By Ketia Johnson, Outreach Coordinator II
The National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) held their Annual Training Event in Washington, DC from July 28-August 1. This was the event’s 50th anniversary and they celebrated with a powerful theme, 50 & Forward: Advancing Our Advocacy. RedRover tabled at the event and Katie Campbell, RedRover’s President and CEO, held her presentation, Getting to “Yes!” and Staying There: Building Support for Pet Housing Programs. This talk focused on the crucial aspect of sustaining pet programming at domestic violence shelters. It takes a community of support to not only create a pet program, but to ensure its longevity for years to come.
Attending a training event like NOVA is an important way for RedRover staff to stay up to date on new research and resources on domestic violence, survivor advocacy, and emergency housing. Participating also grants us the opportunity to connect with domestic violence organizations, advocates, survivors from across the United States and listen to their ideas and experiences on helping people and pets firsthand. We always leave NOVA with new projects and collaborative partnerships in the making!
We were excited to table next to our friends at Greater Good Charities’ Rescue Rebuild program, and chat with attendees about the 25 by 2025 Campaign together! We also joined forces during RedRover’s popular t-shirt giveaway as we brought back our classic purple tees with the “Pets are Family” slogan this year. Did you snag a t-shirt (or sweatshirt) during the conference or our recent Pets are Family Custom Ink fundraiser? October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and it is right around the corner, making it the perfect time to don your purple apparel. Be sure to take a picture in your Pets are Family swag on Purple Thursday, October 17, and tag RedRover on social media! We have even more exciting events coming up during DVAM, so stay tuned!
