Yasmin Ghatan has been a dedicated and compassionate advocate for survivors of gender-based violence, bringing energy, cultural insight, and linguistic skills to her work at Sanctuary for Families. She first connected with Sanctuary through Dorchen Leidholdt, Senior Director of Sanctuary’s Legal Center, who also teaches Human Trafficking and the Law and Domestic Violence and Human Rights at Hunter College. These academic experiences inspired Yasmin to pursue volunteer and professional work supporting survivors.

Yasmin’s passion for Sanctuary’s mission was immediate.

“I was very inspired by Sanctuary’s values and level of care for their clients. When I was given the opportunity to assist the French-speaking clients of Dorchen’s in June 2024, it felt like a chance to do my dream work.”

During her internship within the Legal Center that summer, Yasmin assisted immigrant survivors with intake assessments, applications for legal services and public benefits, educational grants, and guidance navigating shelters and healthcare systems. Since completing her internship, she has continued partnering with Sanctuary to provide urgently needed assistance to migrant survivors, often meeting clients at shelters, identifying their material and legal needs, and advocating for them with systems including the City’s Human Resources Administration.

Fluent in French and Wolof and having lived in Senegal, Yasmin brings culturally and linguistically competent support to her clients. “I provide a special West African French lens into communicating with our West African French-speaking clients,” she said. “Parisian French translators can be hard for them to understand, and this allows for clear communication and comfort.”

The most rewarding part of Yasmin’s volunteer work, she says, is the personal connection with clients.

“The most rewarding part has been building strong rapport with the clients I’ve assisted and making their kids happy. We always laugh together, have conversations, and I know that they feel so happy to have someone to help them navigate things they’d otherwise feel alone and confused about.”

Reflecting on her time at Sanctuary working with staff, Yasmin added,

“I love how involved and genuine my colleagues are. They care about our clients and do not take lightly the clients’ needs, requests, and trust.”

From her internship in 2024 through her ongoing volunteer work today, Yasmin Ghatan has demonstrated remarkable dedication, empathy, and skill, supporting Sanctuary’s mission to empower survivors and protect the most vulnerable. Her advocacy, cultural insight, and unwavering commitment continue to make a real difference in the lives of the people she serves.

All of us at Sanctuary are deeply grateful for Yasmin’s unwavering commitment and compassion towards survivors.

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To learn more about Yasmin Ghatan and his work, please join us on April 23rd from 6:00-8:00 PM at Pillars of Change.

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Lindsay Golub Drozdov has been an inspiring influence at Sanctuary for Families, generously dedicating her time and energy to support children, teens, and the broader community. Having previously volunteered as a mentor and English tutor for immigrants and refugees in New Orleans, she was eager to find a similarly meaningful way to contribute in New York.

Lindsay first connected with Sanctuary through her friend Elena Price, who works in the Development and Communications Department. “After I told her I was looking for volunteer opportunities and was excited about Sanctuary’s mission, she connected me with the volunteer team and helped get me involved,” Lindsay shared. She also had a close friend who participated in Sanctuary’s legal internship, further sparking her interest.

“I was amazed to learn about the incredible work Sanctuary is doing to support survivors. The breadth of Sanctuary’s programs is impressive, from shelters and economic empowerment initiatives to survivor leadership programs, Camp Hope, and impactful policy advocacy.”

Over the years, Lindsay has taken on multiple hands-on and leadership roles. She is a dedicated tutor through Sanctuary’s Homework Lab, helping children from elementary through high school in Math and English.

“The most rewarding part of volunteering with Homework Lab is seeing kids get excited about learning,” Lindsay said. “Homework Lab supports families affected by gender-based violence by providing free, structured learning support and I am very happy that our work helps ease the burden on parents and supports children succeeding in school,” she added.

Lindsay has also been deeply involved in Sanctuary’s Zero Tolerance Benefit. She started by joining the After Party Committee, which she now chairs. In this role, she helps plan events, raise awareness, and foster continued engagement with attendees.

“The most rewarding part of the After Party Committee has been watching it grow, especially seeing participants getting friends involved because they believe so much in the mission and the organization,” she said.

Currently, Lindsay is helping launch Sanctuary’s Young Professionals Council, an initiative designed to empower the next generation of advocates and supporters.

“Through fundraising events and raising awareness, we are engaging a community of young volunteers, donors, and future Sanctuary leaders, she explained. Both the After Party Committee and Young Professionals Council support Sanctuary’s development team by increasing the breadth of who we can reach and engage, especially younger supporters.”

All of us at Sanctuary are incredibly grateful for Lindsay’s dedication, leadership, and enthusiasm.

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To learn more about Lindsay Golub Drozdov and his work, please join us on April 23rd from 6:00-8:00 PM at Pillars of Change.

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Since September 2025, Esteban Valverde has been a dedicated volunteer at Sanctuary for Families, generously offering his Spanish-language expertise. He has contributed his time and expertise by interpreting at client intake clinics and translating complex legal documents from Spanish into English with care and precision.

Esteban shared,

“I first became aware of Sanctuary for Families during my final year at Brooklyn Law School. A colleague told me about the organization’s mission and the meaningful work they do with survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. I immediately wanted to get involved in any way I could, and I felt that my language skills could make a real difference.”

Over the past seven months, Esteban has dedicated himself to helping clients navigate complex legal and other systems.

“I believe I can help bridge the gap between clients and staff by ensuring their stories are clearly understood. It’s important to me that clients feel heard and supported, and that their experiences are communicated accurately and respectfully.”

Esteban’s contributions have made an immediate and tangible impact. Samantha Popper, Manager of Volunteer Relations at Sanctuary for Families, noted, “He hit the ground running. Esteban is consistently responsive, dependable, and willing to help—often with quick turnaround times—even while balancing the demands of law school. His work helps ensure that clients receive the clarity and support they need during critical moments.”

Reflecting on his experience, Esteban added,

“Volunteering at Sanctuary has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned so much about the challenges survivors face, and I feel that my skills as a Spanish speaker can genuinely make the legal process less intimidating for clients. Every time I help someone understand their options or feel heard, it reminds me why I wanted to get involved in the first place.”

All of us at Sanctuary for Families are deeply grateful for Esteban’s commitment to our clients and thank him for his continued service. His dedication, professionalism, and compassion exemplify the spirit of our volunteer community and leave a lasting impact on the lives of the survivors we serve.

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To learn more about Esteban Valverde and his work, please join us on April 23rd from 6:00-8:00 PM at Pillars of Change.

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Bill Walters has been a dedicated volunteer within Sanctuary’s Economic Empowerment Programs (EEP) for over ten years, generously sharing his professional expertise to help clients build confidence and achieve their career goals. He was initially connected to Sanctuary through a friend who had been volunteering and suggested he give it a try.

“I heard Sanctuary was a well-run, professional organization whose mission was to help individuals who were in need. Not only did Sanctuary provide a safe haven for these individuals, but the organization also helped them develop skills that would allow them to stand on their own two feet, face the challenges of entering the workforce, and fend for themselves. I felt that my own experience and skills could be an asset to the organization.”

Drawing on decades of experience in advertising sales at companies like MTV, Bravo, and the National Geographic Channel, Bill brings a wealth of knowledge to his volunteer work. Over the years, he has interviewed hundreds of people and mentored employees in navigating the business world. At Sanctuary for Families, he channels that expertise into his volunteer work with the Interview Prep portion of the Economic Empowerment Programs, where he assists clients in preparing for job interviews.

“I work with the clients first as a group, and then we break into separate groups, and I coach each person individually. We work on various aspects of the job interview process and practice each part until the client is comfortable. The final session is a ‘real-life’ mock interview,” Bill explained. “I believe I provide a positive, encouraging, and motivating experience for Sanctuary’s clients. I also try to make it fun!”

One of the most rewarding aspects of Bill’s volunteer work is witnessing the growth and determination of the clients he mentors.

“The gratitude. I still find it incredible, considering the background of Sanctuary’s clients—how they can show up, put in the time, and display a genuine interest in learning and moving ahead. I am always amazed at their aptitude and determination. They are an inspiration to me!”

Bill recalls a particularly memorable success story of a client applying for an entry-level financial position.

“She was nervous because she had no experience in that field. We did a deep dive and I found out that she lived in Africa with her son, made jewelry and sold it on the beach, and made enough money to pursue her dream of coming to the U.S. Luckily, when she got here, she found Sanctuary, was able to get her own apartment, and take college classes in finance. Wow. No experience in finance! Talk about resilience and determination! The point is, I believe everyone has something to offer. She was convinced she had nothing, but as we dug into it, she realized that she had transferable experience and a real selling point. I was happy I could help her do that.”

Everyone at Sanctuary for Families is deeply grateful to Bill for showing how much of a difference one committed volunteer can make in the lives of others.

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To learn more about Bill Walters and his work, please join us on April 23rd from 6:00-8:00 PM at Pillars of Change.

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