Congresswoman Gwen Moore
U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) lauded the announcement of a $300,000 grant designed to help African American victims of domestic violence.
Asha Family Services, Inc., Wisconsin’s only culturally specific domestic abuse program for African Americans, is receiving the funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women.
The grant will be used to provide services to young African American women who have experienced domestic violence. Specifically, funding has already created jobs for survivors and will also be used to raise awareness and increase prevention through new media like Facebook and Twitter.
Congresswoman Moore said, “Culturally specific services for victims of domestic violence – like the ones provided through Asha Family Services – are necessary to help end domestic violence once and for all. I’m so thrilled that this funding will be put to good use in Milwaukee.”
Antonia Drew Vann, CEO of Asha Family Services said, “This OVW grant award is critical to our work with victims in Milwaukee’s more fragile communities, and we are thrilled to have it. These funds will allow us to expand what we do and how we do it. This new funding targets young adult victims of domestic and sexual violence, dating violence and stalking who represent the highest reported incidence of these crimes. Given the unfortunate increase in Domestic Violence homicides — up 31% over previous year — this grant is extremely important. As a culturally specific victim serving agency we must continue to modify and develop services based on the needs of those we are created to serve and this amazing grant allows us to do just that.”
Congresswoman Moore, co-chair of the Congressional Women’s Caucus, is a leader on domestic violence issues. She introduced the Family Violence and Prevention Services Act in 2009, and a modified version was recently signed in to law. Moore has also written legislation that would help low-income victims escape domestic violence. She also worked to create the Brides Walk – an annual event held in Milwaukee – to help raise awareness of domestic violence in the Latino community.