Speakers: Scott Johnston, Board of Directors. Michelle M. Osborne, Board of Directors, FVAP. Renee Boman, Senior Paralegal
Michelle M. Osborne: Hi, I'm Michelle Osborne from Seattle, Washington. I'm a brand new board member for Family Violence Appellate Project. I can tell you from personal experience the necessity of the amazing work that FVAP does in creating opportunity and justice. From my time as a deputy district attorney, prosecuting domestic violence and sexual violence crimes, as a former director of a Silicon Valley rape crisis center, as a former staff member of a comprehensive domestic violence agency and as a former commissioner on the status of women for a California county where we actually investigated the inequities that we saw mothers receiving in family court, the necessity of what Family Violence Appellate Project does is powerful, impactful and significant. Thank you for supporting FVAP.
Michelle M. Osborne: Violence Appellate Project. I want to thank the staff for their incredible dedication and amazing work. I want to thank the supporters of FVAP who understand the necessity of this work and allow FVAP to do what it must do with resources and generosity. And I definitely want to thank the donors for everything that you do to make it possible for FVAP to do this challenging, necessary work. Thank you.
Renee Boman: FVAP is most known for our appellate work and um that's obviously extremely necessary and important work. Uh The rest of the work that we do, uh I also find interesting because by the time we get to an appellate stage, obviously, we think that the court misapplied the law. And so we're doing all kinds of work to make sure that cases don't get to that point. So kind of working ourselves out of a job. We've got um a training program where we're training uh advocates and attorneys representing survivors so they get more just outcomes in trial court and appeals aren't necessary. We're uh developing written materials to help people representing themselves in court, and again, advocates and attorneys. Providing technical assistance directly to service providers uh representing domestic violence survivors and survivors of gender based abuse. So all of that work is really interesting and um you know, all with the end of making it. so an appeal isn't necessary uh because trial courts get it right the first time. And I think that's pretty interesting.
Renee Boman: There are so many inspirational moments in my FVAP experience that um it's hard to choose. I think I'm just gonna briefly summarize a few sort of themes. So for me, I'm inspired when I make someone feel like heard and seen that hasn't felt that way. Um You know, survivors of abuse are navigating flawed systems, feeling unheard, made to feel like they've done something wrong. Uh Dynamics of abuse aren't understood in the court system. There's just so many things, so many hurdles to overcome and often it can be very isolating. So making someone feel like I see you, I hear what you're saying. we care about you is just really inspiring feeling and uh I'm grateful that that is part of my job. Uh I'm also super inspired by our law clerks. Um It's just really cool to see a next generation of people who may be interested in family law who may be interested in, um you know, working with survivors of violence, learning and also teaching us new things. So that is always a really inspirational and fulfilling experience working with them. And finally, my colleagues always inspire me trying to constantly think of how we can do this work better, better for each other and better for survivors and better for the organization. Keeps me inspired daily.
Scott Johnston: Hi, my name is Scott Johnston and I'm a board member and chair of the Development Committee. I support Family Violence Appellate Project because I believe it provides an essential service to people at a time when they really feel very much alone. Uh The system should be working for them, not against them. I also really appreciate how one successful appeal can help countless others at the trial court level. Thank you everybody for all of your hard work. Um I really appreciate it.
Scott Johnston: Thank you everybody so much for all of your hard work and the positive impact you're having on people every day.
