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.

Our Philosophy

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, 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.