DVHSC Advocates Program
Since 2019, the Domestic Violence & Homeless Services Coalition (DVHSC) has partnered with local systems leaders to develop its signature DVHSC Advocates Program for individuals with lived experience of domestic violence and homelessness.
Over the course of a 7-month curriculum, Advocates meet with DVHSC members and guest speakers alike to hone their public narrative and develop a nuanced understanding of the systemic intersections that have shaped their experience. Topic areas include homelessness services and governance; domestic violence services and governance; trauma-informed care; storytelling; policy, legislative, and advocacy basics; and media training.
Prior to the program's completion, Advocates are matched with local "Allies" to continue their advocacy journey. Allies are systems leaders who commit to meeting with their Advocates one-on-one every month, in order to co-create learning opportunities that uplift both parties' unique backgrounds, interests, and needs in pursuit of true systems alignment and equity.
We're always looking for new Allies and Advocates to join us! Contact us below to learn more and register your interest in supporting this exciting program.
By sharing my story with other people and advocating, I have been able to heal from my own trauma, my own pain.
- Amiyoko S.
Meet Our Advocates
Susan Kolkowicz
(she, her, hers)
Susan Kolkowicz is a DVHSC Advocate currently employed at the Downtown Women’s Center in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Her advocacy work is directly informed by her lived experience at the intersection of homelessness and domestic violence. Supportive Housing was a key part of Susan's exiting homelessness and a key focus of her advocacy efforts. Susan is a CSH SpeakUp! Advocate, a member of the Advisory Council of the Tenant Knowledge Exchange and has a seat on the Homelessness Prevention Community Advisory Board of the California Policy Lab. She has shared her perspective at Los Angeles City Council meetings, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor committee meetings and has contributed to the US Interagency Council on Homelessness. Susan has been interviewed for local radio and social media and has participated on panels as part of community discussions and conferences. Susan's top policy concerns include the rising numbers of unaccompanied women and survivors of domestic violence experiencing homelessness as well as the impact of the "benefits cliff effect" on the newly housed.
Experience with homelessness, domestic/intimate partner violence, and justice involved
Suzette Shaw
(she, her, hers)
I am a Skid Row resident, who writes talks and advocates from a woman’s perspective.
My trials became my testimony, which fueled my advocacy and the reason why I have the platform I have today. Today, I am the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) representative for Los Angeles, vice-chair of the Los Angeles Continuum of Care Board (LA CoC), co-chair of the Los Angeles Central Providers Collaboratve (LACPC) for Spa 4, LA County Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Steering Committee member, United State of Women Ambassador (USOW) 4th term, certified Mental Health of America Advocate (MHA), Domestic Violence Homeless Services Advocate (DVHSC), Community Advocacy /Social Policy Student at Arizona State University Local (ASU) and 2020 Woman of the Year, Holly J. Mitchell.
Experience with homelessness, domestic/intimate partner violence, food insecurity, justice involved, and gender discrimination
sonya c
film and television music producer
black skidrow resident
Experience with homelessness
JP
Experience with homelessness, domestic/intimate partner violence, food insecurity, justice involved, and gender discrimination
Amiyoko A. Shabazz
(We / All / Us)
Amiyoko Shabazz received her diploma with honors from LAUSD’s Youth Opportunities Unlimited Alternative High School in 1999. She then received a scholarship to attend Brooks College at the Long Beach Campus and went on to graduate and receive her AS Degree in Fashion Merchandising. What was most notable, all the while attending college she was experiencing homeless. Her college graduation was epic, having her three babies in the audience watching her receive her degree gave her even greater determination. In the Bridge Program, Antioch University 2014-2015 she realized her story can help others and focused on social justice.
Amiyoko has lived experience with numerous periods of homelessness, shelter services, mental health, domestic violence, recovery, and physical wellness programs to name a few, and continues to give back and work on her sole purpose. Her continued education, collaboration, specialty training with certifications and/or completions makes her qualified to train, lead, motivate, inspire and transform other Lived Experience Experts, Peer Specialists, Train-The-Trainers, Providers and private clients. She enjoys sharing her radiant light to help others with self growth, self awareness, and self evolution, community empowerment and community development.
After beginning her volunteer experiences with Downtown Women’s Center and Southwest College, she identified her leadership and advocacy pathway. Her volunteer experiences include working with organizations YOU inc., CSH Keeping Families Together, PWLE Steering Committee, LAHSA Women Committee, DWC’s Domestic Violence Committee and Advisory Board, Hilton Foundation, Homeless Health Care of Los Angeles, Residents United Network of Los Angeles, United Way, Copeland Center Advanced Level Facilitator, FOC/CRCD Vernon-Central WorkSource Center, Community Center Inc., Urban League, and CA State Employment Development Department.
Served as Advocate Local State, National, Global - 23 years of service 1999-actively present
Served as a Community Peer Specialist 2017-2022
Experience with housing insecurity, foster care, elder, intergenerational traumas, domestic violence, supportive housing, supportive housing families, sacred trees advocate, food and health