Julie Rems-Smario

Each year we recognize the selfless dedication to the wellbeing of others with our Humanitarian of the Year Award. Our intention is to say “we see you” to an individual who tirelessly and persistently works on behalf of those less fortunate to make their world, and in so doing our world, a better place.

In choosing the recipient of this Award, we often think about those segments of our society who might not otherwise be known to us or seen by us so we can all expand our view and understanding of the human condition. 

We took a look at the organizations to which the Foundation has given its money over the past few years and one thing that was apparent was the significant percentage of organizations that are working to create a safe haven and support for women who are facing or leaving domestic violence. Clearly this issue is one that is important to our members, and rightly so. 

It is all too true that women who are leaving violent circumstances are often re-victimized by the criminal justice system. Imagine now, what the experience is when a deaf woman seeks help…when the police show up and don’t understand her, when the service agencies designed to aid women in these circumstances can’t begin to ask about let alone address her needs. 

We talk about lending a hand to those who might not have a voice in the context of the larger society, and in this case the issue is really that the larger society can’t hear the voices of the deaf women because they don’t speak their language or understand their culture. Who’s really “deaf’ in this equation?

So this year, we honor the work of a truly remarkable organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California – Deaf Hope, and their Executive Director, Julie Rems-Smario. Deaf Hope provides much needed advocacy, education and crisis support for women and their children who are fleeing domestic and sexual assault situations. Their work enables women who have a voice, but often cannot be heard, to navigate the criminal justice and family support systems and make the transition from unsafe living to creating healthy and violence free homes for themselves and their children.

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