Speakers: Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen, Response Team Coordinator & Sexual Assault Victim's Representative
Toy Burks: Hello, my name is Toy and I am the Outreach and Crisis Response Team Specialist at Womanspace.
Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen: Good afternoon. I am Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen and I am the Sexual Assault Support Service Coordinator at Womanspace.
In your own words, explain what the Womanspace Response Teams are and what they do?
Toy Burks: The Response Team is truly an amazing group of compassionate people who work nonstop to help victim-survivors of domestic violence. We know that victim-survivors are never to blame for the crimes that were committed against them, and so our main goal is to always show up for them, day or night, at the police stations and hospitals all around Mercer County, as the crisis is actually happening. And once we get there, we provide a safe space for them and let them know that their privacy, health and safety are truly our top priority.
What is one thing you want people to know about supporting victim-survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault?
Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen: Sexual and domestic violence are always about a perpetrator attempting to have power and control over the victim-survivor. Victim-survivors use whatever strategies they have developed over time, particularly in the case of domestic violence, or whatever society has taught a victim-survivor and how to stay safe during an attack. victim-survivors are the experts in their own lives. They know what has worked in the past. they know what their lives look like and we must always trust the decisions they make in terms of keeping themselves safe.
Why are you passionate about your work with the Womanspace Response Teams?
Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen: I have been passionate about understanding and aiding victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence since my early adulthood. They are a particular group of victim-survivors, who are not cared for or understood in society. Here at Womanspace, we provide that care and that compassion as a reflection of society's care.
What kind of person would make a great Advocate?
Toy Burks: As a Response Team Advocate, you basically sign up to become a committed ally, ready to serve victim-survivors of domestic violence and to do that job well, you should be a compassionate listener, caring, empathetic and also nonjudgmental.
Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen: When we meet with victim-survivors, there is no doubt that when we leave the room, we have had a positive effect on their lives and going forward, they are often extremely grateful. But I'd like to pivot that narrative on its head and say the privilege that it is to meet with victim-survivors of sexual and domestic violence can almost not be put into words. These victim-survivors exhibit such courage, such fortitude, such a sense of "i need to be able to take back control of my life", that it is awe inspiring to be in the same room with them.
Toy Burks: People should know that being a part of the Response Team is truly an extraordinary experience. Being able to make a difference in someone's life when they are enduring the worst times is truly rewarding Response Team Advocates get to witness the incredible strength and resilience of victim-survivors as they begin to take back control of their own lives and start their journey to healing.
Is there anything else you want to share?
Toy Burks: Womanspace was introduced to me about nine years ago when an Advocate from the Response Team of Mercer County met with me at the Lawrence police station. I was going through a very difficult and confusing period in my life and she basically showed up when I really needed her to.
Toy Burks: I can say, with confidence and a very deep appreciation, that that encounter and the ones following it led to my position today as the Outreach and Response Team Specialist for Womanspace. It is where I have been able to give back and truly help other victim-survivors of domestic violence response.
Toy Burks: Would you like to really make a difference in the community and possibly in the lives of your own friends or family members? Domestic violence cases all around Mercer County are higher than you may think. We definitely need more volunteer Advocates and we would love to have you as part of Womanspace's Response Team of Mercer County.
Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen: Womanspace trains new Advocates twice a year to become Response Team members on the Mercer County Response Teams. We are the people who meet with victim- survivors at the police stations and hospitals immediately after their attack. If you are interested in becoming an Advocate, please reach out to Womanspace and we will be happy to chat with you. Sending all blessings to you. Take care. Bye bye.
For more details, contact Sheilagh via sass@womanspace.org or call 609-394-0136
Thank you!
