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A Brief History |
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In 1996, advocates from diverse ethnic communities got together to develop a
strategy to address the increasing and unmet needs of refugee and immigrant
battered women in metro Atlanta, Georgia. We recognized that many of the issues
faced by women in our communities were the same, and we worked together across
cultural differences to end violence against women. We played a key role in
establishing the International Women’s House, the only culturally and
linguistically appropriate shelter for battered refugee and immigrant women in
the Southeast.
In 1998, the name “Tapestri”
was formally adopted as the name of our coalition. The coalition consisted of
advocates who worked at the following community based organizations: Caminar
Latino, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Raksha, Refugee Family
Services, Shalom Bayit/Jewish Family & Career Services, and Women Watch Afrika.
For several years, Tapestri functioned as a project of Refugee Women’s Network,
a sister agency. In October 2002, Tapestri became its own independent
organization and created its own programs. Tapestri has evolved to work
collaboratively with mainstream and ethnic organizations/communities to address
multiple forms of gender based violence and oppression in refugee and immigrant
communities. Created by a group of refugee and immigrant advocates it continues
to be governed by ethnically diverse refugee and immigrant women.
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Our Vision |
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As a leading organization working to eradicate violence in refugee and immigrant
families, Tapestri strives to be a useful resource and a point of contact for
immigrant and refugee communities and to partner with service providers to
extend culturally competent services to members of these communities. Tapestri
is committed to staying true to our mission while remaining adaptive to the
needs of the community.
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Roster of Tapestri’s Board of Directors |
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Chair |
Samantha Harrykissoon
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
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Vice Chair |
Ed Sohn, Associate
King & Spalding LLP
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Treasurer |
Raymond Grote
Business Development Officer
Charter Bank, N.A.
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Secretary |
Keisha Coleman
Schiff Hardin, LLP
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Community Liaison |
Doris Mukangu
President
African Women Health, Education & Empowerment Center
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Amy Sullivan
Schiff Hardin, LLP
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Holly S. Hawkins, Associate
Alston & Bird LLP
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Our Mission |
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Tapestri Inc. is dedicated to ending violence and oppression in refugee and
immigrant communities, using culturally competent and appropriate methods. As
advocates for immigrant and refugee families affected by domestic violence,
sexual assault and exploitation, we are committed to using education, community
organizing, direct services and advocacy to effect change in the lives of these
families.
Our name, “Tapestri,”
symbolizes the different threads of society coming together to form a safe cover
to protect its many colored communities.
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Our Philosophy |
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We believe that every person has a right to live without fear. We exist to
increase access to services for refugee and immigrant communities. We believe
that everyone should be able to seek and receive help and services that are
respectful of his/her community, language, culture, gender, race, age, sexual
orientation, disability and religious beliefs. Recognizing that this is a
lifelong process, Tapestri members attempt to live and model these values when
we interact with our communities and among ourselves.
Despite the diversity of backgrounds of Tapestri members, our philosophy is one
of respect and celebration of differences while sharing the belief that gender
based violence is inexcusable, regardless of individual cultural norms.
We do not see domestic violence, sexual assault and exploitation as the problem
of an individual woman or even as a couples’ issue but rather as a human rights
issue. It is a phenomenon that grows out of societies in which gender inequality
and the use of violence are accepted as the normal behavior. Tapestri seeks to
educate individuals and agencies so that these destructive norms will not be
continued into the next generation.
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Our Services |
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Providing direct services, including legal advocacy, for survivors of human
trafficking and domestic violence.
Providing technical assistance and trainings on domestic violence, human
trafficking, and refugee and immigrant issues for social service providers, law
enforcement agencies, and interpreters.
Providing community outreach on domestic violence and human trafficking within
refugee and immigrant communities through presentations and mass media.
Providing an on-going 24-week Family Violence Intervention Program designed for
refugee and immigrant men.
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