Advocates to End Domestic Violence expanded its reach last year when it opened the doors to its new Intervention & Resource Center near Classy Seconds thrift store on Highway 50. Lisa Lee, executive director of AEDV, says she’s enjoyed an increase in foot traffic since the center opened in March 2021. “We’ve had triple the number of people who walk in and ask us for help,” she said. But more importantly, the resource center is helping AEDV gain visibility in Carson City, and Lee can now offer more services to domestic and sexual violence victims. The building is equipped with private rooms for therapy sessions, a play area for children, “the nest” for hanging out, a kitchen, more office space for staff, and a studio area where clients can participate in “trauma-informed yoga.” “Having the space to do trauma-informed yoga – who does it?” Lee said. She’s especially proud of the furnishings. Because money was tight after construction of the building, she’s made many of the decorations herself. And she’s thrifted and reupholstered lots of furniture from Classy Seconds, the thrift store across the parking lot run by AEDV. She said it’s changed the way outsiders see AEDV. “You’re suddenly respectable. You’re an institution. … You guys must know what you’re doing because you have a really cool light fixture,” she joked. The sheer amount of available space has also helped her volunteer program. Lee currently has 60 volunteers, and all of them need to put in 70 hours of training annually. When they were stuck in AEDV’s old office space, they all shared a tight attic with a narrow staircase and one restroom. Now they have the space to form breakout groups, and more than one person can use the restroom at once. It’s a welcoming touch point for victims who need intervention and resources. Lee appreciates having a spacious facility to do more than just rehabilitate survivors of domestic and sexual violence, but also give them hope. “Happy is hard to quantify. It’s hard to put that in a bucket and say, ‘OK, I’m making four buckets of happiness. I am a wealthy person,’” she said. AEDV is hosting its annual Taste of Downtown Saturday, June 18 to support the construction of a new shelter for sexual and domestic violence survivors. The shelter will be located next to the Intervention & Resource Center. For information, visit aedv.org or purchase tickets for Taste of Downtown at www.tasteofdowntowncarson.com/tickets.
