Recent News

Bri Condon Hopes To Change The Narrative for Violence Survivors in 2019 

PORTLAND, OR (July 22, 2019) –Bradley Angle is proud to welcome Bri Condon as the organization’s new Executive Director. Condon comes to Bradley Angle with over 15 years of program development experience serving traumatized populations across multiple business sectors. Bradley Angle’s mission is to serve all people affected by domestic violence, by placing people experiencing—or at risk of—domestic violence at the center of its services and providing them with safety, education, empowerment, healing, and hope. 

“Bri’s experience leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to problems, and increasing support and resources for organizations will be monumental for Bradley Angle as we step into our 45th year helping survivors of domestic violence ascend,” says board chair Kindra Skrydlak. 

Condon’s new role as Executive Director, was announced at the annual gala fundraiser GlamHer held in May at The Hilton Portland Downtown. Since then, Bri has quickly identified and strategically redesigned ways to gain organizational stability, increase community support, and improve systemic processes. 

On May 13th, Condon gave public testimony at the Portland Children’s Levy’s allocation committee meeting where Bri asked Mayor Wheeler and the committee to consider that the effects of both trauma and intergenerational trauma can be an obstacle to accessing services. “Someone’s experience with trauma can create internal barriers that make resources entirely inaccessible.” 

Condon looks to change the social narrative for survivors by first bringing a greater awareness of how people generally perceive violence. Bri explains, “DV [domestic violence] is a mainstream problem affecting more people than society believes. It is not simply a subsection of outliers, only limited to the fringes.” Within growing public awareness, Bri’s goal is also to change how domestic violence help-systems may respond to survivors, and not, “…as if they have done something wrong, and must be monitored rather than guided. In actuality, Bri maintains that violence is proof of failures across all systems.”   

Prior to working at Bradley Angle, Condon co-founded and served as the Executive Director and Field Director for the Catalyst Wilderness Therapy Program, an organization whose mission was to empower the next generation of marginalized people past complex issues of mental health and substance abuse. Condon holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Outdoor Education from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s Degree in Adventure Education/Risk Management from Prescott College. 

We are happy to announce that Sarah Groshell will be joining Bradley Angle as our Interim Executive Director on April 11th! Sarah brings over 15 years of leadership within the nonprofit and public sectors, with most of those years in organizations dedicated to serving survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Sarah founded Adams Street Consulting, LLC in 2013 to provide organization development, facilitation, and training to increase equity, inclusion, and impact. Sarah helps organizations and people get unstuck and move through periods of transition. With international and local experience, Sarah has a strong commitment to social justice. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration with a nonprofit concentration from Portland State University and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. When not geeking out on organizational structure, institutional equity, or process design, she is frequently found acting as a kitty bed or a preschool jungle gym in Milwaukie, OR.

When asked why she was excited to join the team at Bradley Angle, Sarah said, “Bradley Angle is a critical component of our local response to domestic violence. I am honored to have the opportunity to work closely with an organization that is committed to providing culturally responsive services to meet the needs of so many populations that are often overlooked by mainstream systems.”

Rebecca Nickels, Bradley Angle’s Interim Executive Director, talked with KOIN 6 News about how the current government shutdown is preventing the organization from receiving federal funds from HUD for transitional housing services. The costs can be covered in the short-term by pulling from other funding sources but those other sources will become more vulnerable as the shutdown continues.

She also acknowledged that while domestic violence agencies all around the state are affected, the shutdown is disproportionately affecting services in rural communities.

Watch the video.

Bradley Angle’s Interim Executive Director, Sarah Groshell, appeared on KGW Sunrise to talk about the impact of the Ford/Kavanaugh hearings for survivors and for our cultural narrative around sexual assault. She reflected on how our society has and hasn’t progressed since Anita Hill’s hearings in 1991.

Sarah also offered advice on how you can support the survivors in your life and how survivors can take care of themselves.  The most important thing you can do to support survivors? Believe them.

Watch the video.

Bradley Angle’s Interim Executive Director, Sarah Groshell, joined Cassidy Quinn of Tonight With Cassidy on KGW 8 to promote FINDpdx! FINDpdx is a pop-up sale where everything is new and 50% off the lowest retail price found online.

Sarah highlighted some of Bradley Angle’s programs that will benefit from proceeds of the sale including Emergency Shelter and Economic Empowerment. Cassidy and Sarah also showcased some of the great items available at the upcoming FINDpdx sale and viewers at home had the opportunity to guess the prices.

Watch the video.

PORTLAND, ORE – May 22, 2017 – GlamHer, Bradley Angle’s signature event, reached for the stars and celebrated galactic ideas at this year’s science fiction-inspired ball. Sold out two weeks in advance, the fundraiser hosted 460 guests at the posh Nines Hotel in downtown Portland.

Drag legend, Poison Waters, guided the electric crowd through an entertaining evening with performances and her entourage of Queens. Guests opened their hearts and wallets raising over $220,000 for survivors of domestic violence. The most spirited live auction item was a Drag Queen Makeover by Poison Waters and the rare chance to perform in Super!Drag at the Darcelle XV Showplace alongside legendary Queen Darcelle. READ MORE…Bradley Angle’s Sold-Out GlamHer Raises over $220,000 for Survivors of Domestic Violence

 

IKEA Portland is celebrating ten years with a thank you campaign designed to give back. “We’ve just granted a $10,000 request to outfit children’s rooms in its new Tami Best Shelter Program”. The IKEA team also made over rooms at the Bradley Angle Resource Center. “We hope these new furnishings will provide comfort in a calming and safe environment where families can begin the healing process.” Bradley Angle is thankful for this donation and the opportunity to provide a beautiful and safe place for its participants. See Video

Bradley Angle will partner with REACH Community Development and The Joint Office of Homeless Services to open four properties for domestic violence survivors and their children who need safe, intermediary housing.

The four properties, owned by REACH, will offer a range of one, two, and three bedroom units to meet a variety of family sizes. The Joint Office of Homeless Services will provide $167,000 to support this project per year for the next year.

In Portland, 1 in 7 women will experience domestic violence this year. Fifty percent of homeless women in Portland identify domestic violence as the reason they became homeless in the first place. The addition of these properties will allow Bradley Angle to more rapidly respond to survivors and provide stability to families during their transition.

The project will be dedicated “The Tami Best Emergency Shelter Program” in memory of Tami Best, who died a victim of domestic violence at the age of 42.

“The Tami Best Emergency Shelter is a critical addition to the safety net for domestic violence survivors fleeing dangerous, life-threatening situations,” said Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman of the project. “The partnership between Bradley Angle, REACH and the Joint Office is another example of the all-hands-on-deck approach our community relies on to provide immediate, safe housing for survivors and their children,” he continued.

Tami was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and was the mother of former Bradley Angle employee, Angela Frazier. Like many people experiencing domestic violence, Tami didn’t share much about her abusive relationship with her family. At the time of her death, her family was concerned about her becoming increasingly isolated.

About naming the project after her mother, Angela said, “I’m glad to know that more survivors in Oregon will now have access to emergency shelter when they need it. My family and I are so touched that Bradley Angle chose to honor my mom by naming this project in her honor.”

The Tami Best Emergency Shelter properties are set to open later this month and will house up to 15 people escaping domestic violence for 60 to 90 day stays. Approximately 100 people will be supported by this project per year.

“I’m proud of the work on this project because it will provide immediate help and relief to domestic violence survivors by giving them a safe place to stay,” said Multnomah County Chair, Deborah Kafoury. “These housing units are critical to the survival of women and children who are facing dangerous situations. This partnership between local government, Bradley Angle and REACH CDC is a model that we should all follow when it comes to providing safety, security and peace of mind for those affected by domestic violence,” Chair Kafoury continued.

Make a donation to Bradley Angle to help Angela raise money in her mother’s honor.

How to Access the Tami Best Emergency Shelter Program

If you are experiencing domestic violence and in need of emergency shelter, please contact Call to Safety (formerly the Portland Women’s Crisis Line) at 503.235.5333 to learn about all shelter options available in our community, including the Tami Best program. Shelter assignments will be made through a coordinated process that takes into account the needs of all survivors who receive services at any domestic violence organization in Multnomah County.

How Readers Can Help

Bradley Angle is seeking benefactors to replenish supplies when families move in and out of shelter. This will allow families leaving the Tami Best program to take basic necessities like, sheets, towels, and other essentials with them when they find long-term housing. Learn more about the Adopt-A-Home Program here.

 

View the full media release here: Gov. Brown’s “Coming Out” as Domestic Violence Survivor Highlights Issue this October

Governor Kate Brown declared for the first time publicly that she is a survivor of domestic violence; the same week Bradley Angle launched a national giving campaign in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Shortly after Gov. Brown disclosed she was a domestic violence survivor, Bud Pierce, her opponent in Oregon’s Gubernatorial race, stated, “A woman that has a great education and training and a great job is not susceptible to this kind of abuse by men, women or anyone.”

This falsehood is one of the many myths Bradley Angle and the Purple Purse Challenge is working tirelessly to debunk.

“Comments made in the race for Oregon Governor have reminded us about the importance of raising awareness about domestic violence and busting the myths that persist on this issue,” says Rebecca Alexander, Bradley Angle Development and Communications Director. “Domestic violence does not discriminate. It affects people of all education levels and people in every income strata,” Alexander continued.

Pierce’s comments came after a question about data from Count Her In, a recently released report that shows 50 percent of women and girls in Oregon said that they had been the victim of domestic violence or sexual violence.

Bradley Angle is the only Oregon nonprofit competing for $650,000 in grant funding as a part of The Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse Challenge, which kicked off on September 28. The challenge, an annual competition hosted on CrowdRise, is a public fundraising and awareness campaign that coincides with October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

In order to count toward an organization’s total, donations must be received by October 25 at 2 on ET. Along with $115,000 in weekly bonus challenges, the organization in each division that raises the most money will receive a $100,000 grant; second place will receive $50,000; third place will win $25,000; fourth place earns $20,000; and fifth place will get $15,000.

To help Bradley Angle win The Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge, head over to crowdrise.com/BradleyAngle2016.

 

Bradley Angle is pleased to announce that we have been selected to receive a $20,000 regional grant from the Allstate Foundation to support the Economic Empowerment program for survivors of domestic violence. Economic abuse affects most, if not all, survivors and our program provides resources, education, and guidance to rebuild their financial security.

The Allstate Foundation has been a long-time friend to Bradley Angle since we began the Economic Empowerment Program. We appreciate the friendship and support of the Allstate Foundation!