October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). This year’s theme, “With Survivors, Always,” reminds us that supporting survivors isn’t just a moment—it’s a lasting commitment. Communities, organizations, and individuals are called to stand in solidarity with those affected by domestic and intimate partner violence, ensuring they have the resources, advocacy, and safety they need to rebuild their lives. 

In Massachusetts, the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK) stands at the forefront of this work. The only multicultural and multilingual domestic violence organization serving Asian and Pacific Islander communities statewide, ATASK has spent more than 30 years empowering survivors, bridging language and cultural gaps, providing critical support in moments of crisis, and advocating for lasting social change. As one of United Way’s 124 New Way Forward partners, ATASK demonstrates what it means to be with survivors, always. 

From July 2023 to June 2024, ATASK supported 1,211 survivors—including 520 children—across 30 ethnic communities and 32 languages, meeting clients where they are and strengthening communities statewide. Most came from Massachusetts’ largest Asian immigrant and refugee hubs, including Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex, and Worcester counties. 

The need for this work is urgent. In 2023, Massachusetts law enforcement reported 26,463 domestic violence incidents. Victims were mostly female (71%), and offenders mostly male (70%), according to NIBRS 2023 data. While the numbers highlight the scale of the problem, the human side of ATASK’s work shows the courage, dedication, and lived experiences that drive change every day. 

Meet Katrina, a Chinese advocate and case manager at ATASK, whose work hits close to home. Growing up in an immigrant household, she watched her parents navigate cultural expectations, language barriers, and the challenges of building a life in the U.S. “Even with certain privileges like education and English proficiency, my parents struggled to just live a happy life here,” she recalls. Those experiences shaped her empathy and fueled her desire to give back to communities like hers. 

Her own background helps her connect with clients on multiple levels. Fluent in Mandarin and bicultural, she draws on both her lived experience and her studies in public health and ethnic studies to guide clients through the technical and emotional aspects of their cases. “We don’t invalidate their traditions or culture,” she notes. “We help them find a way to move forward while honoring their identity and holding onto their dignity.” 

That sense of purpose drives her every day. “I have a post-it on my window that says, ‘What is your why?’” she shares. “It keeps me grounded and reminds me that this work—no matter how hard it is—matters. We get to help people take the steps toward safety and independence, and that’s powerful.” 

For Katrina, her work is about presence, consistency, and walking alongside people as they reclaim their lives. She manages a caseload of 25–30 clients at a time, many of whom first connect with ATASK through the 24-hour hotline at times of extreme crisis, seeking safety planning, housing support, or just someone to hear their story.  

In the past year alone, ATASK assisted with 363 hotline calls, each one representing a survivor taking that first, often terrifying, step toward safety. “A lot of people come to us when they feel completely alone,” she says. “Just having someone validate their experience and tell them they don’t deserve this—that’s the first step toward rebuilding their lives.” 

The challenges clients face are multifaceted. Many require assistance with restraining orders, navigating the criminal justice system, or securing housing and benefits—often complicated by immigration status. For clients without stable immigration status, the path to independence can be long and uncertain. “Some of my clients have been with ATASK for over three years,” Katrina notes, reflecting the long-term commitment the team makes to each individual. 

Some clients live at ATASK’s confidential shelter, “It’s a really special place,” Katrina explains. “Right now, there are more than a dozen families there, a lot of kids. Every client in the shelter is matched with an advocate, and I try to go in person every week because that face-to-face interaction really matters.” 

One client, a mother of two young children, stands out in Katrina’s mind. “She first came to us before I was even here,” she recalls. “She ran away from her husband because he was physically and emotionally abusive. At first, she tried couples therapy but ultimately realized she couldn’t do it anymore. She moved into ATASK’s shelter with her kids, and it was a huge journey for her.” 

The early days were incredibly difficult. “When she first came, she was unemployed. The shelter staff told me she would cry every day—she didn’t know what to do, just completely overwhelmed,” Katrina shares. “By the time I got her case, she had been in the shelter for about a year. She had a job, but it wasn’t something she cared about—it was just paying the bills.” 

With Katrina’s support, she accessed unemployment benefits, enrolled in English classes, and joined ATASK’s Seeds of Hope program—a funding initiative that helps clients pursue career goals. With this support, she trained to become a licensed nail technician, working toward her dream in cosmetology. 

Her progress has been inspiring. “Her English has come such a long way,” Katrina says. “She can talk to the shelter staff now without an interpreter—something she couldn’t do two years ago. She used to have panic attacks where her body would seize up from the stress of being a single mom. She hasn’t had one in months. She’s stronger, she’s calmer. It’s incredible to see her take control of her life.” 

Recently, she secured stable housing in a neighborhood where her children could attend a bilingual school. “When she got the keys, she told me, ‘Now that I have a house, I feel like I don’t have anything else I need to do. I’ve done it.’ She was so excited to create a new life for her children,” Katrina recalls.  

Language and culture are central to ATASK’s approach. Rebekah Bodden, Director of Development at ATASK, emphasizes: “We are the only organization in Massachusetts that provides services in over 20 Asian languages. A lot of clients don’t just face barriers with systems—they don’t  speak English. Having an advocate who knows their story, speaks their language, and understands their culture makes all the difference.” 

While ATASK serves any survivor who seeks help, 92% of clients are Asian (including Middle Eastern) and 98% are women. Most are immigrants working low-wage jobs, and about 80% live at or below the poverty line. Nearly 85% need translation or interpretation just to access basic services. 

That reality underscores the breadth of ATASK’s reach. In Fiscal Year 2024 alone, ATASK supported individuals from 23 Asian ethnicities—including Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indian, Nepali, and Afghan—as well as from non-Asian backgrounds such as Haitian, Cape Verdean, and Portuguese communities. Together, clients spoke 32 languages, each bringing unique perspectives and barriers to care.  

But translation alone is not enough—it’s the cultural understanding that matters. “Sometimes clients don’t even realize what they’re experiencing is abuse, because they’ve been told their whole life, ‘This is just how a husband treats a wife,’” Rebekah says. “Our role isn’t to label it for them; it’s to walk with them.” 

All of ATASK’s services are free for clients. “We can only do this because of the generosity of partners like United Way,” Bodden says. “Funding is always the greatest need—people who see the value in what we do and invest in it. United Way’s long partnership has been critical to sustaining this work.” 

ATASK’s impact goes beyond case management. Its outreach department plays a vital role in raising awareness about domestic violence—especially in communities where stigma and silence often isolate survivors. 

“Our outreach team is out in the community—at cultural fairs, on college campuses, at community events, and in workplaces—talking about how domestic violence looks different in every community and isn’t limited to physical abuse,” Bodden explains. “It’s about demystifying and raising awareness, so people know we exist, and so they know help is out there for them or for someone they love.” 

The work also extends to policy. ATASK participates in statewide coalitions addressing both domestic violence and immigrant rights, tackling the systemic barriers survivors face. “It’s not just about providing direct services,” Rebekah says. “It’s about ensuring that the voices and experiences of Asian survivors inform the policies that affect their lives.” 

At ATASK, advocates like Katrina show how culturally informed, survivor-centered support can transform lives, offering hope, stability, and dignity to every client who walks through their doors. “What I love most about working here,” Katrina explains, “is that we don’t close a case until the client feels ready. Even if the court case is done, or housing and immigration status are resolved, we stay with them until they feel stable enough to advocate for themselves.” 

 For Katrina and Rebekah, advocacy isn’t measured by milestones, but by the moments in between. “Advocacy means being there—consistently, patiently—even when things don’t go as planned,” Katrina says. “For many survivors, it’s the first time they’ve had someone they can trust and count on. That connection is what truly changes lives.” 

And for Katrina, that’s the answer to the post-it on her window that asks, “What is your why?” It’s to walk beside survivors, through setbacks and breakthroughs alike, until they can stand strong on their own.