Anti-Violence Project

SERVING NEW YORK'S LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER & HIV-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES

24-HOUR BILINGUAL HOTLINE: 212-714-1141

live without fear

 

about avp

Mission of the Anti-Violence Project

We empower lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and support survivors through counseling and advocacy.

Vision Statement

We envision a world in which all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected people are safe, respected, and live free from violence.

History of the Anti-Violence Project

The New York City Anti-Violence Project was founded in 1980 in reaction to neighborhood incidents of anti-LGBT violence and the failure of the criminal legal system to respond.

AVP remained an all-volunteer organization until 1984, when the first full-time Executive Director was hired. With the addition of full-time staff, AVP was able to broaden its services to provide professional counseling to victims and survivors of hate violence. AVP also began expanding our work beyond bias-motivated violence to include services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and HIV-related violence.

Today, AVP provides free and confidential assistance to thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected (LGBTQH) people each year from all five boroughs of New York City. The organization maintains a 24- hour, Spanish/English bilingual hotline staffed by professional counselors and trained volunteers providing professional and peer support counseling, as well as advocacy with police, courts, and social service agencies.

AVP works with the larger community through efforts to educate the public about violence within and against our communities and to reform government policies and practices affecting LGBTQH and other survivors of violence. AVP works to educate law enforcement, health care professionals, school-based staff, and social service agency personnel on violence issues impacting our communities.  By calling attention to discriminatory and re-victimizing responses, AVP works to hold law enforcement and social service agencies accountable to their obligation for fair and just treatment of LGBTQH people.

Additionally, AVP tracks and documents anti-LGBTQH incidents and domestic violence and uses this information to educate our own communities about safe dating, safe cruising, recognizing the signs of abuse, and much more.  AVP works to change public attitudes that encourage and condone hate-motivated violence, and to promote public policies designed to deter such violence.

AVP Goals and Strategies

AVP 2011 Annual Report

AVP 2010 Annual Report

AVP 990 2010

AVP 990 2011

Board of Directors

Officers:
Kevin Krueger, Board Chair
Ovita Williams, LCSW-R, Vice Chair
Kenneth Rogers, CPA, Treasurer
Thomas Salatte, Secretary

Members:

Jerry Blake
Addy Chabata
Kevin Costin
Todd Grasinger

Elizabeth Kivlan
Theodore McCombs
Thomas Negron
Andrew Owens
Lauren Wainwright
Elwin Wu

AVP Staff Listing

   Executive Office

 

Sharon Stapel
Executive Director
sstapel@avp.org

 

Joseph J. Barretto
Deputy Director, in charge of Development and Communications
jbarretto@avp.org

 

Ejeris Dixon
Deputy Director, in charge of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy
edixon@avp.org

 

Catherine Shugrue dos Santos
Deputy Director, in charge of Client Services
CShugruedosSantos@avp.org

 

Carla Smith
Deputy Director, in charge of Finance and Administration
csmith@avp.org

 

Finance and Administration

Elsa Gjyshi
Bookkeeper and Contract Manager
egjyshi@avp.org

Kate Traub
Executive/Programs Assistant
ktraub@avp.org

 

Community Organizing and Public Advocacy

Tasha Amezcua
Program Associate in Community Organizing and Public Advocacy
tamezcua@avp.org

 

Chai Jindasurat
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs Coordinator
cjindasurat@avp.org

 

Joyce C.W. Li
Local Organizer and Volunteer Coordinator
jli@avp.org

 

Darlene S. Torres
Education and Hotline Coordinator
dtorres@avp.org

Client Services

Sarah Brook
Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence Counselor /Advocate
sbrook@avp.org

 

Ursula Campos-Gatjens
Domestic Violence Counselor/Advocate
UCampos@avp.org

 

Victoria Cruz
Senior Domestic Violence Counselor/Advocate
vcruz@avp.org

 

Yesenia Gorbea, MSW
Community Based Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Counselor/Advocate
ygorbea@avp.org

 

Chanel Lopez
Community-Based Counselor/Advocate
clopez@avp.org

 

Jarad Ringer, LMSW
Hate Violence and Police Relations Program Coordinator
jringer@avp.org

 

Marie Romeo
Domestic Violence Program Coordinator
mromeo@avp.org

 

Desiree Rucker
Client Services Administrative Assistant
drucker@avp.org

 

Jase Schwartz
Hate Violence Counselor/Advocate
jschwartz@avp.org

 

Development and Communications

Mark J. Buhrmester
Major Gifts Officer
mbuhrmester@avp.org

 

Andrea N. Durojaiye
Development and Communications Associate
adurojaiye@avp.org

 

Sue Yacka
Grants and Communications Coordinator
syacka@avp.org

 

 

Please see our Services section to learn about the services the Anti-Violence Project provides.

To ensure the safety and welfare of our community, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to AVP.

View AVP's IRS form 990 from 2008 and 2009

 

© AVP 2010 | 240 West 35th Street, Suite 200, New York, NY 10001 | webmaster@avp.org | V: 212.714.1184 | TTY: 212.714.1134