Press Mentions

On this episode of OPEN 2.0, BronxNet’s youth hosts talk to Jeimi Burgos and Ashelly  Anderson about Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Day One’s campaign – Dating Violence IS Domestic Violence, which seeks to raise awareness about the prevalence of dating violence in relationships among young people.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many overlapping crises, and brought long-existing societal problems to the surface, including intimate partner violence. Typical narratives around intimate partner violence focus on physical violence between adults within a home. But those of us who work with survivors know the reality of abuse is much more complicated and begins much earlier. Verbal harassment, threats to emotional safety, and financial control can overlap and also escalate to physical violence.

Stephanie Nilva is the executive director of Day One, which partners with youth across New York City to end dating abuse and domestic violence through community education, supportive services, legal advocacy and leadership development. The nonprofit serves residents up to age 24 across all five boroughs with supportive services and preventative programs related to dating violence. 

The city’s shutdown confined New Yorkers to their homes and for domestic abuse victims, that has been more than three months of quarantine with their abusers. The stay-at-home order meant to safeguard them from COVID-19 exposed them to another deadly threat: that of domestic violence.

“Organizations like Day One, which provides emergency assistance to young victims of domestic violence, have seen a surge of people reaching out for help since the city entered Phase One of its reopening 10 days ago.

While NYC is isolating due to COVID-19, instances of domestic violence are increasing, with new obstacles for those seeking help. Day One’s Executive Director Stephanie Nilva shares concerns with NY1.