“Sleeping With My Eyes Open” January 25, 2012

Slate Magazine is an online magazine that provides commentary on politics, news, and culture.  The publication includes a column called “Dear Prudence,” to which readers can submit letters to “Prudie” asking for advice on a variety of things.  On January 9, 2012 Prudence posted a video responding to a woman who identified herself as “Sleeping with My Eyes Open”.

The woman reaches out to Prudence for help and receives a shockingly close-minded and problematic response.  During the beginning of their marriage, the couple would often wake up in the middle of the night to have sex.  At first the sex was consensual, but then she spoke with her husband and made it clear that she wanted it to stop.  The sex continued.  Not only did the woman explicitly state that she did not consent to middle-of-the-night sex, she would also scream and try to push him off of her.  After questioning her husband’s actions and repeatedly asking him to stop, he responded that he “cannot control himself.”

Prudence’s response is distressing.  She calls the husband a creep, but his actions may not be his fault.  She advises the wife to take her husband to the doctor for a medical evaluation, because he might have a sleep disorder that is causing his actions.  Prudence even says “if it seems that he just enjoys forcing himself on you” then they need to see a marriage counselor as soon as possible if they do not want to end up divorced.  Forcing.  If force is used to obtain sex, then it is not a consensual act; it is rape.  Prudence completely disregards the fact that this woman’s husband is raping her.  Whether other abusive aspects of a relationship are present are unknown.  Prudie doesn’t even suggest that the woman’s husband’s rape is being used to control or manipulate her.

Understanding consent is vital.

Consent is an agreement by all partners to engage in sexual contact of any kind.  It must be verbally expressed, and manipulation, force, or substances cannot be used to obtain consent.  The absence of “no” does not mean “yes”.

In “Sleeping with My Eyes Open’s” situation, she asked her husband on more than one occasion to stop having sex with her during the middle of the night.  The wife is unconscious and unable to consent during the middle of the night.  The wife screams and tries to push her husband off of her while he is having sex with her.  There are three layers of expressed non-consent.  Her husband does not have her consent; the sex that Prudence sees as a sleeping disorder is not a disorder, it is rape.  No matter how hard it is, we must identify sexual violence for what it is.  To minimize or ignore it is only allowing the perpetrator to hold more control.

Unfortunately, this story of intimate partner rape is all too common.  According to recent surveys completed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women report having been raped in their lifetime.  Of those women, more than half were raped by an intimate partner.  Sexual violence should never be excused.  The survivor is never at fault.  Prudie’s response is extremely troubling.  The woman should have been referred to an advocacy agency, not a marriage counselor.

The woman reaching out for help from Prudence is not experiencing just a relationship problem.    Forced sex is never okay, no matter the type of relationship the perpetrator has with his/her victim.  If someone reaches out to you who is experiencing an issue in their relationship, stop to think about what is really going on.  Don’t be like Prudie.  Listen to the person, believe what she or he is saying, and do not feel like you cannot reach out for help if you don’t know exactly how to respond.  The employees and volunteers at Family Violence Prevention Center are trained to help.

Our Hotline Advocates are here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Whether you have questions, are looking for help, or just need an understanding voice to talk to, FVPC’s Hotline Advocates are always available to talk at (919)929-7122.

Rape in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo January 19, 2012

The new movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo based on the international best-selling book trilogy by Stieg Larson  opened to lukewarm reviews (here are a few- 1, 2, 3).  The movie, an American adaptation of the Swedish books and prior European movies, is directed by David Fincher and stars Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara as the two main characters. Emma Gray, of The Huffington Post, describes Mara’s character, Lisbeth Salander, as a “character that women love to love.” Despite this comment and the large woman fan base of the books, the American version of the book is having a difficult time getting women viewers interested, according to Vulture, an entertainment news site. There are many theories on why one of the prime demographics for the books is faltering when it comes to the movie version.

Lisbeth Salander is a 24 year old computer hacker with a violent past. Salander teams up with journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) to solve a 40-year-old murder case.  One theory for why female fans are not in a hurry to see the movie is the movie’s graphic depictions of sexual violence. Most disturbing, perhaps, is a scene in which Salander is raped by her guardian.  While this event is a major point in the novels, reports indicate that the film does not endeavor to shield the offensive material from its viewers. In her article, Gray defends the movie, claiming the rape scene caused her to “burst into tears” and was “one of the most disturbing things [she's] ever seen,” but ” it did not “glamorize rape” and did succeed in putting a “strong, complex woman on the big screen.” While I applaud the depiction of strong women in movies, it is harder for me to move past the rape scene as easily.

I have not seen the movie and until researching the movie for this blog post, I had no prior knowledge of it or the books. I only knew what I have seen in the trailers and read in articles.  In the three trailers I saw for the movie, only one even hinted that such a scene would be shown. The “hint” is an older man with  Salander in a bleak office forcefully turning her head to face him while a voice over suggests she “learn to be sociable”, starting with him, assumedly. Watching that moment, while unsettling, is very different than watching a scene in which Salander is raped. In the reviews mentioned above, Gray’s article is the only one which gives more than a three word phrase about the scene. While the movie is rated R, the lack of discussion and warning over the scene in which Salander is raped by her guardian–not a stranger or a lover but someone who is/was charged with caring for her– is very disturbing. You might wonder how a rape scene is any different from a graphic murder scene or an explicit sex scene.  That is a fair question. While there is more than one answer, what I want to talk about is desensitization.

There was a time when saying one curse word in a movie caused an uproar. Now, curse words litter almost every movie that comes out.  Violence used to be something people did not want to watch. Deaths in movies happened with one bullet shot and no blood, or just by collapsing. Now there are real-looking guns and extremely realistic wounds and violent actions. And most people don’t blink. Violence is so pervasive in our society that most people view it as white noise. Now, footage has to be especially gruesome for a violent movie scene to be noticed. The stakes continue to be raised.

Rape and all sexual violence should not be placed into the category of cursing and violence in movies. The more we are inundated with violent images, the more naturalized they become, the less we notice them. And the more we accept it as an inevitable part of life. Just as violence does not have to happen, even more so, sexual violence does not have to happen. It should not happen.

The lack of discussion over the rape scene in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, shows that desensitization toward sexual violence is happening. If it was truly shocking, more people would be talking about it. Sexual violence is seen as sad, tragic possibly, but an unfortunate circumstance committed by sick individuals, not a by-product of desensitization. It is tragic, but it’s more than something that happens, it’s something that our society allows which is committed by ordinary people. Sexual violence is not something people are born with a desire to commit, like domestic violence, it is a learned behavior. It is learned through the media, through social opinions on women and men deserve, through the idea that sexual dominance is the ultimate dominance, that violence is a way to secure what is “yours”.

It is the same with interpersonal violence. We see someone pushing their partner and write it off. We hear partners screaming at each other, but decide it’s just something couples do. We hear about one partner slapping another, but it was in the heat of the moment; they didn’t mean it. A person is raped but he/she invited the person in, they were having a good time; it wasn’t rape.  All of these excuses stem from an acceptance on some level of what is happening. One reason why this acceptance happens is because of the desensitization of  the actions; because we have seen or heard about people committing acts of  sexual violence or acts of interpersonal violence so much we feel it is a natural part of life. Movies are not the only way we become immune to atrocities happening around us, but it is one vivid and easily accessible way in which we do.

I have not seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, so I will not comment on the quality of the movie and whether or not you should see it. But if you go, I want you to be aware that it has a graphic rape scene which may disturb you. I hope that it does disturb you. Follow Salander through her journey, which I read in reviews includes payback for her rapist, but also be aware of the majority of people who have experienced sexual violence do not get revenge or justice or any kind of action. Be conscious of  the fact that rape is not only something that happens in the movies, and do not let a movie depiction numb you to the real life ways in which the effects of sexual violence live on, and the ways in which you can act to help change the rape-prone culture in which we live.

Some ways to help include never excusing any act of violence whether it be within a relationship or not.  Always ask consent before engaging in sexual acts and understand that consent is permission freely given and is not a one -time deal. Be an advocate for survivors of  interpersonal violence and/or sexual violence. One way to be an advocate for survivors is by volunteering with FVPC, click here.

Holiday Closings December 23, 2011

Our office will be closed on Monday December 26 and Tuesday December 27 for the Christmas holiday.  We will re-open on Wednesday December 28 at 9:00 am.  We will also be closed on Monday January 2, re-opening on Tuesday January 3 at 9:00 am.  As always, our hotline is open 24/7/365 at 919 929 7122 for crisis counseling, shelter referrals, and other resources.

Giving thanks! December 21, 2011

2011 is drawing to a close and it feels like just the right time to give thanks to the folks who support our work. So, here’s just a few of some of those amazing friends-

• Our volunteers- Of course. 85-90% of client services are offered by volunteers, primarily trained Hotline Advocates but also by Spanish English interpreters.  Volunteers help clients with DVPOs, offer resources and referrals, crisis counseling 24/7/365, facilitate primary prevention programming like Start Strong and much more.  We would not be able to keep our doors open if it weren’t for them.  Literally.
• Orange County Sheriff’s Office–where would we be without these generous folks??  They speak at our new Hotline Advocate volunteer training sessions, answer questions all day from our advocates for clients, help our clients understand the DVPO process, respond to 911 calls from clients who need help and so much more!
• PORCH – PORCH supplies several local food pantries (including our small one) with non-perishable food items which allows those organizations to pass that food on to families and individuals in need.  PORCH gives us healthy staples like beans, applesauce, juice, cereal, pasta, tomato sauce, soup and more.  We are so grateful for this partnership.
• The Women’s Center- We refer clients to the good folks at TWC for attorney consults, therapy referrals and financial literacy programs. They also do resources and referrals for clients in need. They facilitate primary prevention programming as well at the middle school level with their Teens Climb High program.  Not our next door neighbor anymore but still close by when we need them!
• Our Twitter followers!- It may sound silly but these are the folks that help us spread the word about volunteer training, upcoming events, recent blog posts.  They ReTweet our tweets, attend events, talk us up and like us on Facebook.  What’s not to be grateful for?  These folks are true allies and fans.

There are so many more that we could name (how do we thank all of UNC-Chapel Hill for example?!) but we’ll stop here for now.  Whatever you do for us–donate a cell phone, read our blog, refer a client, etc. – we’re grateful.  Thanks for your support.  See you in 2012!

The secret no one wants to have December 9, 2011

PostSecret is a website many people enjoy visiting. It began as a blog that published anonymous secrets and has evolved into an internationally popular destination website with approximately 5 million viewers, a number of books, and a mobile app. While the concept has adapted to new technology, the premise is this: people send unsigned postcards to Germantown, Maryland where creator Frank Warren, then publishes the postcards on the PostSecret blog. Warren describe the blog as “an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.” It is a space to reveal the things you think about, or recognize, or are ashamed of. Things that you need to say out loud and have other people hear, but that you don’t feel you can or don’t choose to say to those around you. Each secret is accompanied by a picture to illustrate the secret. From flippant comments about facial hair, to more serious secrets about suicide, PostSecret has them all.

On Sunday, November 27′s blog post, 17 new postcards were posted. Among them were two postcards bearing the picture of a black eye. One, a postcard of a girl doll with a colored in green and yellow circle around her eye reads: “I would rather be hit than ignored. I know how bad that sounds. I needed to tell you.” The other, is a black and white image of the upper quarter of a face. A blue, green, and black mark is colored in under the eye. A voice bubble over the eyebrow reads: “I don’t know how to leave him.”

There are a number of disturbing factors to these postcards. An obvious one is that two more people are being abused. Two more people feel trapped in their situation. But what I would like to focus on is where these postcards ended up. On an anonymous secrets blog. The only action these two survivors felt comfortable with, was to acknowledge their abuse to an unknown mass in complete anonymity. Their abuse is the big secret they cannot reveal, yet must speak.

Why abused people stay in a harmful relationship is one of the most common questions related to intimate partner violence.  Many people might insist that they would never stand for abuse in a relationship.  Unfortunately in that statement is an inherent disconnection from potential sympathy for someone who is in a bad place and needs help. Abusive relationships come in every shape and size and effect every type of person. They can affect anyone at any time.  No one wants to see themselves as a victim of abuse. No one pictures themselves becoming an abuse victim.

There are many practical reasons a person might stay in an abusive relationship: fear, presence of children, economic barriers, religion, etc. but also common are reasons which can stem from internalized beliefs about how men and women exist in society i.e. a feeling that they need a partner to complete them, a belief they did something to deserve the abuse or can do something to change it, shame over their partner’s behavior and their own powerless to stop it.

It is these societally influenced reasons that, I believe, led to the two above mentioned postcards.  The postcard that read “I would rather be hit than ignored,” could point to a belief that we sometimes hear from female clients that they feel incomplete without a partner. This message is reinforced to women all the time through media, even friends and family.  Such as when the first question a relative asks upon seeing you is if you have a partner, the barrage of romantic movies, or the overwhelming amount of beauty/fashion/sex tips geared towards women so they can “find a man”. These  messages inundate the subconscious with the belief that women need men to be complete.  Add to this toxic mix a partner who reinforces this idea (“who else would be with you?” or “who else would love you/take care of your kids?” ) and/or subscribes to very firm ideas of male/female roles in relationships and it can be easy to see how victims can feel trapped.

The second sentence of that same postcard, “I know how bad that sounds,” is a recognition of the judgment that exists in the question “why do they stay?“. Abused individuals might have even previously said those things. By acknowledging that it “sounds bad” to stay with an abusive partner, the individual illustrates how she is torn between having a partner and being abused. Conversely, while intimate partner violence (IPV) myths (“not to people like me”) abound and an “us/them” divide exists, society simultaneously shames these women for being in the position which they were socialized into.  Social psychology explains that by marking someone as a “they,” people create  a divide which is hard to cross. When we create division over one aspect, such as whether a person has been abused or not,  we prevent unity on a range of other traits. This means we prevent change from happening, from help being extended.

The other postcard reads: “I don’t know how to leave him.” The fact that this individual doesn’t know how to leave her abuser strikes me as emblematic of another social problem: a lack of education about community resources and IPV. As noted by this blog’s title, one in four women will experience domestic violence be abused in her lifetime. When you consider the people effected by abuse besides the victim/survivor.  IPV is likely to affect everyone in some way in their his/her lifetime. The work done by organizations such as ours and partners like law enforcement and the judicial system is just not enough to increase public awareness of interpersonal violence. We believe that IPV is a community issue and requires a community response.  That means churches, schools, universities and places of business all need to get on board with helping build greater awareness about the prevalence of this issue and what can be done to help those in need.

Start with you!  Here are a few things that you can do right now. Learn some tips to be an effective ally, have your work or church host a cell phone drive, or volunteer at FVPC. These postcards exist because of all of us. We live in a world that labels abuse as something we cannot speak about. As long as an abuse victim feels this, they will be silent. Their silence and pain is all of ours. We all have work to do.

Time to Talk Day! December 8, 2011

Stephanie Piston is a survivor of domestic abuse. Since leaving an abusive relationship 17 years ago, she has become active in the community, spreading awareness and speaking out against domestic violence and its effects on victims. For the last several years, Piston has acted as the New York state action leader for the Love is Not Abuse (LINA), an initiative of Liz Claiborne, Inc. LINA’s primary goal is to educate preteens and teenagers about domestic abuse through curriculums enacted in their schools; however, they have also created “It’s Time to Talk Day”, which will be held today, Thursday December 8^th.

It’s Time to Talk Day is intended to highlight the importance of all sectors becoming involved in domestic violence-related issues. This includes government leaders, the media, the non-profit sector, as well as the private sector.  On December 8^th, Piston will join other LINA state action leaders and members of similar organizations to discuss the subject of domestic abuse. They will be joined by domestic violence experts, state and federal attorney generals, corporate leaders, legislators, celebrities, parents and teens at Liz Claiborne Inc. in New York City. All members will participate in a national day of discussion and awareness on domestic violence. This includes both a national dialogue as well as discussions between parents and teenagers. Piston hopes that the day will present an opportunity to bring the conversation to light and open discussion between parents and their children.

While It’s Time to Talk Day presents a much-needed opportunity to bring light to the subject of domestic violence, abuse won’t stop when the holiday is over.  When so many victims suffer in silence, we should look for opportunities every day to encourage people to talk about interpersonal violence. What can we do to spread the energy and enthusiasm of It’s Time to Talk Day throughout the entire year?

Sexual and gender-based taunts: the new wave of bullying December 7, 2011

Sexual double standards are alive and thriving, and now starting even younger than we would care to think. On November 11, Ashlynn Connor, a young girl from Illinois, committed suicide.  According to her mother Ashlynn was bullied for the previous two years. One of the preferred taunts by bullies was to call Ashlynn, age 10, a slut.

According to an article on LiveScience “slutbashing” has become a popular form of bullying for teens and tweens. Maureen McHugh a psychologist who spoke to LiveScience, defined slutbashing as labeling others as promiscuous or dirty. In the article, McHugh discusses how sexuality can be a sensitive and vulnerable subject for this age group as they are coming to terms with their sexuality. Labeling one another with terms such as “slut” and “whore” show the infiltration of sexual double standards into a younger audience. This double standard is the same which glorifies guys who have sex and shames girls who do. It is a tight rope without strict definitions; a girl must be sexual, but not too sexual. Faltering from this fine line often leads to being bullied and harassed.

While bullying is not done solely with sexual and gender-based insults, it is common. Teens that are homosexual are bullied three times as much as heterosexual students. Research into the topic shows that it is not so much the identity that kids have problems with, but the transgression of gender roles. During this time of development, tweens/teens are heavily policing one another in terms of gender and sexual identity. But the bullying is not kept to only nonconforming students. In a national study of 2,000 7-12 grade students, 48% reported they had been sexually harassed in the 2010-2011 school year.

Using sexual taunts and identity based insults as tools for bullying has potentially dangerous consequences. In the same national study, of the people who reported sexual harassment, 87% said it negatively affected them and between 25-37% said it made them not want to go to school.  Bullying is not a personal issue felt by the person being bullied. It is systemic and dangerous. And not only because of the risk of suicide. Kids who are bullied are less likely to perform to their highest ability in school and can have physical and emotional difficulties.

Ashlynn Connor is only the most recent in a string of teen suicides caused by bullying. In FVPC’s primary prevention program, Start Strong, volunteers go into middle school classrooms to discuss the topics of bullying and relationships. In the discussion of bullying, identity-based insults are covered specifically. An identity based insult is when a person takes a piece of someone’s identity to use as a put down. Volunteers discuss specifically how calling someone/thing “gay” and how calling someone a girl is problematic. Anytime someone attacks a fundamental part of you, which you cannot change, it creates tension and shame – two things one should never feel about being yourself.

Kids imitate what they see performed for them. When watching television, or talking with a tween/teen, make sure you are promoting healthy and positive examples. If there is bullying on a show you are watching, take a minute to talk about it. If you are prone to using gendered or identity based insults (like “gay” “retarded” or “queer”), think about how someone you care for might be hurt by their use.  If you hear someone else using them, talk to them about it. Bullying, like domestic violence, is a learned behavior, which means that the kids who are bullying today first saw someone else do it and get away with it.  Break the cycle.

iGive: Shop Till You Drop! December 2, 2011

As we continue into the holiday season, online shopping might be on your mind. As you are shopping to find that perfect gift for someone you care about, why not give back to FVPC too? With iGive you can do that! iGive is a website that donates to your favorite cause every time you shop online at over 900 stores such as Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Best Buy, Gap, and Eddie Bauer. Simply go to iGive before you start shopping, and up to 26% of your purchase cost will be donated to FVPC. Here’s how:

1)Go to iGive and register

2) Choose Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County as your favorite cause.

3) Online shop as you normally would through the iGive site.

After registering, ANY time you do online shopping, simple go to iGive first and proceeds will come to FVPC.

Register now and a $5 donation will be made to FVPC simply for you signing up! This initial 5 minute free registration, and additional 30 seconds to each online shopping trip will help FVPC continue their support of domestic violence victims in Orange County.

Please take the time to show your support for FVPC and the work that we do.

Volunteer Spotlight: Tora Taylor Glover December 1, 2011

With Thanksgiving having just passed, all of us at FVPC are thankful for the continued support of our community and most importantly the hard work of our volunteers. FVPC provides numerous invaluable services to residents of Orange County, NC. Services include but are not limited to a 24 hour crisis hotline, support groups, childcare, safety planning and legal advocacy. With limited staff members we rely heavily on the energy and dedication of our volunteers.  This month we are highlighting Tora Taylor Glover and the great work she does for us. 

How long have you been volunteering?
I have been volunteering as an Overnight Hotline Advocate since 2009.  I continued this role until 2010 when I became a Social Work intern.  Since the completion of my internship, I still volunteer with the agency, usually as a Staff Backup to other Overnight Hotline Advocates.

How did you learn about FVPC?
I learned about FVPC through an email I received from the Women’s Center.  I had been looking for a place to volunteer with flexibility since I was taking classes and working full time.  At the bottom of the page, I saw the training announcement for FVPC and decided to complete an application.  Since I was planning to pursue my MSW, I wanted to gain more experience in working directly with clients and truly feel like I was making a difference.  FVPC fulfilled all those needs and more!

Why do you volunteer?
I volunteer because I truly believe in the services the agency provides.  Domestic Violence and other types of interpersonal conflicts continue to occur at alarming rates within the community.  Without agencies like FVPC, many of those affected would not have the support needed to find resources that could possibly help their situations.  These service are valuable.  Most of all, I volunteer because I believe it is my duty to give back to the community and those in need.

What have you learned about yourself or others by volunteering here?
I have learned many lessons about myself volunteering at FVPC, but none more important than realizing that even though I am one person, I can make a small difference in someone’s life through just providing support.  Many times clients just need someone to listen to them and validate what they are going through.  Knowing that I have the skills to provide support through active listening has confirmed for me that working in social work is where I belong.

In regards to others, I have learned that DV and other types of interpersonal conflict affects everyone.  It does not have a race, class, gender, or religion.  It can happen to anyone, whether they are a victim/survivor themselves or through knowing someone that is a victim/survivor.

What happens next for you?
I graduate with my MSW in May 2012. After graduation, I plan to gain employment in the human services field and start working towards obtaining my License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW).

What would you tell prospective volunteers?
I would tell prospective volunteers to be aware of any personal biases they have surrounding the population so those biases do not interfere in their work with clients.  Continue to gain education on the population and ask questions.  Most importantly, take care of themselves as they work with clients.  They will not be helpful to clients if they are not practicing good self care.

Thank You for all you do, Tora!

Spring 2012 Hotline Advocate Training Dates! November 28, 2011

Are you looking for a little more meaning in your daily life?  Is your job frustrating to you and have you thinking about a career change?  Does going back to school sound attractive but you find yourself unsure of what to study and for what reason?  If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, consider volunteering with us.

Here at FVPC, volunteers help with the majority of number of the services that we offer.  They are support group facilitators, court advocates, community educators and hotline advocates.  They work directly with victims of intimate partner violence and they also help fundraise behind the scenes.  With all of the opportunities to help here at the Center, our volunteers gain real time experience that they can use in their current work, add to a resume, include on an application for grad school and more.

Hotline Advocates use the skills that they learned in training to assist clients in need with Domestic Violence Protective Orders, do safety planning, offer crisis counseling, refer out to partner agencies, screen for support group and much more. We offer extensive training for all volunteers. The Hotline Advocate training takes place over 6 weeks and includes topics such as crisis intervention, active listening, legal advocacy, understanding Orange County community resources, dealing with different populations, abuser typology, and more.  Graduates of the hotline advocate training work directly with clients who call our 24-hr hotline as well as drop into the office.

The dates for the Spring 2012 Hotline Advocate training begin Tuesday February 7 and run for 6 weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30-9:00 pm at The Seymour Center in Chapel Hill.  The complete dates are: 2/7, 2/9, 2/14, 2/16, 2/21, 2/23, 2/28, 3/1, 3/13, 3/14, 3/20, 3/22. We are off the week of March 5.  The training is completely free but we do ask for a 9-month commitment to the Center.

Spanish language on-call interpreters for Hotline Advocates are in demand!  The hours for this training and time commitment are much shorter but the need is still great.  FVPC does not have a Latino Services Coordinator so we reply on volunteers entirely to help serve our Spanish speaking clients.  If you are a Spanish speaker, consider giving us a few hours a week to help meet this need.

To learn more about why our volunteers work with us, check out some of our recent volunteers have done after leaving FVPC click here. If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, please call Elizabeth at 929 3872 or email: elizabeth (at) fvpcoc (dot) org. The application deadline is Jan 30 9:00 am.