About Shoulder to Shoulder
Shoulder to Shoulder is West Virginia’s first-ever culturally specific agency for marginalized victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and human trafficking.
Shoulder to Shoulder provides support and direct services to marginalized victims and survivors, including referrals, safety planning, crisis management, and emergency services coordination such as short and long-term housing, legal advocacy, and medical advocacy, as well as culturally specific technical assistance, program consultations, and training and education to direct service providers in West Virginia.
We see a West Virginia that invites intersectionality and celebrates the dignity and self-worth embedded in us all while focusing on intentional advocacy and viable solutions for marginalized victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and human trafficking.
Transparency
Shoulder to Shoulder believes in holding itself accountable in the way we conduct business, manage finances, and represent ourselves publicly, and that these tasks can only be accomplished through open dialogue with our communities.
Trust
Shoulder to Shoulder values the importance of building trust within the marginalized communities we seek to serve and amongst ourselves as agents committed to positive change working in good faith with others across the state.
Sincerity & Authenticity
Shoulder to Shoulder operates from a foundation of authenticity and seeks to build with the principles of holding space for multiple truths, believing survivors, and an understanding of intersecting human experiences.
Empathy
Shoulder to Shoulder is committed to forming decisions and programming around the premise of empathy that specifically centers on historically marginalized voices.
Communication
Shoulder to Shoulder believes that honest and direct communication is key to building and maintaining effective service and advocacy programs.
Collaboration
Shoulder to Shoulder believes we build stronger programs when we work with our fellow agents of change and community members.
Respect for the Human Experience
Shoulder to Shoulder believes that the experiences of survivors and victims are valid and can provide unique contributions and perspectives.
Change
Shoulder to Shoulder believes in the power of positive change to create a greater quality of life for those who make West Virginia their home.
Determination/Resilience
Shoulder to Shoulder honors the resilience of marginalized communities and seeks to reflect this value in the collective work of transformation for victims and survivors.
Commitment
Shoulder to Shoulder is confident that dedication to this mission is a cultural value that staff, the Board of Directors, and the advisory team share.
Integrity
Shoulder to Shoulder will operate ethically at every level of programming.
OUR VALUES:
OUR DIRECTORS:
-
Co-DirectorKenyatta Coleman Grant continues to be a rising voice, community organizer and leader in the domestic violence movement. Prior to becomingthe Co-director of Shoulder to Shoulder, she worked at the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence for 23 years as the CommunityOrganizing Coordinator. As the Community Organizing Coordinator, she demonstrated her passion for enhancing and raising awareness ofcultural dynamics and considerations and the impact of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in marginalizedcommunities. She developed and facilitated culturally relevant trainings and other education workshops that focused on anti-oppression,implicit bias and cultural competency and accountability. She also serves on the statewide YWCA Racial Equity and InclusionCommittee, YWCABoard of Directors and the West Virginia Women’s Commission. Kenyatta received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science fromMarshall University with a minor in Criminal Justice, and her Master’s of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Marshall Graduate College witha minor in Sociology. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching cheerleading/tumbling and spending time with her family.
kgrant@stswv.org
-
Co-DirectorSara Fincham has worked for the past 12 years in the field of violence response and prevention. A graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Sara worked at community-based domestic and sexual violence centers for seven years, and at the state sexual assault coalition for five years before coming to Shoulder to Shoulder. Prioritizing intentional, trauma-informed, victim-centered, culturally specific advocacy and prevention solutions for victims from marginalized communities and helping to implement strategies that meaningfully respond to interconnected modes of violence and oppression and address the root causes of violence are just two of Sara’s passions. Others include eating chocolate and camping with her family.
sfincham@stswv.org