Domestic Violence and the Pandemic:
An Interfaith Response
Keynote Interfaith Panel: Addressing the Global Pandemic on Domestic Violence
Anindita Chatterjee Bhaumik, LICSW, LCSW, CCTP, has been an advocate at the intersection of mental health and religion for the last 20 years as a social worker, psychotherapist, and faith leader. Anindita is currently the Director of Boston Evening Therapy Associates and continues to work as a psychotherapist specializing in complex trauma, PTSD, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. Anindita served as the Community and External Affairs Coordinator for CONNECT from 2008 to 2015, an organization dedicated to preventing interpersonal violence and promoting gender equality through workshops for men, women, and youth. As an Associate Director of Policy & Communications for the Domestic Violence Project of the Urban Justice Center, Anindita advocated for the safety and wellbeing of domestic violence survivors at the community, city, and state levels. Anindita worked as the South Asian Outreach Director for Sanctuary for Families from 1999 to 2005. She was the South Asia Expert for Coalition Against Trafficking in Women and represented CATW to the UN from 2002 to 2004. Anindita’s holistic approach recognizes the pivotal role religious leaders play in recognizing abuse, supporting survivors, and eliminating stigma in their communities. Anindita often talks about how difficult it is for immigrants to overcome the cultural taboos and how important it is to break the vicious cycle of silence. Anindita, an adherent and a lifelong student of Sanatana Dharma, popularly known as Hinduism, is an initiated disciple of the Late Swami Tathagathananda of the Vedanta Society of New York.
Ayoka (Mayanah) Johnson is a mother, anthropologist, biblical scholar, community activist, and member of the Israelite community. With each of these identities working together, Ms. Johnson founded Genesis 2 Ministries Ink, which is dedicated to reclaiming accurate biblical feminine identities. Her organization, Ha Nasheem, established in 2018, embodies her sincere belief that “TIP: Torah is Practical” and its membership has either sponsored or created initiatives that encourage healthy sustainable families and communities, including ending gender-based violence in all of its forms. She is a community speaker and the author of a number of papers interrogating issues that affect women of faith such as My Partner in Jealousy and Womanhood 101: The Essential Reader for True Biblical Feminine Identities.
Robina Niaz was born and raised in Pakistan and migrated to the United States in 1990. In the aftermath of 9/11, Robina founded Turning Point for Women and Families, the first non-profit to address domestic violence in New York City’s Muslim community. She has been serving as Turning Point’s Executive Director since its inception in 2004. She currently serves as a Commissioner on NYC’s Commission on Gender Equity, is a member of the Social Work Advisory Council at Medgar Evers College, and recently joined the Advisory Board of the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center, New York (PPSC). She has an MS in Applied Psychology (Pakistan) and an MSW from Hunter College, School of Social Work. She was a 2007 CORO Immigrant Leadership Fellow and a 2005 Open Society Institute Social Justice Fellow. A social worker, and fierce advocate for women’s rights, Robina has received numerous awards for community service. She was named a CNN Hero (2009), was recognized by the International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG), and was honored in 2019 by the Women2Women Forum. In 2017, Robina was named one of 21 “Movement Makers” by the Novo Foundation.
Iya Funlayo E. Wood-Menzies, Ph.D. is a scholar-practitioner of the Ifa-Orisa (ee-FA o-REE-sha) tradition. She is the founding director of the African and Diasporic Religious Studies Association, the chief priestess at Ile Ase Ire (ah-SHAY ee-RAY), Inc. Ifa-Orisa Temple, and founding dean of Ase Ire Communiversity. Dr. Wood-Menzies received her Ph.D. from Harvard University and her work has been published in academic and popular venues. Affectionately known as “Your Favorite Scholar-Priestess,” Dr. Wood-Menzies is a dedicated public scholar; she lectures frequently and has appeared in documentaries for PBS and the National Geographic Channel.
Keynote Speaker: Addressing the Global Pandemic on Domestic Violence Through Advocacy & Faith-Rooted Action
Dr. Coralanne Griffith-Hunte is an Industrial & Trauma Psychologist. She is the Founder and Chairwoman of Created for Greatness Leadership Group, Inc., a humanitarian consulting training, & development organization. Dr. Griffith-Hunte is also a Professor at Mercy College and Senior Training and Development Facilitator for the Research Foundation of The City University of New York. In addition, Dr. Griffith-Hunte is a Senior Legislative Advisor, who works on a daily basis with key government officials and other organizations at the state, local and federal level to pass legislation favorable to the educational, human rights, mental health, anti-domestic violence, anti-human trafficking, anti-gang, community engagement, and empowerment mission for New York State families. In 2021, Dr. Griffith-Hunte was chosen to represent The United States of America and spoke in Switzerland at the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue. In addition, Dr. Griffith-Hunte was selected to serve on the Queens Borough President’s Veterans, Elderly, and Mental Health Committee. Dr. Griffith-Hunte was instrumental in advocating for the End Child Sex Trafficking Bill which was signed into legislation in 2018.
Workshop Trainers
Tasnia Ahamed joined Turning Point in 2017 and is currently our Domestic Violence Program Director. She is a Licensed Social Worker and received her Master’s in Social Work from Stony Brook University. She has given presentations and participated in numerous events to raise awareness about domestic violence. In 2021, she was awarded an Advocate of the Year by the New York Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. In August 2018, Tasnia received a Citation from Assembly Member Brian Barnwell, recognizing her as a hard-working individual who has demonstrated outstanding citizenry and service. In the past, she has worked and volunteered with agencies such as VIBS: Family Violence and Rape Crisis Center, Womankind, and Maryhaven Center of Hope. Community service has always been a priority for Tasnia growing up as she believes that the only way a community can thrive is if its members uplift each other. As a Bangladeshi-American woman who understands and speaks Bangla, Tasnia understands the struggles of Muslim, South Asian New Yorkers and the unfortunate trend of bottling away hardship to exhibit strength. She envisions a community where we can talk about social struggle, especially domestic violence, as a means of healing, not as a whispered comment.
Aminta Kilawan-Narine is a lawyer, community organizer, and writer. She is a co-founder of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, an organization founded in 2010 and dedicated to merging the values at the heart of Hinduism with those at the heart of social justice. In this role, Aminta has fostered ecological stewardship through beach cleanups, promoted immigrant rights through know your rights workshops, and fostered gender equity through a feminist faith lens. Aminta is also the founder and director of South Queens Women’s March, a gender justice movement-building organization with a mission to meet women, girls, and gender-fluid people where they are and connect them to the tools necessary to thrive. Aminta is a columnist for her local newspaper, The West Indian, as well as Brown Girl Magazine. Professionally, she is Senior Legislative Counsel at the New York City Council with a portfolio including homelessness, public benefits, and child welfare.
Doreen G. Lesane is a seasoned Educator, Author, and Public Speaker. She is the Founder and CEO of Sunshine in My Living Room and has created a “SPEAK UP” against domestic violence campaign where she is committed to being open and frank about this controversial topic. Her book, “THRIVER: My Story To Tell: What Domestic Violence Taught Me and How I Learned To Live” is a beautifully written account of her journey from neglect and abuse to a leading advocate against domestic and sexual abuse in New York City. She holds a Graduate Degree in Criminal Justice with a Human Service minor, is a New York State O.A.S.A.S Certified Education & Training Provider. She is also a New York State Department of Health Certified Rape Crisis Advocate with ten years of experience in the Emergency Department assisting survivors of sexual assault in the Bronx, New York.
Stephanie McGraw is the Founder and CEO of W.A.R.M. She is a survivor of domestic abuse and dedicates her life to empowering fellow survivors and her community. Seeing that there was a lack of black women speaking out about domestic violence, she was propelled to start her own organization to educate and bring awareness about the issue. Stephanie birthed W.A.R.M. out of her own pain and purpose and relentlessly works to offer survivors the help she wishes existed when she was in their position. W.A.R.M. is truly a grassroots organization supported by volunteers, local community leaders and powered by Stephanie herself. With her persistence and commitment to her cause, she has made the impossible, possible. She is the engine behind W.A.R.M. and a well-known long-time leader in the Harlem community and NYC.
Danielle Williams-Thiam joined CONNECT in 2021 as a community educator. In her capacity at CONNECT Faith, Danielle collaborates with New York City’s diverse faith communities to create and strengthen their response to gender and family violence. She has a passion for empowering diverse faith communities to live into their values of social justice and transforming the world. Prior to CONNECT, Danielle spent many years as an inter-faith-based community organizer in California, equipping congregations to enact police accountability, criminal justice reform, violence intervention and prevention, and civic engagement. In her downtime, Danielle enjoys designing Afrocentric jewelry, watching Nollywood movies, and cooking random recipes from YouTube influencers. She holds a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Interfaith Prayer Leaders
Minister Patricia Malcolm is an ordained and licensed minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She began her spiritual journey in the country of her birth, Jamaica, West Indies. She served at the Brooklyn Christian from 2000 – 2004. Later served at New Hope Christian Fellowship from 2004-2018. She assisted at Harmony Tabernacle from 2018-to 2019. She pastors at Pathway to Life Ministries from 2019 to the present. She is the Founder and President of Women Supporting Women and the Co-Chair of the Education Committee at the Micah Institute.
Sunita Viswanath has worked in women’s and human rights organizations for almost three decades. She is co-founder and active board member of the 14-year old front-line women’s human rights organization, Women for Afghan Women. Sunita is also co-founder and board member of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, living and building a Hinduism that prioritizes social justice, and upholding the Hindu principles of ekatva (oneness), ahimsa (non-violence) and sadhana (faith in action). Sunita is being honored for her work with Sadhana to encourage Hindus to live out these principles by taking care of the environment.
Venerable Liwen Youwangshih Wang followed Venerable Master Hsin Yung, the founder of the Fo Guang Shan International Buddhist Order, learning Buddhism for many years when she was in Taiwan. She was fully ordinated in 2008, at the Order’s North American headquarters, Hsi Lai Temple in Los Angeles, California. Venerable Youwang was a volunteer of FGS Xiang Yun Temple in Austin, Texas for many years. She also joined Buddha’s Light International Association, Austin Chapter and was elected president unanimously by its members. Her professional specialty is in teaching Chinese as second language and early childhood education as she was a teacher for many years in Taiwan and the United States. Venerable Youwang served as the executive director at Buddha’s Light Hsi Lai School for four years and then in 2012, she was assigned to FGS Xiang Yun Temple as director of general affairs. In November 2014, Venerable Youwang was transferred to IBPS New York and since then has served as the temple’s executive director.
Rabbi Melinda Zalma is the Manager of Programs at Tanenbaum. Prior to joining Tanenbaum, she served as Program Director at the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY). In her work there, she brought together diverse people and organizations to build bridges and strengthen the community. She developed the Women in Faith Fellowship, a powerful program for women of different faiths and spiritual practices to discover commonalities and accept differences. Through the programs, fellows learn skills in having difficult conversations while honoring the dignity of those who disagree with them. Also at JCRC-NY she created and managed Interfaith United-NYC, a network of interfaith and faith-based organizations. Melinda is the highest-ranking Jewish Chaplain in the US Navy. She is proud to serve alongside chaplains of many different religious views and beliefs, and who work together without compromising their beliefs. As a Commander, Reserve Component, she currently serves with the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, developing resources on Spiritual Fitness. Since 1999, she has also served in the office of the Navy Chief of Chaplains and in Religious Affairs, Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Navy has sent her to sea and around the world to serve Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and Airmen during the Jewish holidays.
Conference Facilitators
Dr. Rev. Chloe Breyer directs The Interfaith Center of New York, a nationally-recognized nonprofit that works with hundreds of grassroots religious leaders from diverse faith traditions to catalyze partnerships with civic officials to resolve social problems plaguing New York City. Issues include police reform, immigration concerns, and domestic violence. Institutional partners have included the New York Unified Court System, Catholic Charities, UJA Federation, & the National Endowment for the Humanities. Programs include the Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy (2017–), the Social Work and Religious Diversity program (2007–), and the Rabbi Marshall Meyer Social Justice Retreats (1998–). In addition to program work, ICNY advocates for religious freedom and civil rights. An Episcopal Priest in the Diocese of New York, Breyer also serves as Associate Priest at St. Philip’s Church in Harlem. Breyer is the author of The Close: A Young Woman’s First Year at Seminary (Basic Books 2000), chapter contribution in other books, and her Ph. D. is in Christian Ethics from Union Theological Seminary where she wrote her doctoral thesis about Islamophobia and interfaith work.
Hanadi Doleh has spent her adult life working in and for New York’s Muslim community. She earned a BA in Political Science and MA in International Relations from Brooklyn College, CUNY. Her academic work has informed her understanding of the issues that shape Muslim life in the US and abroad, as well as her social justice activism on behalf of Muslim Americans and other underrepresented communities. Following the completion of her MA, Hanadi worked for seven years at the Park51 Muslim community center in Lower Manhattan, before joining the staff at ICNY in 2018. Shortly after, Hanadi was invited to serve as Co-Chair of the NYC Faith Sector Community Preparedness Program with New York Disaster Interfaith Services and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, a position she held for three years. In 2019, Hanadi was a Community Advisory Board Member at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum for their Contemporary Muslim Fashions Exhibit, which was displayed from February 2020 to July 2021. In June of 2019, Hanadi received an honor from New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer for her contributions to the civic life of New York. Also, in December of 2019, Hanadi was honored and recognized by the Muslim Democratic Club of New York for her commitment to empowering Muslim communities and people of color through her organizing and civic engagement. In the summer of 2020, Hanadi was elected as Vice President of the Muslim Democratic Club of New York.
Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Hadley-Hall, B.S Ed M.A. D Min. is the Associate Pastor of Christ Temple United Baptist Church located in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn. She is a native New Yorker who was educated in the Public School System and taught for 30 years in the Elementary Schools in New York City. She serves as Co-Chair of the Education Committee for the Micah Institute. She also serves as the Co-Chair of the New York Recovery Community Coalition. Along with other organizations that she is a part of, she also serves as Secretary for the African American Clergy and Elected Officials (AACEO). She is also a Chaplain.
Amnel Holguin joined CONNECT in 2021 as an Executive Assistant. She is a vibrant and highly skilled administrative professional with 6+ Years providing C-Level support to executives in various fields. Music is her therapy. This reflects in the uplifting and empowering songs she writes. She is very passionate about psychology, LGBTQ+, women, and children’s rights. With joining the CONNECT team, she’s looking forward to cultivating her knowledge and understanding of restorative practices.
