The historic Alice Austen House Museum is nestled along Staten Island’s shoreline, will serve as the host venue for the final celebration of DOVE (domestic violence prevention program). Now in its fourth year under the leadership of Staten Island Urban Center.
This powerful initiative has become a beacon of healing, education, and prevention for communities impacted by domestic violence.
The event will spotlight the achievements of survivors, youth leaders, and advocates while presenting The Ebony Washington Award to its namesake: NYPD Deputy Chief Ebony Washington, a trailblazer whose life’s work reflects a dynamic intersection of justice, empowerment, and presence.
About the Ebony Washington Award:
Named in honor of Deputy Chief Ebony Washington’s trailblazing contributions, this award celebrates bold, compassionate leadership in the fight to end domestic violence. A native of Staten Island’s Stapleton Houses, Washington rose through the ranks of the NYPD to become one of the city’s most prominent voices on domestic violence intervention and survivor advocacy. The award also recognizes her unapologetic embrace of style and self-expression—a powerful reminder that one can lead with both grit and grace.
“Deputy Chief Washington redefines what it means to be a public servant—bringing both empathy and authority to her work,” said Sarah Blas, Program Manager of DOVE. “She leads with love, commands with strength, and shows us that our softness and our strategy can coexist.”
The event will feature community leaders and changemakers, including Alexandra Nyman, Executive Director of the Break Free Foundation, and Kelly Vilar, Executive Director of the Staten Island Urban Center, both champions of equity, survivors’ rights co curators.
There will be an exhibit showcasing the intersection between fashion and recovery on display in the Alice Austen House for the event with a live panel discussion featuring survivors starting at 2:30pm. The event will be held on Saturday, May 17th and will run from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
Together, they have supported DOVE’s commitment to ending cycles of harm and building safe, empowered futures for Staten Islanders.
WALK YOUR TALK: This must-read section is a haven for sober fashionistas, delivering original content from our fabulous Sober Curators – Kate Vitela and Alexandra Nyman. Living a sober life doesn’t need to be dull, and we’re here to smash the stigma surrounding addiction by showcasing that life can indeed be lived to the fullest without alcohol and in fabulous outfits. If you were anything like us in your drinking years, getting dressed to party and the pre-funk that went with that was usually part of the plan. After putting down the bottle(s), we’re even more excited about getting ready for life, and you should be too!
Call 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people in suicidal crisis or distress. You can learn more about its services here, including its guide on what to do if you see suicidal language on social media. You can also call that number to talk to someone about how you can help a person in crisis. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
For support outside of the US, a worldwide directory of resources and international hotlines is provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. You can also turn to Befrienders Worldwide.
Help is Available
If you or someone you love is living with substance use, alcohol misuse, a co-occurring, or a behavioral health disorder, there is hope. The Break Free Foundation aids individuals seeking recovery through the Break Free Scholarship Fund. It sends anyone who lacks the financial resources to attend a recovery center to do so at low to no cost.
Review our Treatment Locator Tool to find the right program near you, as well as our list of Hotlines and Helplines. Click here for a list of regional and national resources. On this road to recovery, no one is alone. We are all in this together.
