REACH Beyond Domestic Violence Annual Meeting
REACH held its Annual Meeting on June 1, 2009.
The evening included a presentation of the Silent Witnesses, which commemorated the lives lost to domestic violence in 2008, and the presentation of REACH’s Voice for Justice Awards.
Ruth Bigwood Voice for Justice Award presented to
Amy Favat.
Amy first joined REACH as a Holiday Gift program volunteer in 2006, and has since taken a lead role in the success of the program. As a dedicated shelter volunteer, Amy’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, mowing the lawn, loading donated supplies from Target into her car, and helping with the upkeep of the residence. On a monthly basis, she cooks a large meal for the shelter residents. Amy is truly a jack of all trades, and REACH is thrilled to recognize her compassion, energy, creativity and strength as a volunteer.
Virginia Bigwood Voice for Justice Award presented to Toni Amato.
Toni has been a teacher, editor and writing coach for over fifteen years. His fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies. Toni is also founder and director of Write Here Write Now, a grassroots LGBTI literary services collective, and also of publishing house Side Show Press. REACH is fortunate to have Toni work as a writing coach with the Survivor Speakers’ Bureau, a REACH program that supports survivors in writing and speaking publicly about their experiences with domestic violence and working with REACH.
Mary Young Voice for Justice Award presented to
Mithra Merryman.
Mithra is a Staff Attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services. She is a graduate of Barnard College and Harvard Law School. Mithra's practice is concentrated on representing battered women in various contexts including in immigration and family law cases. She teaches "Domestic Violence and the Law" at Boston College Law School and a related course at the Connell School of Nursing at Boston College. Mithra was the creator of the Latinas Know Your Rights program at REACH, which bridges cultural barriers within the legal system for Latina survivors.
The event was graciously hosted by the Massachusetts Medical Society.