Sahar Sattarzadeh speaking at the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Briefing

Yesterday I was in Arlington for the annual Institute of Medicine meeting; today I was back in DC and listening to five women talk about how faith communities can respond to domestic violence.  Addressing the local level, Ambreen Ahmed, from FAITH Social Services, spoke about her organization’s work to provide humanitarian aid to needy individuals and families living Northern Virginia.  FAITH is a Muslim-led organization that serves people of all backgrounds.

Speaking to the national level, Loribeth Weinstein, of Jewish Women International, discussed her organization’s commitment to ending domestic violence and appealed for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

The other speakers were Rev. Dr. Susan Newman, of All Souls Church, and Sahar Sattarzadeh, representing the Interfaith Community Against Domestic Violence.  The briefing was moderated by Rev. Anne Marie Hunter, of the Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership for Domestic Violence.