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Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus advocates honored with statewide award for domestic violence advocacy

Cristal Baez, Hend Saadeh, and MaiBao Yang of Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus awarded for work “taking risks, using exceptional creativity, and embracing nontraditional strategies to address domestic violence”

October 29, 2017 – Anaheim, Calif.: The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership), a coalition representing over 1,000 survivors, advocates, organizations, and allied individuals, honored Stanislaus County residents Cristal Baez, Hend Saadeh, and MaiBao Yang with the Bravery Award at its Annual Membership Meeting Awards Reception. Baez, Saadeh, and Yang, who work at Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus (Haven), are part of Haven’s cultural responsiveness group. They made strides in addressing implicit bias in survivor services, thus increasing equity in their organization.

“It is a privilege to serve such dedicated constituents as Cristal Baez, Hend Saadeh, and MaiBao Yang, who work tirelessly to identify and combat implicit bias within survivor services,” said Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Modesto). “Domestic abuse survivors must be able to safely tell their story, and these inspiring advocates have shown exceptional creativity in ensuring that all survivors have a chance to be heard.”

With the assistance of the Partnership’s Cultural Responsiveness Organizational Self-Assessment (CROS) tool, Baez, Saadeh, Yang, and their team conducted a series of organization-wide conversations and trainings on implicit bias. Together they developed enhanced awareness of how an individual may receive services based on their identity and lived experiences, as well as service providers’ implicit bias and privilege. With their continued cultural responsiveness work, they hope to improve supportive services Haven provides to the diverse community of Stanislaus County through an equitable approach.

“It has been an honor to nominate MaiBao, Hend & Cristal for the bravery award,” said Partnership Capacity-Building Specialist Mercedes Tune, who nominated the group.“—for creating space for courageous conversations, and holding space for transformation.”

About the Partnership

The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership) is California’s recognized domestic violence coalition, representing over 1,000 survivors, advocates, organizations and allied individuals across the state. Working at the state and local levels for nearly 40 years, the Partnership has a long track record of successfully advocating for over 200 pieces of legislation on behalf of domestic violence victims and their children. The Partnership believes that by sharing expertise, advocates and legislators can help end domestic violence. Through our public policy, communications and capacity-building programs, we create system-wide change that supports survivors and invests in prevention. Every day we inspire, inform and connect all those concerned with this issue, because together we’re stronger. With offices in Sacramento, the Partnership’s member programs span the entire state. For more information, visit www.cpedv.org.

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