What is Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center?

main building
main building
meetings twice
a week
main building
meetings twice
a week
service for the communities-
Pawtucket, Central Fall, Lincoln,
and Cumberland
main building
meetings twice
a week
service for the communities-
Pawtucket, Central Fall, Lincoln,
and Cumberland

Service existed for

over 20 years and has
been located in this
building for over 10
years.
 Meet Joanna!
-Studied Human Development in family studies at
University of Rhode Island

- Volunteered at BVAC for a year and has been

working for two months

- Works at the shelter with children who are

victims and/or witnesses of domestic violence

-Takes care of the children at the day-care center

twice a week (Monday and Tuesday)

“It is very common for the agencies to provide childcare because majority of the time these women do
not have safe places to leave their children where the abuser would not find them. The would not feel safe
leaving them with family or friends because most likely the abuser already knows them and where they live
or they have isolated the victim to the point where they have no connections with anyone anymore”
What are the children like?
Tuesdays 6-7:30pm

*Ashley (12 years old)

What are the children like?
Tuesdays 6-7:30pm

*Stephanie (7 years old)

*Ashley (12 years old)

 What are the children like?
Tuesdays 6-7:30pm

*Stephanie (7 years old)

*Ashley (12 years old)

*Jennifer (7 years old)

 What are the children like?
Tuesdays 6-7:30pm

*Stephanie (7 years old)

*Ashley (12 years old)

*Maggie (3 years old)

*Jennifer (7 years old)

 What are the children like?
Tuesdays 6-7:30pm

*Stephanie (7 years old)

*Ashley (12 years old)

*Maggie (3 years old)

*Jennifer (7 years old)

*Ben (1 years old)

Children’s Room
Mission: Improving the experience in the center for the children
What can we do?
 Hanging out with the kids

“ I know why Mom has to come here”

“I like playing”

“I don’t like coming here. It’s a room for babies”

“I don’t like the toys here. I have better Barbie dolls at home”
 Casual conversations with Moms

“ I have no choice but to bring my kid here”

“ As long as my kids are safe, I’m okay”

“She hates coming here”

“I don’t know. I think she’s okay coming here.

She never complained”
 *Ashley (age 12) likes to hangout at the mall.

She likes the environment because...

-People don’t care what you do

-Music
-Don’t have to think about anything
-A place for everyone
-Like being with my friends

*Name changed
 *Sarah (age 5) likes to visit her dad.

My dad has a computer

and I play Barbie.

*Name changed
 Research

“Color, texture, decoration, softness, and difference are

atmospheric characteristics that were difficult to fit into the
rigid formula of the older hospital”

Sloane, Charles David, Sloane, Beverlie Constant. Medicine moves to the mall
(Maryland,The Johns Hopkins University Press2003) 93.

“Play is not a luxury but a necessity”, explains William

Penn, Jr., president of the American Institute of Park
Executives and superintendent of the Park Executive,
and superintendent of the Park Department in Oakland,
California. “It is something a child must have if he is to
grow up properly”.

Lee, Elam, Lee,Rosenhouse. Popular Mechanics (Playground with and

imagination), (USA: Hearst Magazines, 1956) 114
 Other day-care centers

The Women’s Center of Rhode Island started since 1974 to

Women’s Center provide service to domestic violence victims in the Providence
Community. The center is a non- profit organization that has
of Rhode Island won 28 prestigious awards and citation for the service of the
Providence community.

Women’s Resource Center of Newport & Bristol Counties

has been active since 1999 of October. The center has a Women’s Resource Center
Children- Who- Witness program for children who may be
the victim and/or the witness of domestic violence. of Newport & Bristol
Envisioning the space
Welcoming
Welcoming Excitement
 Welcoming Excitement

Engaging
 Welcoming Excitement

Engaging

Fun!
Where to start
 Fund-raising

Team Trickstar

Esther Boss

Louie
Saba Assistant
Assistant
Chris Graphic Designer
Justin Finance

David Assort the bands

 Budget

Lupo’s Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center

Small budget
Local bands

One floor

Non-profit organization
500 people
Admission for everyone
The State, private donation, DCYF,
DHS, government funds, local
agencies, violence against women’s
act
 Getting the word out (without mentioning BVAC)

Donations
Entertainment + Education

Sponsors

existing centers

Where the $ is going

RISD, Johnson and Wales, BROWN, RIC

 Getting the word out

Awareness
Entertainment + Education
Donations

of Domestic Sponsors

Violence existing centers

Where the $ is going

RISD, Johnson and Wales, BROWN, RIC

 Getting the word out
Letter and
Donations
Entertainment + Education
e-mail
Sponsors

existing centers

Where the $ is going

RISD, Johnson and Wales, BROWN, RIC

 Getting the word out

Donations
Entertainment + Education

Sponsors

Involving the
existing centers
community
Where the $ is going

RISD, Johnson and Wales, BROWN, RIC

 Getting the word out

Donations
Entertainment + Education
RI Coalition against
Hasbro, Walmart,
Domestic Violence, Sponsors

Elizabeth Buffum
existing centers
local agencies
Chace Center
Where the $ is going

RISD, Johnson and Wales, BROWN, RIC

 Getting the word out

Donations
Entertainment + Education

Sponsors

existing centers

Fund-raising team
Where the $ is going

RISD, Johnson and Wales, BROWN, RIC

are RISD students
Event was a success!
 Statistics
Future Plans

Women’s Center
of Rhode Island
Elizabeth Buffum
Chace Center

Domestic Violence Resource

Center of South County

Sojourner House
Women’s Resource Center
of Newport & Bristol
Freedom to express yourself!
Freedom to express yourself!
Creating their own environment
Cozy atmosphere

Encouragement between mother and a child

Discovering themselves
Hope

Making friends
Interaction, communication and understanding

A better experience for everyone!