Read Our Newsletters

November 2023

October 2023

September 2023

Older Newsletters

April 25th, 2022

Hello Community Supporters!

First couple of months of 2022 are done and Project Be Free continues to grow rapidly! There are many projects underway that are quickly taking form. During this time, we ask for our community’s support in sharing about our services and to keep us in your thoughts as we embark on venturing into new environments to serve those in need.

This month we are excited to announce our new partnership with Renton Police Department. We are happy to be able to show our diverse community the concept of collaborative team response to DV related calls alongside law enforcement. A special thank you to all that were involved and helped make this happen. What does this mean? Within the city of Renton if officers respond to a DV related call our crisis responders will be notified to respond and help triage, provide resources and navigate crisis incidents.

Your Partners in Change, Katya Wojcik & Joel Thomas

Executive Director / Outreach Manger (Cofounders)

278567799_510450100786707_4249199835647222760_n

A very special thank you to Sergeant Awai, Patrol Commander Gray and Chief Schuldt for believing in us and seeing the benefits that Project Be Free can have for the community of Renton.

Our partnership, ‘Breaking Generational Cycles Youth Mentorship Program’ with Northwest Family enters into month six of being offered. We are so fortunate to have been able to be connected to such a great group of volunteer mentors for this program that are making an impact in the lives of youth that have been affected by domestic violence. The excitement builds as our program will be able to be offered more frequently in person. We continue to look for additional mentors within our community that are being called to help in creating change. If you are interested in being a mentor to a youth, please contact us at: Projectbefree@outlook.com

277008012_499496455215405_7510907668586085427_n

Domestic Violence can be isolating for family members supporting those going through their DV stories too. Often, they are unsure who to turn to or how to support their loved one. Let our support group be a safe place for you to process and receive community. This is a free group, offered every other week virtually. If you or someone you know is needing support, please let them know of this resource.

278908065_515534816944902_7605855790067291532_n

Please consider donating to Project Be Free’s mission this next month. Our goal is to raise $5,000 that will go directly to supporting individuals we encounter through our Crisis Response Program in the form of shelter assistance, legal advocacy aid, crisis DV counseling, transportation needs and food.
Help us continue to make change!

#ProjectBeFit

A special thank you to Dr. Erica Rauff’s KINE 5910 class that spent time with us on February 21st working on #projectbefit that we will be launching very soon! We look forward to having this project further connect our community and be a healthy outlet for the individuals we serve. Stay tuned!

January 10th, 2022

Hello Community Supporters,

The year has been difficult for so many of us as we’ve experienced prolonged lapses in our normal rituals of community and connection. During this all, we have experienced a growing number of volunteers and donors partnering with us in our mission “to assist individuals and families in finding hope and healing when facing the pain of domestic violence, trauma and related issues.”

We know Isolation promotes loneliness, increases Domestic Violence, addiction, and deepens the impact of unattended mental health. Project Be Free would like to thank all that helped us to achieve our goals this last year through their donations. From clothing, to time, donations, and financial gifts we were able to help community members with resources in their times of need.

Thank you to Alex Luschen, who helped connect us and provide Minecraft clothing to the youth we serve. If you’re looking to make change in the life of a youth, please connect with us at: projectbefree@outlook.com

Thank you to Alex Luschen, who helped connect us and provide Minecraft clothing to the youth we serve.

If you’re looking to make change in the life of a youth, please connect with us at: projectbefree@outlook.com

A special thank you to individuals that also provided sponsorship through 2021 (Kristina White, Shawn Davis, Josh (anonymous), Sergio Salinas and Dr. Addison Bulosan. Through monies received we were able to create a Doula-Led Mothers support group that works with mothers from early pregnancy to 9 months after they give birth. Our program teaches good eating habits, self-care practices, bonding with their new baby, and other coping practices to help smooth over transition.

This last year we were able to respond to 137 Crisis DV Calls!

As a growing organization, in 2021 we were able to bring on various team members; a Mentor consultant, three DV advocates, and a Birth doula. This could only happen through our funders; BECU and Seattle Foundation.

In July, Project Be Free was fortunate to obtain a grant through Social Justice Fund Northwest to facilitate our first Domestic Violence Wellness Symposium. This event was a powerful space in which survivors and their families could come together for connection, healing, education, and hope. Thank you to our event facilitators that made this event possible with a wide variety of classes from self-care, exercise, artwork and financial literacy. All feedback provided by individuals that attended was 100 percent positive. We hope to replicate this event in 2022.

Through partnership with Northwest Family Life, we were able to secure funding for our, ‘Breaking Generations Cycles Youth Mentorship Program’ which began in October of 2021.

This is a program we are excited to continue to grow in supporting youth and families during difficult times. We focus on building positive foundations for our youth and help them build the futures they want to see for themselves.

This new year we hope to grow our crisis response team which will address much needed deficiencies in our connection with local law enforcement and our community outreach programs. We plan to partner with four departments this year and are in negotiations with several more. Many police departments are working with Mental health providers to arrive on scene together to serve those in need.

Project Be Free is breaking new ground; providing well qualified, culturally sensitive, and equipped professionals to help our over-burdened law enforcement officials serve our communities with real resources and offer alternatives to arrests. In February of 2022, we will begin our therapist led Family Support Group for family members that need additional support, resources, and a space to process.

Your Partners in Change

Katya Wojcik & Joel Thomas

Exec. Director/Outreach Manger (Cofounders)

We are accepting donations to continue to help those in need. Whether it is financial, or giving the gift of time, our communities both need and appreciate all you do. It’s allowed us to reach people we never thought possible. We continue to be encouraged and press on together! We honor whatever space you are in during this time and hope that you will experience peace and joy amidst the sorrows. Wherever you find yourself in this season, we offer you the opportunity to give and receive joy.