Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence.
Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence. This year, we are thrilled to present the 2023 Zero Tolerance Award to Yana Lukeman, activist and former co-chair of Sanctuary’s Family Council.
INTRODUCING YANA
Yana Lukeman has been involved with Sanctuary for Families for over 15 years. She was one of the earliest leaders of Sanctuary’s Family Council (originally called the Mother’s Council}, a group of parents who volunteer with their children in support of Sanctuary’s clients and mission. Yana has always believed strongly in the importance of teaching children about philanthropy
and has spent years providing hands-on enrichment to Sanctuary’s youngest clients with her own children.
She has created and executed countless projects that brighten the holidays for clients of Sanctuary, including Mother’s Day care packages and personalized gift baskets for Valentine’s Day. She and her family have been loyal participants at the annual Thanksgiving celebrations for clients, complete with buffet dinners and activities for children. Yana has hosted numerous events
in her home to share Sanctuary’s mission with a broader community, and has brought awareness and support to Sanctuary projects like the Orthodox Jewish Matrimonial Initiative and the Technology-Facilitated Abuse Initiative.
Through all this and more, Yana has become a passionate supporter and an enthusiastic advocate of Sanctuary’s holistic model. Her passion has inspired many others to join the Sanctuary community.
An immigrant from Israel and a former public school teacher, Yana serves on the national board of directors for AIPAC and is a founding member of the women’s division. Yana completed her undergraduate degree at George Washington University and received her Masters at Columbia University. She lives in New York City with her husband and three children.
Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence.
Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence. This year, we are thrilled to present the 2023 Zero Tolerance Award to Jennifer L. Kroman, co-founder of the FurtherJustice Foundation, Inc.
INTRODUCING JENNIFER
Jennifer is a lifelong champion of creating opportunities for underrepresented individuals and communities, including survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Most recently, she co-founded FurtherJustice Foundation, which helps community-based organizations launch and expand civil legal services programs.
Prior to that, Jennifer spent more than a decade as the leader of the award-winning pro bona practice at the law firm Cleary Gottlieb. Throughout her career, including as an associate and partner at Cleary, Jennifer provided direct legal services to hundreds of low-income clients. She also has trained scores of pro bono lawyers around the country to represent human trafficking survivors and has helped launch numerous pro bono legal service programs.
Jennifer has been involved with Sanctuary for Families for more than 25 years. She has personally taken on some of Sanctuary’s most challenging pro bono cases. Jennifer joined Sanctuary’s Board in 2014 and has been a source of invaluable wisdom and guidance for the past nine years.
In addition to being honored by Sanctuary, Jennifer has been honored by The Legal Aid Society, The Freedom Network, and the New York City Bar Justice Center for her work with low-income New Yorkers, immigrant children, and human trafficking survivors.
Jennifer received a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Michigan.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month — Learn about the compelling history of Denim Day, how sexual violence manifests in the context of abusive relationships, and how Sanctuary staff are taking action.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month— a crucial time to rally together, educate ourselves about the harsh reality of sexual violence, and support survivors on their journey to healing. One of the most notable initiatives during this month is Denim Day, a global movement that transforms ordinary denim jeans into a powerful symbol of protest against sexual violence.
In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into the compelling history of Denim Day, explore how sexual violence manifests in the context of abusive relationships, and share our staff’s unforgettable experience participating in the NYC Denim Day March and Rally.
What is Denim Day?
Denim Day was born out of a desire to challenge and change a deeply flawed narrative surrounding sexual violence.
Sanctuary staff at the 2023 Denim Day March
In 1998, the Italian Supreme Court made a shocking decision to overturn a rape conviction. The justices argued that the victim’s tight jeans suggested she must have helped her attacker remove them, which they wrongly equated to consent. This outrageous ruling sent shockwaves through Italy and beyond, as it reinforced the damaging myth that clothing can determine responsibility for sexual assault.
Fired up and ready to fight back, women in the Italian Parliament staged a bold protest the very next day. They wore jeans to work in a defiant stand against the court’s decision and the misconceptions it perpetuated. This courageous act of solidarity soon blossomed into an international movement, with Denim Day now observed worldwide every April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Sexual Violence Within Abusive Relationships
Sexual violence in the context of abusive relationships is a complex and often overlooked issue. Abusers often employ sexual violence as a weapon to exert power and control over their partners, using it to manipulate, degrade, and humiliate. It can take many forms, including rape, unwanted sexual contact, and sexual coercion.
Abusive relationships are characterized by a pattern of behaviors that are used to maintain power and control over the victim. This can include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Sexual violence is just one part of this pattern of abuse, but it can have lasting and devastating effects on the victim’s physical and emotional well-being.
Sexual violence in abusive relationships is often not recognized or reported, in part because of the shame and stigma that surrounds it. Victims may feel trapped, isolated, and powerless to leave the relationship, particularly if they are financially dependent on the abuser or have children together.
Understanding the complex ways sexual violence presents in the context of abusive relationships is crucial to supporting survivors and dismantling the systems that perpetuate abuse. By recognizing these intricate dynamics, we can better advocate for survivors and work toward effective prevention strategies.
Watch our webinar to learn more:
At Sanctuary, We #WearDenim
On April 26, 2023, Sanctuary staff members united for a cause dear to our hearts—the NYC Denim Day March and Rally. We proudly wore our denim as we marched across the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn Borough Hall to Foley Square, joining forces with fellow advocates, survivors, and supporters. Together, we raised our voices against sexual violence and domestic abuse, championing a culture of consent, respect, and safety for all.
Denim Quilt Project
As part of the efforts to commemorate Denim Day, Sanctuary organized a special art project involving staff, clients, and other community members.
We came together and decorated old pieces of denim with quotes and art to convey a variety of messages about sexual assault awareness. The denim squares were then pieced together into a quilt, resulting in a beautiful and meaningful symbol of the resilience and strength of survivors of sexual violence.
The completed quilt will be displayed at Sanctuary’s main office, where staff and clients can see it every day and draw inspiration from the stories behind each piece of denim. The quilt also serves as a reminder of the ongoing work needed to address sexual violence and support survivors.
This project is a powerful example of how creativity and community can come together to create something meaningful and impactful. It shows that even something as simple as a piece of denim can carry profound meaning and become a symbol of hope and healing.
You Are Not Alone: Resources and Services for Survivors
At Sanctuary for Families, we’re committed to standing with survivors every step of the way. Our comprehensive services include clinical, legal, shelter, and economic empowerment support, all tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or sexual violence in New York, please reach out to our hotline at 212-349-6009 or visit our Get Help page to learn more about our services.
Let’s stand together, rock our denim, and create a world free from sexual violence and domestic abuse. We believe in a brighter future for all and won’t stop fighting until we get there.
Stand with survivors and support our work by making a gift today.
Celebrate a special mother in your life by helping mothers fleeing abuse. With your donation, Sanctuary will send a personalized Mother’s Day card on your behalf.
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to honor the special mothers in your life than by supporting survivors of gender violence?
This Mother’s Day, consider making a donation to Sanctuary for Families in honor of the strength and resilience of mothers everywhere. Your gift will provide critical services to mothers who are escaping violent homes and seeking safe and stable lives.
By making a donation, Sanctuary for Families will send a personalized e-card to a special mother in your life, letting her know that a donation has been made in her honor.
