NVRDC Welcomes 3 new staff members!
Megan Challender, Managing Attorney | [she/her/hers]
What about joining NVRDC is most exciting to you? Tell us how you think doing this work at NVRDC will deepen the important youth services you were doing at BTC.
I am thrilled to be joining an organization with a strong track record of victim services in the District of Columbia. I am looking forward to collaborating with and learning from our new colleagues to effectively serve youth survivors of dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. I am excited to join NVRDC at a time when the District has created a right to a youth sexual assault advocate and look forward to building NVRDC's capacity for serving youth survivors.
What does it mean for you that NVRDC is supporting the integration of BTC's work into its programs?
I am incredibly grateful to be able to carry on the legacy of Break the Cycle's legal services program at NVRDC. The support we have received from NVRDC both personally and professionally during the transition has been invaluable to ensure that we can continue to serve our clients. Our work includes not just representation of 12-24-year-old survivors, but also education in DC Public Schools surrounding healthy relationships and consent. Young people experience violence at the hands of an intimate partner more than any other group, so our support of young survivors and intervention efforts in schools can make a significant difference at an important time in a young person's life. It is affirming to know that NVRDC shares our commitment to serving this age group and has chosen to incorporate our program. Losing this program would have been a huge loss in the DC legal services community.
What drew you to this work?
When I first moved to the DC area I began volunteering as an on-call advocate with DC SAFE. My volunteer work on nights and weekends helping survivors obtain emergency shelter, food assistance and ETPOs inspired me to go to law school. I wanted to be able to help these survivors tell their stories and obtain the help they needed. During law school, I interned with Break the Cycle and developed a specific interest in assisting youth survivors of dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. I continued that work as a staff attorney at Break the Cycle and I am now grateful to supervise and manage this program.
What do you do for self-care?
I love reading and hiking and being silly with my preschooler.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth survivors?
My clients always teach me new things and inspire me to keep doing this work. They show such resilience during such difficult circumstances. I've been working with youth survivors for almost ten years and as a result, I've truly been able to watch my young clients grow up and find a new path forward. Each person's story is different, but it is fulfilling to be a part of their journey.
What is keeping you happy/motivated during this pandemic?
I really enjoy being home with my son and watching him grow and learn. I also started a garden last spring for the first time and have found a new and rewarding hobby that I look forward to continuing to explore.
Kirisha Marshall, Staff Attorney | [she/her/hers]
What about joining NVRDC is most exciting to you? Tell us how you think doing this work at NVRDC will deepen the important youth services you were doing at BTC.
I am most excited about joining an organization that has more support and a larger infrastructure. After coming from a smaller organization with fewer attorneys/staff, I felt like having that larger organizational experience. I think that I will be able to tap into the vast amount of knowledge and learn and grow from all of the different advocates here, which will deepen the work that I was already doing at BTC.
What does it mean for you that NVRDC is supporting the integration of BTC's work into its programs?
It is honestly so amazing to me that NVRDC agreed to take on this work that BTC has been so dedicated to. I always think it is important to realize that we deal with a specific type of survivor, and that sometimes requires handling cases/clients differently than we would others. It's important work to me, and I feel grateful that NVRDC saw fit to expand its services to continue this focus so that these specific individuals can keep having the care and focus they need!
What drew you to this work?
I have a love for helping people. And I love that with this I get to mix criminal law and civil law together.
What do you do for self-care?
Self care for me consists of bubble baths, whiskey, and face masks! And almost always some popcorn (but the kind you make yourself on the stove...with melted butter and everything :) )
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth survivors?
I think what's most rewarding is seeing that they have a chance to change their lives at a young age and not get trapped into bad relationship habits further down the life (hopefully). I try to teach them as much as I can, give them all the necessary tools they need so they can go be successful in the world and not have those same things happen again.
What is keeping you happy/motivated during this pandemic?
Even though my family is thousands of miles away, they really have kept me so happy during this pandemic! They are always pushing me to achieve more and always my biggest cheerleaders.
Adeline Murphy, Legal Advocate | [she/her/hers]
What about joining NVRDC is most exciting to you? Tell us how you think doing this work at NVRDC will deepen the important youth services you were doing at BTC.
I am most excited about NVRDC's holistic approach to survivor advocacy and hope to learn more about it while working alongside new colleagues. I am especially looking forward to learning from the other advocates and increasing the resources in my tool kit for supporting clients.
What does it mean for you that NVRDC is supporting the integration of BTC's work into its programs?
NVRDC integrating BTC’s work into it’s programs allows us to maintain our caseload and continue providing the services to youth survivors. We can insure continuity of services for our clients, providing a greater sense of support and stability for them. It means so much to me that NVRDC shares BTC’s goal of supporting youth survivors and is supporting our team in continuing our work.
What drew you to this work?
I became aware of the systemic issues within institutions handling sexual assault and domestic violence while in college, doing Title IX activism. This led me to a strong passion and interest in this field and I focused a lot of my studies on researching institutional victimization. After graduating, I was a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children and a Residential Coordinator at a domestic violence shelter, before coming to Break the Cycle. I am so excited to continue the next chapter of my work in this field at NVRDC!
What do you do for self-care?
I am an avid yogi and try to take the time to get on my mat for at least a couple minutes every day. I also love baking anything sweet, especially cupcakes (and of course eating cupcakes)! Lastly, I have a very extensive skincare routine, which is probably a little excessive, but I find that taking care of myself physically makes me feel so better mentally and is an important part of my self-care routine.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth survivors?
Working with youth survivors, I am repeatedly impressed with their resiliency in incredibly difficult situations. Although it is important not to minimize the lasting impact of childhood trauma, seeing youth survivors overcome challenges and begin advocating for themselves throughout the process is incredibly rewarding.
What is keeping you happy/motivated during this pandemic?
I have developed a love for growing plants since the pandemic started. Although I have definitely killed a few plants in my learning curve, it is so rewarding when I am able to watch something I’ve taken care of grow. I also take my dog for walks through a nearby park in my neighborhood as often as I can. I’ve found getting outside (in a safe and socially distant matter) is so important during the pandemic. And of course, spending time with my partner and keeping in close touch with my friends and family helps me maintain a sense of normalcy and stay happy!