The Women’s Coalition of St. Croix is looking for more community volunteers to support their advocacy program. During their annual meeting held on Wednesday on St. Croix, Executive Director Clema S. Lewis presented the coalition’s annual report to an audience of about 50 people and emphasized the need for additional volunteers.
Lewis said the Women’s Coalition has provided 3,000 new and follow-up services for victims of crime just this past year. Currently, the coalition has 20 active volunteer advocates.
“This is really sad because you know we have 30 to 31 days in the month, and we do not have enough advocates in the month. We have to double up and I’m sad to say that the staff is doing some of the advocate duties. We have to have people for 24 hours a day,” Lewis said.
On Jan. 7 Lewis said the coalition will be conducting advocate training to bring on more advocate assistance. “We need people who will go to the hospital, the emergency room and meet victims where they are anytime during the day, at night, weekends and holidays and help,” she said.
Lewis also said that during the month of October, the coalition saw some of the most violent acts of domestic violence cases and said the incidents are getting even more violent. “They are burning them, cutting them, and dragging them,” she said. “I think I’ve seen more violence this past couple of months than I’ve seen in my 40 years doing this program.”
Additionally, the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix is seeking board members. Members of the board of directors, Melbourne Adams and Karen Hunt, put out the word during the meeting. Adams said that once you are on the board, members cannot serve longer than three years.
The mission of the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix is to support and empower people impacted by violence. “You notice it doesn’t just say women. Our agency provides services to women, men and children. We do not and cannot discriminate against anyone,” said Lewis.
According to Lewis’ report, the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix has sheltered 35 survivors and children of domestic violence, sexual assault and or stalking at the Sojourner House Shelter. They have also provided transitional homes to five families.
Some program highlights included Lewis testifying on Bill No. 35-0182 regarding “revenge porn” under the Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Committee. Lewis also testified in front of the Senate on Bill No. 35-0031 to allow children the right to testify in a closed courtroom or closed-circuit television. Lewis said that she appreciated the senators questioning and involving the coalition to fight for survivors.
Other annual programs the coalition celebrated were “Stalking Awareness and Human Trafficking Month,” “Teen Dating Violence Month,” “Sexual Assault Awareness Month/Child Abuse Prevention Month,” and “Domestic Awareness Month.
Later in the meeting, guest speaker Jennifer Prosper shared a moving speech about how the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix helped her turn her life around. The coalition’s board of directors also held its annual election, in which the members remained the same.
Advocates will be promoted on Facebook. For more information, contact the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix directly at 340-773-9272 or via email at info@wcstx.org.
