"Know Your Org" is an informational series designed to spotlight some of the wonderful organizations in our community. This month, we are highlighting First Step.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the perfect time to highlight the important work First Step is doing. Founded in 1978, First Step is a nonprofit organization providing services to anyone who has experienced domestic or sexual violence. All their services are free and confidential.
“Unfortunately, crimes of domestic violence and sexual assault are still very prevalent,” said Alexis Reed, First Step Community Response Program Director. “About one in four women and one in six men will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. And it is something that happens across demographics, ages, race, and socioeconomic status. It can happen to anyone.”
The most common and quickest way for people to connect with First Step is to call their 24-hour crisis line at 734-722-6800 at any time, any day of the year.
“We’re very client-centered,” explained Alexis. “We don’t tell folks what services they need. We’ll talk through their very specific situation and then offer up options. Some may be interested in shelter. We’ll start the screening process with them. Others might be in a safe physical place, but want to process through the emotional impact. So, we’ll explore the route of counseling services with them. And then there are people who are trying to identify if they’re in an abusive relationship and want to know what steps to take. Our non-residential advocates will provide education on what domestic violence is, what the warning signs are and go through an in-depth, individualized safety plan.”
Other offerings include helping people find employment so they can be financially independent. They also have children’s advocates and counselors available, because even if children don’t experience violence themselves, seeing it happen to another family member is often traumatic.
Another program is Community Response, which houses advocates within police departments. Local police and courts share reports of domestic or sexual violence with the Community Response advocates, who then reach out and engage with the people involved to see if they are interested in any services with First Step.
If First Step can’t provide or lacks something, it relies heavily on its community partners. These partners include Avalon Healing, one of the biggest sexual assault service providers in Michigan, Access, a nonprofit that provides culturally specific services to the Arab community and La Familia, which provides culturally specific services to the Hispanic community.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events
First Step has multiple engagement events planned throughout the month. One of the biggest is their gala fundraiser, You Are the Light. It takes place on October 17, 2025, and tickets can be purchased on their website.
“It’s not only a fundraising event,” Alexis shared, “it is a chance to highlight the successes of the previous year. We have survivor speakers who will talk about their experience receiving services from First Step or the ways they or their family have been impacted by domestic violence. We’ll also shine a light on the work the staff has done and the work of the community partners that have supported us in our mission.”
How to Raise Awareness of Domestic Violence
When asked how people can raise awareness, Alexis said, “I would say, in whatever location you live, engage with your local domestic violence organization. Just engaging and informing yourself is the first step. By educating yourself, you’ll be able to recognize any signs in the people around you that you care about and will have the tools to talk about what’s going on with them. Also, follow us on all our social media platforms and repost anything educational or about our events coming up.”
First Step has many volunteer options. “If you don’t feel like you have the capacity to engage directly with survivors of abuse,” said Alexis, “we offer opportunities to work in our garden, to help keep our playground or shelter clean, to do clerical work or answer doors at our office, things like that.”
The work they do is important and very much needed. Help raise awareness this month about domestic violence and sexual assault in whatever way you can. And if you or someone you know needs help, contact First Step. They listen, care, and have many ways to be of service.
Follow First Step on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn or YouTube.
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