“My name is Joe Ristuccia, and I am a proud volunteer at The Second Step. I spend time each month working on the Board of Directors, chairing the Program Committee, and supporting staff in various capacities. I choose the Second Step because the issue of domestic violence must be addressed head on with the resources needed to support all survivors. Relationships in general—and intimate partner relationships especially—affect the bedrock of our sense of self and self worth. All of us need and deserve relationships free from violence, relationships that provide the safety and support we need to discover who we are and become who we want to be. The Second Step provides these supports for survivors of Domestic Violence so they can take back their lives and reach for their hopes and dreams.”
“I also choose The Second Step because it is a local organization, bringing its work and message to our community, based in Newton even as it welcomes people from all over the area. The Second Step raises our collective awareness of domestic violence and its impacts, and provides us the opportunity to come together as a community to say “NO!” to domestic violence and to publicly commit our efforts to support survivors. Being local allows for a deeper, more personal engagement in supporting this work and an opportunity to make a real and lasting impact where I live.”
“Overall, I choose The Second Step because it is a community of survivors, advocates, and volunteers who foster the safety, stability, and well-being of those who have experienced domestic violence. Knowing and working with the incredible professionals, survivors, and dedicated volunteers of The Second Step is a true privilege. Ultimately, our impact comes not from any single one of us, but from this community, and provides all of us with the safety and stability to address the hard issues and have the hard conversations in our families, our social circles, and in the broader societal contexts in which we live.”
