October event united attendees around wellness, connection and support for survivors of intimate partner violence.
Hope’s Door brought community members together on October 15 for its inaugural Cultivating Hope: A Wellness Luncheon, a day centered on wellness, connection and the transformative power of hope for individuals and families impacted by intimate partner violence. Held at The Whippoorwill Club in Armonk in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the event featured expert-led workshops and a luncheon supporting Hope’s Door’s mission to provide safety, independence and healing to survivors.
The program invited attendees to reflect on the relationships they have with themselves, their values and one another, exploring how intentional choices and healthy connections can contribute to greater well-being.
The morning featured two workshops. “Value Prioritization: Making Room for What’s Worth Your Time,” led by Moriah O’Barr, PsyD, and Elizabeth Harwood, LCSW, Co-Clinical Directors of Cultivating Courage Psychological Services, helped participants identify their core values and consider practical ways to align everyday choices with what matters most. In “Silencing the Noise: Rewriting Our Relationship With Food,” Rebecca Jaspan, MPH, RD, CEDS, CDCES, explored how cultural messaging around food, nutrition, exercise and appearance can affect people’s relationships with their bodies, offering strategies for a more authentic and sustainable approach to food and movement.
Cultivating Hope was proudly supported by Diamond Presenting Sponsors: Klingman & Associates, Peggy A. Schweizer, and Lee Manning Vogelstein; Silver Sponsor Buzz Creators; and Mission Sponsors: ScentFluence and Maid Brigade.
“Wellness is about more than self-care as individuals; it is about having the safety and support of healthy relationships and strong communities that allow us to reconnect with who we are and envision what comes next,” said CarlLa Horton, Executive Director of Hope’s Door. “For survivors, rebuilding a life after abuse can mean reclaiming choices, confidence, and independence one step at a time. Cultivating Hope brought our community together around that same idea: that everyone deserves the opportunity to be safe and empowered.
Proceeds from Cultivating Hope support Hope’s Door’s work providing free, confidential services to individuals and families affected by domestic violence, including emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, safety planning, legal representation and prevention education. Last year, the organization served 1,844 survivors—double the number served the previous year—underscoring the growing need for accessible, comprehensive victim services throughout Westchester County.
For more information about Hope’s Door and its services, visit www.hopesdoorny.org. Individuals experiencing abuse, or those seeking support for someone affected by domestic violence, can access free, confidential assistance through Hope’s Door’s 24/7 multilingual hotline at 888-438-8700.