Raising Awareness of Domestic Violence

Raising Voices
Faith leaders connect and raise awareness about domestic violence

Faith Leaders CONNECT with Domestic Violence Advocates for Human Rights Day

On International Human Rights Day (December 10, 2014), the Flushing Interfaith Council and CONNECT sponsored a networking event focused on domestic violence and economic development in the diverse Flushing community. This second annual event, entitled “Joining Voices: Raising Awareness,” took place at Friends Meeting House this year and convened more than forty faith leaders, community advocates, and local residents. The goal was to build connections, share resources, and encourage cross-cultural collaborations with all parts of our community – including people from different religious, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.

The United Nations proclaimed December 10th as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. This year’s slogan, “Human Rights 365,” encompasses the idea that every day is Human Rights Day. It celebrates the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values.

The networking breakfast was organized by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Flushing Interfaith Council and CONNECT. The Flushing Chamber seeks to foster the economic growth, inclusive diversity, and shared prosperity of greater Flushing through advocacy, networking, and mutual aid. Founded in 1993, CONNECT is a leading non-profit training, educational and advocacy organization dedicated to the prevention and elimination of interpersonal violence in New York City. The Flushing Interfaith Council works to build within Flushing a community that fulfills and surpasses the dream of toleration voiced by the Flushing Remonstrance more than 350 years ago.

Participants included: Dr. Sally MacNichol and Anindita ChatterjeeBhaumik from CONNECT; Rev. Wilfredo Benitez, Rector of St. George’s Church; Naomi Paz Greenberg, Flushing Interfaith Council; Runita Toomer from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Queens; Mohan Ramaswamy from the Hindu Temple Society of North America; Caroline Lane from Flushing Monthly Meeting; Judy Wang and SuMan Chou from the Tzu Chi Foundation; Kristen Liu, Executive Director of Garden of Hope; Stacy McKelvey, Director of Development at YWCA Queens; Eunkyung Kim, Director of Shelter and Community Outreach, Korean American Family Service Center; John Choe, Executive Director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce; and, Martha Flores Vasquez from Community Prevention Alternatives.