Over the past five years, we’ve had the privilege of featuring distinguished attorneys, legislators, academics, nonprofit leaders, and other changemakers whose work shapes the law, influences public policy, and impacts our daily lives. Thank you to all of our incredible guests and contributors for helping make this journey possible.
To commemorate this special anniversary, we welcomed back our very first guest, Attorney Alyson Messenger, Managing Staff Attorney at the Jenesse Center, a leading Los Angeles nonprofit organization that provides critical support to survivors of domestic violence through shelter, advocacy, and legal services. Joining us on that first show was Karen Earl, the organization’s visionary Executive Director.
During this anniversary episode, Alyson shares insights into the Jenesse Center’s vital work and discusses the current legal landscape for protecting survivors of domestic violence.
As October is Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, one of the most inspiring takeaways from our conversation was hearing that the Jenesse Center’s ultimate goal is to put itself out of business. They are working toward that vision by educating youth and students about domestic violence prevention and the importance of building healthy, positive relationships.
π Episode timestamps:
00:10 β Welcome and Introduction to this special episode & Attorney Alyson Messenger
03:20 β Alysonβs βWhyβ: Family, Safety, and Stability
05:35 β The History of the Jenesse Center
8:40 β How Many Survivors and Youth Does Jenesse Serve?
9:20 β Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Continuing Prevalence
12:00 β What Is Domestic Violence? Understanding Power and Control
14:08 β Recognizing Abuse Beyond Physical Violence
15:10 β How California Law Has Evolved to Protect Survivors and Children
17:54 β Barriers to Accessing Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
19:14 β Jenesse Centerβs Legal Services for Survivors
21:49 β The Domestic Violence Clinic at Inglewood Courthouse
24:00 β Volunteering and Career Opportunities at Jenesse
24:28 β Shelter and Housing Support for All Genders and Families
26:26 β Unite for Families Pro Bono Family Law Clinic
29:29 β The DART Program: Community-Based Crisis Response
30:58 β Looking Ahead: The Jenesse Justice Center
34:23 β How to Connect with the Jenesse Center and 24/7 Hotline
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2mxJxJVwwVPm2yQuBF7WIe?si=kh5aIKEPSHq571gBosJroA
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-does-the-law-actually-say-about-domestic/id1774764488?i=1000796273102
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