Listen. Believe.
Support.
This is what we do.
This is who we are.
Safety is a human right, and every person deserves to live free from domestic violence.
Alianza assists, supports, and empowers those whose lives are affected by battering and abuse. We believe that victims and survivors of domestic violence deserve respect and can make their own choices. Our staff — whom we call advocates — offers a high level of emotional support for independent decision-making.
What We Do
We empower survivors of domestic violence to stay safe and achieve greater independence.
We do this by helping with logistics such as safe housing, food, clothing, medical support, court orders, legal help, therapy, and childcare — practical things survivors need to flourish.
But we also provide things that aren’t as visible.
We provide emotional support, empathy, and the space for survivors to tell their story.
→ Our staff — whom we call advocates — are allies.
They stand side by side with participants.
→ Many of our advocates are intimately familiar with the cycle of abuse. They have either survived domestic violence or know someone who has. In many cases, both.
→ Our advocates work as a team. They represent a diverse array of cultures and backgrounds and they all share one belief: that everyone has the right to live without fear of abuse.
→ All of our advocates are relentlessly positive
and invested in treating all participants like equals
No matter how a survivor finds us or where they are in the cycle of abuse, our number one goal is to make sure each survivor is believed and supported.
We see you.
We hear you.
We believe you.
Our services are free and confidential.
Bilingual/bicultural services available.
Our advocates speak English, Spanish and Russian.
Who We Are
Founded in 1980 as a grassroots collective, Alianza has sheltered more than 10,000 women and children and assisted 22,000 others through community-based support programs. Annually, we shelter approximately 80 to 100 women and 140 children.
We hire diverse staff from a range of backgrounds. We train them to be good listeners, strong allies, and more informed champions of the cause.
We have made great strides to create a culture where people are encouraged to speak up, participate, and develop their own leadership within the organization.
At Alianza, we stand together, side by side, to disrupt the cycle of domestic violence.
Administrative Staff
Carmen Nieves
Executive Director
Carmen Nieves has held numerous key roles within Alianza (formerly Womanshelter /Compañeras) and became Executive Director after serving as a program leader for more than 20 years. She brings a wealth of experience in domestic violence services, innovative models for program development, and community education and collaboration. Recognized in Holyoke, and across the state of Massachusetts as a champion for survivors of domestic violence, Carmen has served on numerous domestic violence advisory committees and is well-known as a bilingual domestic/intimate partner violence trainer.
Pamela Barnes
Director of Development
Margie A. Quinones-Ortiz
Executive Assistant
Julia Zegarra
Communications Coordinator
Gwendolyn Hardrick
Business Manager
Ivette Hernandez
Director of Residential Services
IN REMEMBERENCE
Karen Boyle Cavanaugh
Executive Director (1999-2018)
Joecelyn Martinez
Manager of Direct Services
Drew Warner
Grants Compliance Manager
Emily Skoczylas
Outreach & Education Coordinator
With over forty years of experience, Alianza is an informed voice in the field of domestic violence.
We work with our peers, colleagues, and survivors across the state and the country to forward our understanding of how to interrupt the systemic cycle of abuse.
Speaker series video coming soon.
Alianza is grateful for the generous support from the Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, U.S. Department of Justice, Holyoke and Chicopee Community Development offices, United Way of Pioneer Valley, and the Diocese of Springfield. Alianza receives Title III/Older Americans Act funding from WestMass ElderCare allocated by the Administration of Community Living and the Mass. Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Alianza’s programs and services are partially supported by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance through a Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice
We also extend our thanks to the many foundations, corporations, and individuals who support us in our work on behalf of domestic violence survivors.
Our Board of Directors
Brenda M. Bak
President
Rebecca Ramah
Treasurer
Mary A. Socha, Esq.
Clerk
Denise Duguay
Alan Fletcher
Maria M. Galano, PhD
Dana Dyer Hines
Jamal A. Lacy
Marie Nathan
About
Listen. Believe. Support.
This is what we do. This is who we are.
Safety is a human right, and every person deserves to live free from domestic violence.
Alianza assists, supports, and empowers those whose lives are affected by battering and abuse. We believe that victims and survivors of domestic violence deserve respect and can make their own choices. Our staff — whom we call advocates — offers a high level of emotional support for independent decision-making.
All of our services are free and confidential.
Call our 24-hour hotline:
1-877-536-1628
What We Do
We empower survivors of domestic violence to stay safe and achieve greater independence.
We do this by helping with logistics such as safe housing, food, clothing, medical support, court orders, legal help, therapy, and childcare — practical things survivors need to flourish.
But we also provide things that aren’t as visible.
We provide emotional support, empathy, and the space for survivors to tell their story.
→ Our staff — whom we call advocates — are allies.
They stand side by side with participants.
→ Many of our advocates are intimately familiar with the cycle of abuse. They have either survived domestic violence or know someone who has. In many cases, both.
→ Our advocates work as a team. They represent a diverse array of cultures and backgrounds and they all share one belief: that everyone has the right to live without fear of abuse.
→ All of our advocates are relentlessly positive
and invested in treating all participants like equals
No matter how a survivor finds us or where they are in the cycle of abuse, our number one goal is to make sure each survivor is believed and supported.
We see you.
We hear you.
We believe you.
Our services are free and confidential.
Bilingual/bicultural services available.
Our advocates speak English, Spanish and Russian.
Who We Are
Founded in 1980 as a grassroots collective, Alianza has sheltered more than 10,000 women and children and assisted 22,000 others through community-based support programs. Annually, we shelter approximately 80 to 100 women and 140 children.
We hire diverse staff from a range of backgrounds. We train them to be good listeners, strong allies, and more informed champions of the cause.
We have made great strides to create a culture where people are encouraged to speak up, participate, and develop their own leadership within the organization.
At Alianza, we stand together, side by side, to disrupt the cycle of domestic violence.
Our Staff
Carmen Nieves
Executive Director
Carmen Nieves has held numerous key roles within Alianza (formerly Womanshelter /Compañeras) and became Executive Director after serving as a program leader for more than 20 years. She brings a wealth of experience in domestic violence services, innovative models for program development, and community education and collaboration. Recognized in Holyoke, and across the state of Massachusetts as a champion for survivors of domestic violence, Carmen has served on numerous domestic violence advisory committees and is well-known as a bilingual domestic/intimate partner violence trainer.
Pamela Barnes
Director of Development
Margie A. Quinones-Ortiz
Office Manager
Drew Warner
Grants Compliance Manager
Alhagie Camara
Business Manager
Seneida Torres
Outreach Coordinator
Julia Zegarra
Communications Coordinator
Joecelyn Martinez
Co-Manager, Direct Services
Luz Vega
Co-Manager, Direct Services
IN REMEMBERENCE
Karen Boyle Cavanaugh
Executive Director (1999-2018)
With over forty years of experience, Alianza is an informed voice in the field of domestic violence.
We work with our peers, colleagues, and survivors across the state and the country to forward our understanding of how to interrupt the systemic cycle of abuse.
Alianza is grateful for the generous support from the Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, U.S. Department of Justice, Holyoke and Chicopee Community Development offices, United Way of Pioneer Valley, Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts Office of Elder Affairs, Administration of Community Living, and WestMass Eldercare.
We also extend our thanks to the many foundations, corporations, and individuals who support us in our work on behalf of domestic violence survivors.
Our Board of Directors
Brenda M. Bak
President
Rebecca Ramah
Treasurer
Mary A. Socha, Esq.
Clerk