 The Alexandria Office on Women is dedicated to empowering women and their families, by promoting equality, safety, and access to opportunities and services through advocacy and education.
What's New
- Speakers’ Bureau Training - Winter 2009
The Office on Women is recruiting new volunteers for the Speakers' Bureau. The Speakers’ Bureau is a group of volunteers who present an educational program on domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and teen pregnancy to Alexandria youth. The Speakers Bureau presents to 5th, 7th and 9th graders throughout the school year. The expected volunteer commitment is four to six hours per month and volunteers must have the flexibility to present during the school day. The 10 hour required training will be held on Tuesday, February 17 from 6:30 to 9:3pm and on Saturday, February 21, 9am – 4pm. For more information, please contract Patricia Lopez at 703.746.5030 or e-mail patricia.lopez@alexandriava.gov.
- 2009 Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Self Defense Course
This course is designed "to assist women in developing and enhancing their options of self defense." All instructors have been trained and certified by RAD. Class starts on April 20th. Click here for more information.
- Ten Thousand Villages Designates “Earmarks” We Can All Support
Ten Thousand Villages Alexandria is pleased to offer, exclusive to our store, handknitted Twyska wraps designed by one of our very own volunteers, Cindy Prezgar, and knitted by a Peruvian Fair Trade cooperative called Bridge of Hope. The shawls are simple yet elegant, dressy yet casual, and perfect for women of all ages. The knitters have named the wraps “chalinas.” And when we learned that one of the youngest, shyest knitters has gained enough self-respect from her Fair Trade income to stand up to her abusive husband, we knew we had to "earmark" 20% of the sale of each chalina to the Alexandria Office on Women's programs combating domestic violence. Click here for the full press release.
- Children's Holiday Party
The annual Children's Holiday Party, benefitting women and children recently served at the Domestic Violence Program, will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2008. Please help make this a successful event by donating unwrapped children's gifts or $25 gift cards. Donations will be accepted at the Office On Women, 421 King Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA-Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, beginning Monday, November 3, 2008, barring any holidays. The deadline for having unwrapped gifts delivered or picked-up is Monday, December 15, 2008 by 5:00 pm. If you have any questions, please call Shannon or Stephanie at 703-838-4911. Click here for gift suggestions.
- Walk To Fight Breast Cancer
The Office on Women and the Inova Alexandria Hospital Foundation wish to thank all those who supported the 2008 Walk to Fight Breast Cancer, which drew over 1300 registered walkers and raised over $155, 000 in registration fees, donations, pledges and sponsor contributions. All proceeds from the Walk support the Alexandria Breast Cancer Walk Fund, which provides free mammography screenings for women without insurance, or whose insurance does not cover screenings, at Inova Alexandria Hospital, and which has helped more than 5,000 women since its inception in 1994.
The 2009 Walk to Fight Breast Cancer will take place on October 24. Please visit this site in mid-2009 for more details.
- Greg Louganis Visits Alexandria to Speak About Intimate Partner Violence
The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program (DVP) and Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program hosted a visit from Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis on Friday, October 3. Many remember Louganis’ amazing athletic achievements as an Olympic diver, but few are aware he is a survivor of intimate partner violence.
"Intimate partner violence happens more than we want to admit, and, unfortunately, it happens as often in gay and lesbian relationships as it does in heterosexual relationships,” said Louganis. “I hope that my story will raise awareness about violence in the community and signal to everyone that we need to work together to end the violence.”
Listen to a podcast about the services the City provides to LGBTQ survivors of domestic and sexual violence. You can also visit the LGBTQ Services page for more information.
- Women's History Walking Tours, which guide listeners to various historic destinations of notable Alexandria women, are now available as podcasts in 30 minute, 1 mile, 1.5 mile, and 4 mile formats.
In A Crisis? Call Us Now!
Counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.
Sexual Assault Hotline: 703.683.7273 TTY 711
Domestic Violence Hotline: 703.838.4911 TTY
Sexual Assault Counselors are also available to chat with you through the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.
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