Fearless! In The News
In an interview with “20/20,” Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier the executive director at Fearless! Hudson Valley said that in Nikki Addimando’s trial, "There was lots of focus on the night of the incident and very little focus on how we got there."
Kostyal-Larrier said that after seeing the evidence in the case, including graphic photographs of injuries on Nikki’s body taken by a forensic nurse, "I thought to myself, 'If [Ms.] Addimando was not seen as a victim, then who could be seen as a victim?'"
Not a sound could be heard inside of the Powelton Country Club’s Dining room as each of the 37 women’s names was read and guests fully felt the potency of the somber moment. Since 2004, in Sullivan and Orange Counties, that number of female lives has been senselessly taken at the hands of their male intimate partners. The riveting statistic followed the reading of a poem, paying tribute to all women who have had to face the harrowing struggles and challenges connected to domestic abuse. It’s the very reason Safe Homes of Orange County was formed 36 years ago, and has since evolved its namesake into Fearless!
Our Executive Director Kellyann was interviewed by News 12 Hudson Valley's Blaise Gomez about the three back-to-back, separate cases within days that have thrust the crisis into the public eye.
Goshen. About 650 T-shirts made by survivors of domestic violence or in honor of someone who has been a victim of violence were displayed in the Clothesline Project at the County’s Government Center.
GOSHEN – In what has become an annual ceremony to keep the promise of never forgetting those impacted by domestic abuse, residents and Orange County officials stood before a line of 650 t-shirts strung along the entire front side of the Orange County Government Center in Goshen.
GOSHEN – Orange County and Fearless! Hudson Valley, Inc. will recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month by holding the Clothesline Project outside of the County’s Government Center on Monday, October 3.
The Clothesline Project will be on display from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on October 3 and then move to other locations in Orange and Sullivan counties.
“We are here to raise awareness about domestic violence and celebrate the lives of victims, survivors, and their families. Orange County will continue to assist Fearless! and the incredible work they do with and for domestic violence victims,” said Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus.
CITY OF NEWBURGH — When the city replaced the aging coin-operated parking meters with cashless parking kiosks, it sparked conversations across Newburgh about the potential ramifications.
“Many things that are made to potentially simplify and improve our lives in this day and age of technology can be really great,” said Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, executive director of Fearless! Hudson Valley. “But certainly, they can also have unintended consequences or risk for victims, survivors and others.”
Fearless! Hudson Valley is an Orange County-based nonprofit with an office in Newburgh that offers a variety of services to victims of domestic abuse.
“Just like telephones and GPS tracking devices, these are the kinds of technology which create all sorts of breadcrumbs leading to our location ... Having to use some sort of app or credit card creates an additional breadcrumb that you never had to consider with the quarter,” she said.
Kostyal-Larrier and others said they understand the need for new parking meters, but the lack of a cash option could negatively impact victims of domestic violence, people with low income, undocumented people and anyone who doesn’t have a bank account.
“I am just concerned that not everyone has the ability to use or access a credit card or has a bank account. That definitely can be a barrier and challenge for anyone, regardless of whether or not they're a victim of violence,” Kostyal-Larrier said.
The bill was created with input from Fearless! Hudson Valley, a service provider for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking. Diana Velez, the trafficking program manager for Fearless!, said educating more people about the realities of human trafficking and spotting the warning signs are important.
“I think once we bring additional education and information, people will be able to identify those red flags and find out what resources we have available in the community that they can reach out to for support," Velez said.
Fearless! Hudson Valley is holding their annual school supplies drive to pack backpacks for youth survivors ahead of the upcoming school year.
It is accepting supplies by appointment, which can be scheduled at (845) 562-5365.
Orange and Sullivan Counties, New York
"...prevention and education can look like anything from a kindergarten classroom or a daycare because you can teach the smallest and the youngest of children what it looks like around consent and healthy relationships, even the ability to share one's pencil or whether or not they want to be touched or whether or not they want to be here or be there." - Kellyann, Fearless! Executive Director
NYS Senator James Skoufis, local bar owners, and the Newburgh organization Fearless are calling on Governor Hochul to approve anti-trafficking legislation.
For your next special event/day, show your support by creating a Facebook Fundraiser for Fearless! These fundraisers not only help us raise the much-needed funds to assist victims and survivors, but they also assist us in spreading awareness of our mission to new audiences across the Hudson Valley.
Dozens of t-shirts swayed on clotheslines strung across Port Jervis’ historic Veterans Park. Each provided a glimpse of violence endured by victims of domestic abuse in Orange and Sullivan counties.
“We have highly trained people to provide resources right here in Port Jervis. We’re here to support, not force,” Ruiz said. “It is each person’s decision as to what they feel is safe, and what is best for their situation.”
Domestic violence includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and other coercive tactics of control. As a society, we all have a role in changing the narrative about what domestic violence is, to whom it happens, how we can support those who are experiencing it and ultimately prevent it entirely.
Kristen Detheridge of the domestic violence resource center Fearless! Hudson Valley can relate to the people she helps.
“Actually, I’m a survivor myself,” said Detheridge, who is now the marketing and communications director for the nonprofit. “I started out with Fearless! volunteering and just fell in love with people.”
Detheridge said the demand for services from Fearless! has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fearless! received 10,096 calls to its hotline in 2020, staff said, an increase of 26.7% over its 2019 total.
Detheridge and her colleagues appeared outside the Newburgh office of State Senator James Skoufis Thursday morning to share their plans to nearly double shelter space for domestic abuse survivors and their children who have suffered through various forms of abuse.
“Domestic violence is not just physical violence,” Detheridge said. “It can be mental, emotional and economical.”
Fearless! Associate Director Sarita Green said the new shelter offers more space, but also more privacy, which is important to help someone in recovering from trauma.
Construction at the Orange County shelter site is complete, Fearless! staff said. They could not say specifically where the shelter is located, per a New York State social services law. Green said construction of new living space for domestic abuse survivors is unusual, but much better than the more common practice of renovating residential buildings.
“So you’re really restricted with the space within those settings, and trying to make it work the best you can, which we do currently in our existing shelter,” Green said.
The new shelter will bring the organization’s total number of beds to 37. It's been outfitted with couches, televisions and gaming chairs in the teen room.
Skoufis secured $125,000 to pay for the furnishings, and celebrated the completion of the project during a press conference with Fearless! staff and the project’s architects.
There has been a significant increase of domestic violence in the state and around the country,” Skoufis said. “The work that Fearless! has done over this time has never been more important.”
The director of Fearless! said the group is just about ready to open the new shelter. The space is licensed, has a certificate of occupancy and is fully furnished.
Fearless!, though, still needs to hire at least 12 employees before opening the shelter. The director said she hopes those positions will be filled in the coming weeks.
Domestic violence calls have increased 42.55 percent during COVID-19 pandemic.
