Compassionate Kindness and the Impact of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Compassionate Kindness and the Impact of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

April marks National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), and through that, some extra outreach and celebration of our Survivors’ Program. This year, we were able to partner with local police departments and district attorneys to display a banner and yard signs to raise awareness of the national movement, places where community members connect with our Survivors’ Program. We have also partnered with Craft’d in Cedar Rapids, and Scooter’s locations in Fairfield, Mt. Pleasant, and Keokuk throughout our service region for them to serve coffee with special sleeves for the awareness week. Lastly, we partnered with local grocers, such as Matthew 25’s Corner Store in Cedar Rapids and New Pioneer in Iowa City to distribute grocery totes with our information about NCVRW. All of this is done with the intent to encourage community members to take a moment to learn about this national movement and ask how would you help a survivor of violent crime?  

In speaking with our Survivors’ Program Director, Penny Galvin, recently, I was reminded that there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all method to help a survivor. In fact, she said, “that it’s important not to assume to know what a survivor is thinking or experiencing. There is no universal experience of loss, and no universal way of healing from violence”. That advice made me understand how important listening to a victim’s viewpoint will help return some power and control to them by affirming they have the space, support, and time to voice their challenges to move forward. By asking questions and providing resources that respect their choices will empower them to believe they know what’s best for their healing. I feel this is one of the most vital parts of advocacy work.

It’s a special and especially soft kind of kindness, and one I’m not sure is easy to articulate until you are in a situation where you receive it yourself. I say this because that is what I received when violence impacted my family nine years ago. The kindness of compassionate listening from friends, professors, and especially counseling professionals is a huge part of what helped me carry forward and heal from that trauma. It is something I’ve felt from the staff of the Survivors’ Program since they’ve joined Waypoint. I’m very honored to work with our team of Advocates who are so full of care and dedication to victims of crime in our communities throughout 14 counties in Iowa. It’s because of my prior experiences and interactions with these Advocates that I have worked so hard to get the word out about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

This year, we are back with hosting in-person events to observe this national movement. In addition to our outreach through coffee sleeves, grocery totes, and signs, we held an opening ceremony and will host a vigil to give survivors a space to remember those they have lost to violence. There is also a Go the Distance for Crime Victims 5K to help raise funds for area programs that support individuals impacted by crime. To learn more about these events, go to our website, www.waypointservices.org.

I invite any reader to read further about other crime victim related trainings, and to ask yourself how would you help a survivor of violent crime?  

- Thoughts by Jade Riley, Waypoint Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator

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