On October 23, 2024, Volunteers of America-Greater New York hosted Creating a Brighter Future, our second annual domestic violence symposium. The event focused on the impact of domestic violence on children and youth, and explored innovative approaches to services for young survivors.
This year, more than 100 guests from across the human services field joined VOA-GNY at Lehman College in the Bronx for a day of education, advocacy, and networking.
VOA-GNY’s Director of Domestic Violence Services, Jacqueline Collazo, together with Clinical Art Therapist, Ornellia Cole, explored the value of art therapy—specifically sand tray therapy—for supporting children and youth who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence.
Neurosurgeon and CEO and Executive Director of Safe Living Space Dr. Edie Zusman presented on the medical impacts, including pediatric brain trauma. SUNY at Stony Brook Associate Professor Dr. Kathleen Monahan expanded the conversation to include the role and value of play therapy for young survivors.
The afternoon culminated in our Purple Table Talk, a panel discussion featuring New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, and Scott French, Administrator of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA). The discussion was moderated by Catherine Trapani, AVP of Public Policy at VOA-GNY.
Each year, an estimated 10 million adults in the U.S. experience domestic violence, and more than 7 million children are exposed to it. Building on our legacy of innovation, VOA-GNY is proud to help “create a brighter future” by working to improve care for survivors of all ages.