Why I Volunteer: Ellen

Name: Ellen Miller

Volunteer program: Web chat hotline

How long have you volunteered for BARCC? A little over a year now—I was a legal intern during the summer of 2019 and stayed on as a web chat hotline volunteer after the school year started.

What do you do when you're not volunteering? I'm about to start my third year of law school, which, admittedly, claims most of my waking hours. But during my time off, I love running and biking, and I've gotten really into embroidery during quarantine. I also draw comics!

Why do you volunteer with BARCC? A big part of it is how much I love being part of this community. The BARCC staff and volunteers are all so kind, funny, strong, smart, and supportive, and it's such a joy to get to be in the same room (or Zoom call) with people who care about supporting survivors of sexual violence just as much as I do. I also think it's important to understand how to work with survivors, especially as someone who's interested in legal services work—I think it's a necessary part of any intersectional legal education.

What's your favorite part of supporting survivors? I love it when I'm able to connect someone with resources. Whether that's counseling, case management, safety planning, or grounding techniques, I'm glad I'm able to help in the moment, and I hope it'll help the survivor feel more empowered down the line too.

If you were a vegetable or fruit what would you be? A peach!

Are you interested in volunteering for BARCC? We have a variety of opportunities—check them out and apply for an upcoming training today!

This is part of a series highlighting BARCC volunteers and the vital work they do in the mission to end sexual violence. Read all the posts in the series.