DVSN
Blog
Check in monthly for updates on DVSN programs, services, & events. Plus, information & commentary about domestic violence issues, news, and related subjects.
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October 2025: Creatively Contributing – Building Awareness & Support in Unique Ways
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to spotlight this devastating and ubiquitous issue, help educate those who may not be aware of its many dark manifestations, and, of course, to lend support and solidarity to victims and survivors. There are...
September 2025: The Intersections of Bullying & Domestic Violence
Bullying is seen by some as a normal part of growing up and even as something that helps youth “toughen up” and develop social skills. However, bullying can have extremely harmful lifelong impacts, for both the victim and the bully, and is strongly linked with...
August 2025: Erasing Identity – The Diabolically Manipulative Deconstruction of Perspecticide
There are many different forms of abuse, from physical and verbal to financial and technological. Psychological abuse can be uniquely damaging because it messes with victims’ minds. “I think, therefore I am,” according to Descartes. But what happens when one can no...
July 2025: DVSN Updates, Strategic Plan, & New Initiatives
July brings DVSN into a new fiscal year, FY2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026), a perfect time to pass along some updates. In this post, we’ll take stock of some of last year’s accomplishments and look forward to what’s in the pipeline for the coming months. We’ll...
June 2025: Escalating Violence Against Transgender & Nonbinary People
Domestic violence is a universal issue that affects all ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and socio-economic statuses. Though anyone can experience abuse, there are unique aspects to different demographics that abusers can use to control those...
May 2025: Hope Shines a Light – Speech & Poetry by Kishana Smith-Osei
Every year in October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, DVSN holds its annual Light in the Darkness Candlelight Vigil. At this event, we honor the lives lost to domestic violence in Massachusetts over the past year by telling their stories and lighting a candle in...
April 2025: Discussing Domestic Violence with Children – Tips for Talking to Kids
Domestic violence is a difficult subject to discuss with anyone, let alone a child. It’s hard to know when and how to discuss abuse with children, how to help them understand, what level of detail to go into, or even whether to broach the subject at all. With April...
March 2025: Strangulation – Detailing Dangers & Demystifying Misconceptions
Strangulation is one of the most dangerous and most misunderstood domestic violence behaviors. It is a quick and easy way to cause serious harm and death, which very often leaves no external signs of injury. The risk of homicide for victims who have been strangled is...
February 2025: DVSN Discusses Navigating the Maze of Nonprofit Funding
[In June 2025, Deborah Maini, featured in this post, left her position as DVSN's Community Engagement & Philanthropy Specialist. Her tasks will be taken up by select staff and Board members, including the other two contributors to this post, to ensure the...