Fonds ORG - Voices for Non-violence fonds

Voices for Non-Violence was established in 1991 in response to the need for a better response to domestic violence and abuse. It grew out of the concern of a group of Mennonite women who started meeting in the fall of 1989 to discuss what could be done to initiate healing for many individuals experiencing the pain of abuse in their families. This group was known as the Domestic Violence Concerns Adisory Group (DVCAG). With the support of Mennonite Central Committee, the DVCAG conducted the research and proposed that a resource be developed to assist the church community. MCC agreed to support one staff person and later also donated office space. Heather Block, the first coordinator of VNV began in 1991. With funding from Health and Welfare Canada for 3 years the organization focused its efforts toward developing a preventative and restorative approach to domestic violence and sexual abuse. the organization struggled financially after the initially fundings was not renewed, and from December 1998 to January 2000 the organization became dormant when it had no staff and could offer no program. As of February 1, 2000 VNV became a Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba program when Eleanor Epp-Stobbe was hired as its half-time coordinator.