Greetings from JDI

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the new and improved website for Jane Doe Inc.  We hope you've found the resources and information you need, whether you are looking for help for yourself or someone you care about, or are interested in getting involved in our efforts to create a world free of oppression, fear and violence.

We’re often asked how we can imagine liberty, dignity and justice when horrifying and heart-breaking stories of sexual abuse, rape, stalking and domestic violence bombard us daily. The answer is found in the bravery and resilience of survivors and the compassion and dedication of advocates working in this arena.

As the only statewide advocacy coalition of sixty community-based sexual and domestic violence programs in Massachusetts, Jane Doe Inc. (JDI) has both the responsibility and the privilege of working on behalf of survivors and victims of sexual and domestic violence. We hear the stories of the college student who was raped by a classmate and then stalked online for months; the mother who is embroiled in years of a custody battle with an abusive former husband; the young transgender man who is assaulted by teammates because of their perception of his gender identity; the immigrant who fears speaking with police because they suffered police violence in their home country and also for fear of deportation.

We also hear the endless stories of the survivors who find the strength to finish school, lead a support group for other survivors, and settle into a new and safe home for themselves and their children. This is the difference that JDI members make every day; the lives of survivors and their children are changed and saved.

And we hear the stories of those advocates who offer unwavering and non-judgmental support to thousands of victims/survivors throughout the Commonwealth. These are stories of overcoming impossible odds. Stories that also end with geographic and cultural communities changed and engaged to support survivors and JDI members.

This is the change that is possible when our work is advocate driven and informed by survivors. We are building safer communities, promoting healthy relationships and preventing sexual and domestic violence.

JDI focuses on the foundational needs of human rights, safety and liberty in our aim to create complex and effective solutions that truly meet the needs of survivors/victims and their families. With our members and others, we are addressing the systemic, structural and societal factors that foster violence against women, sexual and domestic violence. Through our organizing, training, analysis, networking and advocacy, JDI, along with our membership, has pushed an ambitious social justice agenda.

Your support matters! It is critical to help us keep telling these stories, working for justice and leading a movement that is making a difference. On behalf of the board, membership and staff of Jane Doe Inc., thank you for your support.

In peace,

Mary R. Lauby
Executive Director