“Today, I ask that you stand with us as we work to restore and amplify the voices of those who will no longer be silenced.”
– Colsaria Henderson, Executive Director
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Dear CORA Supporter,
At its core, CORA is about courage, innovation and being a catalyst for change – in our homes and our communities. We see this courage manifest throughout our organization and beyond. We see it in the expansions of services to LGBTQ+ survivors, in the bold and groundbreaking offerings of evidenced-based trauma-reducing therapy techniques, in the additions we have made to our teen outreach program, in our expansion into East Palo Alto, and of course within CORA’s own leadership. While I am new to the CORA family, and it is true that we have endured many transitions this year, my decades of anti-violence and anti-oppression work allow me to say with confidence that the work and leadership here is among the best. To truly overcome intimate partner abuse and violence, we will need to take risks, stretch and challenge ourselves, and I thank you for your ongoing support of our work.
While naming places where we stepped into courage, it would be remiss if I did not call attention to the ultimate acts of bravery of the victims and survivors who reached out for over 10,000 services just last year. Like Marissa*. I met Marissa while touring one of our residential sites; she showed me her apartment while also sharing her story. Marissa fled her husband after decades of unspeakable abuse. During his last assault on her he strangled her, denying her oxygen and crushing her vocal cords. Marissa told me that in that moment, her fear was not that she was going to die, but that if she lived, she would never sing again – that he would have taken her voice. With CORA’s help, Marissa found safety and stability through our housing and counseling programs and as I stood in her living room, she sang for me a stunning rendition of Ave Maria. She has her voice back, literally and figuratively.
In a socio-political climate where many of those we might serve are being made voiceless and invisible, it is more important than ever that CORA maintain its stance of being a welcoming, responsive and inclusive refuge for victims and survivors of intimate partner violence. Today, I ask that you stand with us as we work to restore and amplify the voices of those who will no longer be silenced. Your gift to CORA ensures we will continue to be that catalyst for change and that our services will continue to be here for all who need them.
In solidarity,
Colsaria Henderson
Executive Director
* – Not her real name.