CSD, the nation’s largest deaf and hard of hearing services provider, expands on its role as expert community resource by hosting Marilyn Smith’s Sioux Falls visit.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (May 5) — Marilyn Smith, Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS) founder and executive director, will be presenting a workshop on Friday, May 7 at 1 p.m. on the campus of Augustana College, at Kresge Recital Hall. Smith, who founded ADWAS in 1986, has themed her upcoming workshop “The Quest to End Violence in Deaf America.” The presentation is open to the public and is free of charge.
Smith is an award-winning advocate, honored with the Sunshine Peace Award, the Ford Foundation’s prestigious “Leadership for a Changing World,” among many others.
When Smith founded ADWAS, her purpose was to provide services within a safe haven for deaf and deaf-blind victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. The ADWAS business model was effective, and along with grant funding from the Office for Victims of Crime, ADWAS was able to replicate its programs in 19 cities across the nation with sizable deaf populations. ADWAS was also the first organization to provide a transitional housing program for deaf and deaf-blind victims. ADWAS services also include a 24-hour crisis hotline, educational programs and advocacy for deaf and deaf-blind victims of sexual assault or domestic violence. For more information, go to www.adwas.org.
Sioux Falls was selected by ADWAS as one of 28 cities to participate in replication training through a grant from the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. Two deaf women represented Sioux Falls at an intensive training workshop over a six-day period and as part of their commitment, they were to return home and organize their community to promote services for deaf victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Along with coordinating Smith’s presentation, CSD is organizing business network meetings, community gatherings and advocacy trainings among area service providers, community members and leaders. CSD operates domestic violence programs — also replications of ADWAS programs — based in St. Paul, Minn. and Tulsa, Okla.
“We are privileged that Sioux Falls was chosen as a location to replicate ADWAS programs and welcome Marilyn Smith’s visit to our city,” said Nikki Darland, CSD director of advocacy. “CSD looks forward to enhancing its current advocacy programs by providing culturally and linguistically relevant services to deaf victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.”
For more information, please contact Darland at (605) 540-4158 voice/videophone or by e-mail at nsdarland@c-s-d.org.
- Thanks to CSD E-News, 5/5/10.