anyway, it was an amazing two days and the facility was great. The island was so hospitable. They threw a party on the deck of the hotel on the first night, with fireworks, just for us. How exciting, oh, I know it was really great and they just kept saying thank you for doing this. Where other conferences I've gone to and it's been kind of like yeah, okay, what's in it for me? Don't you serve lunch? Kind of thing. Oh, they were so grateful because they never could have had this kind of training had we not brought it to South Padre Island.

Speaker 1:

That's amazing Training, training everywhere for the Conference on Crimes Against Women. Side note, the 2025 conference will be held in Dallas, texas, may 19th through the 22nd at the Sheraton Dallas. Learn more and register now at conferencecaworg. And may I add that there is so much education available as well through our National Training Center on Crimes Against Women that I almost can't mention it all. There's just a few highlights In October, a DV symposium that is a deeper dive into tactics of the abuser. In November, topics on strangulation with Kelsey McKay. In February, the Institute on Prosecuting Domestic Violence, office of Special Trial Counsel. All of these trainings and more you can find information on the website, trainingcaworg. And as if that wasn't enough, we also hosted the seventh annual First Ladies Bruncheon on October 5th at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel, and what a lovely event that was. For those not familiar, jan, what is the First Ladies Bruncheon and who does it support?

Speaker 2:

So we know that domestic violence is an equal opportunity epidemic. It happens in all neighborhoods, all ethnicities, all race, all creed, all zip codes. But we know that African-American women are assaulted 35% more than white women. Now, I don't think that means that black men are more violent. I think that means the assaults are more often and they are more, possibly more severe, and they are tremendously underreported.

Speaker 2:

So for many years, genesis has had the strategic plan of addressing the needs in underserved communities, and one of these communities is the African American community. So we began looking around, thinking what can we do to help? We gave grants a couple of times to people who are trying to do good work. Many of the efforts are not 501c3 efforts, so they could not get donations, and we tried to do a webinar seminar on how to get a 501c3.

Speaker 2:

But what we came across was that in the southern sector of Dallas, on any given Sunday morning, there are probably 500,000 people who go to that area to worship Mega churches like Concord or Potter's House, but also these wonderful congregations like Smith Chapel, ame, where the first ladies, particularly the First Ladies of those churches, are not only celebrated but they also have ministries to help survivors of intimate partner violence. And so we began reaching out to those communities, recognizing the impact that their ministries had, but also recognizing that they were not taking that next step to partner with Genesis, to have the resources beyond what they can do in that faith community. So we actually, seven years ago, partnered with many of the churches, the African-American churches in Southern Dallas, dallas, to host First Ladies Bruncheon. We put on our hats and we get on our praise and I am telling you what we recognize primarily First Ladies, but then also men of faith, survivors, and we have quite a bruncheon.

Speaker 1:

And last Saturday- we do have quite a bruncheon.

Speaker 2:

We have singing, we have preaching, we have a room full of 500 people saying that we work this together Because it's not a black issue, it's not a white issue, it's a human beings issue and we all need to have the answers to those. So it was amazing. Shalondria Taylor. Pastor Shalondria Taylor, from California, came in and did our message that morning. I mean, it was hands in the air. It was just incredible. You walked out filled with something that you didn't come in with. You walked out filled with the knowledge that domestic violence is not the victim's fault, this is not a woman's issue, that men have to be a part of this, that faith communities can have a tremendous impact on this issue. So very successful event. It was beautiful.

Speaker 1:

It was beautiful, wasn't it? Yeah, I loved every minute of it. It was a beautiful morning and a beautiful celebration of the joy of life and the possibilities beyond living in an abusive relationship. We also most recently, at Genesis, hosted a domestic violence town hall with Dallas County Sheriff Marion Brown. Tell us about the significance of a town hall on this topic and what was discussed.

Speaker 2:

Great question. So we actually, as you say, hosted Sheriff Brown. It was one of her efforts in recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we had a room full of law enforcement and advocates and survivors and a panel of information. I was there representing the service providers. Next to me was Major Monica Igoe, who is over the domestic violence unit with the Dallas Police Department, and we also had Ms Austin, teresa Austin, from the district attorney's office, talking about what happens when you file a protective order, how to, what's the difference between a restraining order and a protective order? So, from the legal point the police department, from the resources Sheriff Brown really wanted the community to know that there are there's more than shelter, there's more than a police response, and we were able to talk to the audience about what those kinds of things are and we were able to talk to the audience about what those kinds of things are.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's a very important gathering, especially during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I know this month we're recording this in the month of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I know it's really jam-packed with events, especially education and supporting survivors and really declaring the anti-domestic violence movement is still here. It's here to stay, and VAWA has confirmed that. So we are moving on to the rest of the year with so many events. I hope you will save the dates for Jamfest on November 2nd, masquerade on February 28th 2025, and the Genesis Annual Luncheon, may 1st 2025. All of the details about these events and more are on our website, genesisshelterorg, and when you follow Genesis on social media, you can get even more information more information, jan, the last word.

Speaker 2:

I have a secret with who our speaker is going to be in May of 25, on May 1st. Are you going to tell us and I'm not supposed to tell, but I'm going to tell you, and I don't know anybody who's listening to this podcast that Kristen Chenoweth is going to be our speaker? Oh, wow, we are so thrilled. Broadway star, actress, amazing, and this summer she was able to share a story of abuse in her first marriage not her current marriage, but her first marriage. And, as you know, every luncheon that we have, we try to tie it to the issue. It isn't just hey, I want to meet a famous person. This is somebody who is an expert on the issue of domestic violence and we are thrilled that she will be our keynote speaker at the Genesis Annual Luncheon next May. That is a great secret, but don't tell anybody, okay.

Speaker 1:

It's too bad, we can't tell anybody.

Speaker 2:

We can't tell anybody okay, not yet, okay tell your friends.

Speaker 1:

By your table now. Okay, well, on that note, I guess I will see you next time. Thanks for being here.

Speaker 2:

I love being here. I just you do such a good job. Number one, but number two this is information that Genesis wants to share with listeners all across the country, all across the world, actually, as this podcast is followed. So thank you for having me and remember, let your voices and your votes be heard.

Speaker 1:

Genesis Women's Shelter and Support exists to give women in abusive situations a way out. We are committed to our mission of providing safety, shelter and support for women and children who have experienced domestic violence, and to raise awareness regarding its cause, prevalence and impact. Join us in creating a societal shift on how people think about domestic violence. You can learn more at GenesisShelterorg and when you follow us on social media on Facebook and Instagram at Genesis Women's Shelter, and on X at Genesis Shelter. The Genesis Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by call or text at 214-946-HELP 214-946-4357.