Creating the community we want to see: Volunteering with the Violence Prevention Center

For the past 36 years, support, resources, and a listening ear have been at the other end of the line when callers dial the Violence Prevention Center’s Support Line. The Support Line serves as an access point for community members to connect with key services such as safety planning, emotional support, medical advocacy, and legal advocacy. If you’ve ever called the Support Line after hours, chances are you spoke with a VPC volunteer advocate. Volunteer advocates are trained domestic and sexual violence advocates who provide a lifeline to victims/survivors and concerned persons in our community. When you call the Support Line, you will speak with an advocate who believes you, cares about your safety and wellbeing, and can offer a variety of services to meet your individual needs. Providing this space for victims/survivors to be listened to, believed, and supported is a crucial part of creating a community that uplifts survivors and does not tolerate violence.

While many other opportunities to volunteer and be involved in the community have decreased due to covid safety concerns, serving the community as a VPC advocate has remained a safe and accessible way to volunteer during the pandemic. Because the primary role of a volunteer advocate is to speak with callers on the Support Line, the job is naturally contactless and covid safe! In person elements like volunteer trainings and meetings have shifted to Zoom. The need for VPC services has only increased during the pandemic. Those who abuse and traffic often isolate victims from their family and friends, both physically and emotionally, as a way to maintain power and control over them. That isolation can be even worse during covid, when opportunities to get out of the house and connect with support systems have been out of reach for many.

Volunteer advocates support the community and the VPC by staffing the Support Line after hours. The support and dedication of our volunteers makes it possible for the VPC to offer the Support Line as a 24-hour crisis resource, so that day or night, victims/ survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, and human trafficking in our community have a safe place to get the support they need. Not only is volunteering as an advocate an important way to contribute to the work of supporting survivors and creating consent culture in our community, it is also an incredibly rewarding experience. I started my journey in the advocacy field by becoming a volunteer advocate at a victim services organization in the Twin Cities. My experience was so fulfilling. I gained knowledge and learned new skills, discovered a community of advocates committed to empowering each other, and my passion for cultivating a culture of consent, body autonomy, and safety for all only grew. Our volunteer advocates are not just giving their time; they are stepping up to take part in creating the kind of community they want to be a part of. “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” – Arundhati Roy. One of our volunteer advocates shared these words with us when asked, why do you volunteer? “It feels like I can actually help my community, like I can help make it a safer and more hospitable place by being an open ear. It’s unbelievable (in all the good ways) that people are so vulnerable to let you into their lives and headspace. The VPC is a distinct puzzle piece that was missing from both government and emergency services and it’s quite an honor to be a part of it.”

If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, consider becoming a volunteer advocate! No experience is necessary; we train you to become a certified as a Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocate in the state of Minnesota. Qualities that make a good advocate include strong listening and communication skills, genuine compassion, an ability to maintain confidentiality and healthy boundaries, and a passion for supporting others. You can learn more, apply, and sign up for our New Volunteer Sessions on Wednesday, February 16th at 12pm or 5pm at violencepreventioncenter.org/ become-a-volunteer-advocate, or give us a call at 218-387-1262 or email at hope4u@boreal.org.