Several years ago, I worked with a group of Latino women that were

survivors of domestic violence. We met weekly in the form of a

support group facilitated by a psychologist. This was an opportunity
for the women to talk about their stories and make sense of the
senseless violence they had experienced. Most of the women were
undocumented. Their legal status was a huge barrier and risk factor
that kept them from seeking help. Without papers, for example, many
could not work legally or were not eligible for housing assistance.
Many times, the partners would use their status as a threat to take
away children or report them to immigration. The women lived in
constant fear, which further crippled their ability to imagine a better
future. Other risk factors included extreme isolation. These women
were not only undocumented, but many did not speak English and
were navigating a new culture and context. They literally did not have
the means to speak up for themselves. Several women explained that
calling the police was also a risk. What if they asked for documents?
After meeting with the women several times, the psychologist asked if I
might be interested in teaching the women how to make jewelry as a
way to foster relationships amongst the group and potentially develop
a financial pathway to leave abusive partners. I agreed and for the
next 3 months, we met weekly to make jewelry together.
I started out with small, simple projects like learning how to make a
pair of earrings with one or two larger beads. As the women grew in
confidence and ability, I slowly introduced more difficult techniques like
wire wrapping. I wanted the time to be flexible like an open studio.
Generally, I started each session with a demonstration of a new
technique and then the women could finish an old project or start
something new. I encouraged the women, however, to finish the
projects that they started as a way to increase their self-confidence
through the mastery of a new skill.
Looking back, I realize that these classes helped to foster social capital
even though this was not my original intention. By forming
relationships with other women who had experienced similar
situations, individuals no longer felt as isolated (which is a common
tactic abusers use to control their partners). I would characterize this
as bonding capital or ties between people in similar situations [to]
build trust, reciprocity, and a shared sense of belonging and identity
(Wilding, 2011, p. 12). The group was a safe space to share difficult
stories and begin to make sense of them. Each woman was in a
different spot. Some had recently left abusive partners while others
were still in the relationship. It was extremely important for the
women who had already left circumstances of domestic violence to

encourage those still in the trenches. More than anything, these

stories offered a glimpse of hope and galvanized courage.
Jewelry making also fostered linking capital or the ability of groups to
access networks of power and resources beyond their immediate
community (Wilding, 2011, p. 12). The group met in a community
center, which proved an invaluable asset to link the women with
different community resources like food pantries, diaper giveaways, or
housing assistance. Additionally, the psychologist was able to connect
women with lawyers who could help them file for residency or
restraining orders.
Beyond fostering social capital, jewelry making also provided the
women with a mastery experience that increased their self-confidence.
Ongoing abuse strips individuals of their sense of worth. Learning
something new begins to restore this lost identity and reestablishes a
sense of control. I saw this happening with the women. It was like a
light bulb had been turned on. Suddenly, they glowed with restored
confidence. For some women, even their body language changed.
Instead of making themselves small by slouching, they suddenly
walked more upright and talked with more assertiveness. The changes
really were dramatic and honestly, not anything I could have imagined.
After reading the article Community Resilience: Models, Metaphors and
Measures, I was struck by the distinction between horizontal and
vertical social capital. Horizontal social capital refers to the
connections made between groups of similar status or standing
whereas vertical social capital refers to the integration of groups within
a hierarchical society. Vertical social capital, therefore, can be used to
influence policy, to utilize and receive fair treatment from the legal
system, and obtain resources from those in power (Kirmayer, L.J.,
Sehdev, M., Whitley, R., Dandeneau, S.F. & Isaac, C., 2009, p. 76). How
can a group of vulnerable immigrant women seek vertical social capital
from a system that has contributed to their marginalization? Calling
the police, for example, produces fear for these women. Many do not
make the call even if their lives are being threatened because they fear
the system. How can vertical integration occur at this level? The
police force must make a concerted effort to hire more bilingual
officers and train them on domestic abuse. Can the women advocate
for this themselves or does it take a third party to advocate on their
behalf? How can creative interventions help to make this vertical
social capital possible?
The other factor, highlighted by Song and Buchanan (2015), is the
reality that a rising immigrant population can actually increase
community resilience by contributing to the local economy as well as

offering a diverse perspective characterized by creativity in the face of

hardship. How can their stories be leveraged to change a receiving
communitys perspective on newcomers? The women I worked with,
for example, have many unique skills and perspectives that can
increase community resilience. Their stories of resilience, alone, can
offer a wealth of hope for others that are suffering. I think the
challenge, then, is finding a way to change perceptions and create a
more welcoming and receiving environment where these stories can be
shared and celebrated.