Get Involved: Gender-Based Violence
To get involved with activism that works to respond to and end gender-based violence and support survivors, our experts recommend that you explore these organizations. These recommendations are not endorsements, since organizations can change over time, and it’s important to find a group that fits you and your values.
Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. With chapters in every state, Moms Demand Action provides a variety of ways to get involved locally, including writing letters to government officials, assisting with informational events, and volunteering at rallies and vigils.
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) provides free, confidential support and services to survivors of sexual violence, as young as aged twelve, their friends, and their families. They strive to meet the needs of survivors in crisis, in healing from sexual violence, and in navigating systems of support, such as healthcare, social services, and the criminal legal system. Volunteers provide crisis counseling for the hotlines, meet survivors at the hospital 24 hours after assault to provide support and information, and educate the community about sexual assault and BARCC’s resources and services.
The Network/La Red is a survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, kink, polyamorous, and queer communities. You can get involved as an intern or a volunteer providing survivors with connection to community, peer-support, safety planning assistance, information about partner abuse, and resources by staffing the crisis hotline, co-facilitating telephone-based support groups, facilitating informational workshops, planning events, and more.
Note: Training is required.
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC works) to ensure the wellbeing, safety, and lived equity of all trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive (TNBGE) community members in Massachusetts through programs such as the Trans Leadership Academy and the Identity Document Assistance Network (IDA Network); the Trans Leadership Academy prepares TNBGE for educational contexts and the workplace and the Identity Document Assistance Network provides guidance, support and financial assistance for those seeking to legally change their name and/or gender. Volunteers can serve as mentors for the Trans Leadership Academy, assist with the IDA Network in a variety of capacities, and support events such as the Trans Youth Summit.
Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF)
The Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF) works to end domestic and sexual violence in Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities, cultivating healthy and safe communities by addressing the root causes and consequences of family violence and violence against women. Volunteers help staff information tables at community events, plan or host volunteer and donor gatherings, canvass neighborhood businesses, connect CPAF to in-language media outlets, create or write social media and online content, and more. They are committed to meeting the specific cultural and language needs of Asian and Pacific Islander women and their families.
The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy. Volunteers can join a Community Action Committee engaged in local campaigns, participate and staff events that respond to instances of violence in New York City, such as vigils, and advocate and lobby for the Right to Know Act, which will help increase accountability of the NYPD and decrease violence in police interactions.
Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative (SnapCo) is a Black trans and queer led organization that builds safety for Black trans and queer people by investing in collective embodied leadership, and building political power. They work to end gender based violence in Atlanta, leading from a Black trans feminist framework. You can join their organizing efforts by becoming a member.
