New York –
In an effort to encourage the creation of additional local services, advocacy and programs serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims of violence around the country, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) recently announced the first in a series of planned anti-violence "Training Academies." These programs are designed to help LGBT organizations, agencies and communities develop responses to hate violence, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, pick-up crimes and police misconduct.
The first such Academy will be held in New Orleans from May 21 - 23. Though NCAVP hopes to engage a significant number of participants from the Southeastern U.S., the program is open to participants from all regions.
"For years, NCAVP and our members have been helping communities without local anti-violence programs respond to violence incident by incident," said Clarence Patton, NCAVP's Acting Executive Director. "This Academy will create an opportunity for us to work proactively and develop resources for LGBT people in more places around the country," continued Patton. "In addition to giving participants some of the basic tools to begin doing anti-violence work, we're also very mindful of the fact that material resources are a major concern LGBT organizations have, no matter how much they'd like to create new or expand an existing initiative. Therefore, almost half of the program will focus on organizational development, smart program growth and planning - all of which will be helpful regardless of whether an organization is starting an AVP or not," said Patton.
"Over the years NCAVP staff and members have worked with many individual service providers, community leaders and organizers to develop anti-violence programs this program will enable us to broaden the impact of that work by introducing these concepts to a larger group and fostering growth and peer support for anti-violence work in a particular region. " said Rachel Baum, LMSW, NCAVP's Associate Director. " NCAVP is fortunate to be working with Mickey MacIntyre, who is helping us with providing the organizational development and capacity-building piece of the program - that will truly be both a value-added for participants as well as an ongoing support for those leaving New Orleans with the goal of starting an anti-violence program," concluded Baum.
There is no charge for attending the 2005 Training Academy. Organizations interested in participating can find additional information and register online here, or by clicking here.
The 2005 Anti-Violence Training Academy is funded in part by the Gill Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, and other members of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs.
According to statistics compiled by NCAVP and its member organizations, in 2003, reports of violence against LGBT people rose 8%, with a 26% increase coming in just the last six months of they year. Additionally, existing evidence compiled by LGBT domestic violence researchers and service practitioners indicates that domestic violence in LGBT relationships occurs at the same rates as in heterosexual relationships and that 25-33% relationships are abusive.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-positive communities. NCAVP is a coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBT and anti-HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization. NCAVP is dedicated to creating a national response to the violence plaguing these communities. Further, NCAVP supports existing anti-violence organizations and emerging local programs in their efforts to document and prevent such violence.
