NEWS
Within Reach Campaign | February 7, 2018
Do Something, Say Something
An Interview with WCA Champion,
Amy Richardson
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To kick off the WCA’s Within Reach community awareness campaign, we sat down for a little Q&A time with WCA’s President and CEO, Amy Richardson.
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HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS WORK?
One of my first jobs out of college was at the Dawson Parent Child Center. It is much like the WCA, a domestic violence, sexual assault service organization. That job really revealed to me the ‘normal’ I had known was not the reality for many families. There were people really hurting and children deprived of a home where there is love. I grew up in a very middle-class, large family. There was love and respect between my parents, so never having seen or experienced the pain and trauma that suddenly surrounded me was life-changing. This work was my path and social justice became an important part of my journey.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK IN THE FIELD WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT?
Back then—this was in the early 80’s—people saw domestic violence and sexual assault as a “personal family issue.” It was something you did not talk about. Back then people believed that is stemmed from a bad relationship and the victim was often blamed for it. That’s where things were at the time. My colleagues and I were confronting those beliefs and trying to be a part of changing the collective mindset. We still are.
DID YOU CHOOSE THIS WORK OR DID IT CHOOSE YOU?
Did I ever think the first job I had out of college would lead me to this? No. I came from a humble, agriculture-based community, a small town of 6,000. And I ended up in Omaha, a city of half a million people, doing pretty much the same thing that I did at my first job in rural Nebraska. Just on a much larger scale. I attribute it all to the divine. Someone moved me along in this path.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST JOYS OF LEADING THE WCA?
I love hearing about how our staff has impacted an individual’s life or how our agency is helping improve the quality of life in Omaha. It’s amazing to see how our staff figure out plans for how their clients can escape somewhere. Sometimes the cases are so difficult, but some of the things they come up with are pure genius, it amazes me.
I get to see the thank you notes that often say, “You saved my life.” How much more rewarding can it be?
And even for those staff who don’t stay on with us—because the work is hard—they take their experience wherever they go. What they are taking from here will change them forever; that gives me great reward, too.
WHAT IS HARDEST FOR YOU?
The hardest thing for me, personally, is when our community has a fatality, or I see something big on the news. Even when it’s not a death because victims can live through some really horrific situations, they can sustain permanent injuries and serious injustice to children.
It’s also difficult for me when a staff member has visited someone in the hospital and the victim declines our services, maybe their perpetrator is watching them or they aren’t ready. They sometimes express self-doubt of, “Maybe I should have said this or maybe I could have done this.” But we always meet our clients where they’re at and our staff are amazing at what they do, but they still go to sleep wondering if they could’ve done something different.
Or something happens on a campus where we just gave a presentation—and we see victim blaming happening there. It’s hard anytime you see the victim blaming. “Why didn’t she leave, why was she drunk, why was she dressed that way?” The victim blaming really is difficult to hear knowing that we work so hard to change the response to this.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU DID THE SO-CALLED “WRONG THING?”
I have two sons. You would think that I, of all people, would have had a very thorough discussion about domestic violence and sexual assault with my sons as they grew up, but I really didn’t. Not until a video surfaced of Ray Rice assaulting his then-fiancé, Janay. I want my sons to be active bystanders. I want them to know how to react when they see or hear something. Males have to be involved in prevention too. We have to talk about these things, with our kids, nieces, nephews, friends, and everyone we can so they know it’s not OK, and where to go for help. It’s so important.
DOES IT SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THINGS WILL NEVER CHANGE?
No. I actually have a lot of hope for the future. And the research is there to support it. There are things we can do to stop the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault. We’re not too far from it and I think things will continue to change for the better. It all comes back to just doing something and talking about it.
We can hold perpetrators accountable and take immediate action. We can stop victim blaming. We can do more education and prevention, teaching what consent is, how to protect yourself, loved ones and people you don’t even know. When you see someone fighting, do something, tell someone, it is never OK. For example, if you see someone that you know is unable or incapable of consenting, being led away by someone, do something. The fear of being wrong stop people from doing the right thing, but what if that was your loved one being led away. I’d rather have someone be wrong or do it wrong than not do anything at all.
WHEN I SAY THE WCA IS WITHIN REACH. . .WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
I believe that stopping the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault is very possible in our community. It’s within reach because help and hope is here. We’re always here, ready to walk alongside you.
Not only our client services but also the community education we offer is available to everyone. There is no barrier, no fee, no judgment. We are very accessible to anyone who needs someone to talk to confidentially.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE WCA’S NEW LOCATION IMPACTING THOSE WHO RECEIVE YOUR SERVICES?
I think our clients will find this new building to be a place of healing and hope. We have very thoughtfully designed every detail of the new building to be welcoming and respectful towards people who have experienced trauma, from the artwork to the security to the flow and feel of the space.
For example, there is a waiting area specifically for clients and their children that is away from the normal office traffic and designed to feel very safe. There is also a special area for children to play that is staffed by volunteers. It allows the parent can have a private conversation with an advocate, while still having their child in sight.
IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE A PERSON TO HONOR THROUGH YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS CAMPAIGN, WHO WOULD IT BE?
My parents because of the wonderful life they provided for me. My parents were loving, respectful, caring, and served their community through volunteer work, serving on the school board and more. That gets infused in your blood. They taught me how to serve.
I also think of specific victims that I can’t mention publicly, whose strength and resilience has amazed and inspired me. I can see their faces in my mind. They are a driving force for me.
