casey-gwinn-bio1-sWinging across the English countryside this morning on a train on our way to London to meet with the Deputy Commissioner of Scotland Yard, Steve Allen, and our dear friend, Claudia Fernety, the artist for the FJC Alliance (now living in London), I am reflecting on the focus group we did this week with survivors of domestic violence in Sefton, England. It was an excellent idea by Caroline Rowsell, our coordinator for the planning of the Family Justice Centre in Sefton. The day before our big conference (yesterday) she brought together a diverse group of survivors to tell us about their experiences accessing services in Sefton. It was sobering, challenging, and a reminder of why survivor voices matter so much. One young woman arrived with arms crossed and did not speak for the first hour.
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