HENRY STREET HOLDS 10TH ANNUAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS CONFERENCE More than 200 people domestic violence survivors, law enforcement officials, government officials, community activists and others attended Henry Street's 10th annual Domestic Violence Awareness conference held October 14 at the Abrons Arts Center. The conference, held during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is sponsored by the Settlement's Transitional and Supportive Housing division. Domestic violence survivors shared their stories, and other speakers covered intimidation, emotional abuse, economic abuse, isolation, coercion and, most important, how to stay safe when facing abuse. The theme of this year’s conference, “Each One Teach One,” chosen by Domestic Violence Program Director Frances Dreyton, who organizes the annual conference, focused on passing along information about domestic violence to others. “Educating the community about domestic violence is a priority,” said Geniria Armstrong, Deputy Program Officer for Transitional and Supportive Housing. “Whether or not you’re a victim, you might know someone who is. Sharing information can save lives.” HOME AT LAST: SHERA GREENIDGE “I felt like they were family, and everyone treated me like family.” That’s how 22-year-old Shera Greenidge remembers the staff at Henry Street’s Urban Family Center, a transitional shelter for homeless families. When Shera and her two sons, now ages two and three, moved into the Urban Family Center last year, they had already been in and out of the shelter system and longed for a real home of their own. During their 11-month stay at Henry Street, the family found the support and expertise they needed to transform this dream into a reality. Moving into the Urban Family Center, raising a family on her own and beginning the search for a permanent home all at once was challenging, but the staff of Henry Street was there to help. “Knowing that I had a real support system made things better,” Shera recalls. “This was my first time getting my own place, and I didn’t know what to look for.” The shelter’s housing specialist worked closely with Shera, helping her find a two-bedroom apartment. “In addition to helping families find permanent housing, we also provide a wealth of services and support to help each family member grow and succeed,” explains Geniria Armstrong, Deputy Program Officer for Transitional and Supportive Housing. Shera’s caseworker was there to advocate on her behalf when a problem with her public benefits arose. Her children attended Henry Street’s Family School, a day care center just for shelter residents, where her eldest son began to learn to read. To keep her spirits up, Shera and her sons participated in the shelter’s family music nights and she went to weekly motivational workshops that inspired her to stay focused on her goals. Now settled into her own home with her sons, Shera is excited to return to school and get her GED, and then pursue higher education and her dream career as a sign language interpreter. Though her two sons love having their own bedroom to share, they miss their Henry Street “family,” and often ask their mom to call just so they can say hello to the staff.