Center For Hope Launches in WNY

Collaborative Effort Created by Professionals to Assist Victims of Narcissistic Abuse.

Narcissistic Abuse has become a term increasingly known to the public through news media reports. But for those who live with a narcissistic abuser, awareness is only the first step.

The Center for Hope, WNY, is a non-profit organization founded by attorney and Buffalo School Board member Hope R. Jay as a place where those who are escaping a relationship with a narcissistic abuser can find the resources and guidance they need to regain control over their lives.

Jay founded the Center along with several other professionals who have experience in dealing with the unique challenges that those who are leaving an abusive relationship must deal with to make a change. Legal advocacy, financial advice, real estate advice, mental health support, and holistic healing services are all offered at the Center for Hope.

“At the Center for Hope, we are experienced providers who are committed to helping people safely leave abusive relationships. People often struggle with many conflicting emotions when considering leaving an abuser,” Jay explained.

“We know that people have many questions and may be unsure if leaving is the right thing to do for themselves and their children. Our supportive staff are here to guide you through this process of understanding and recognizing the signs of abuse, and to assist you through the process of recovery.”

“Abuse can take many forms, including financial and emotional,” explained Taunya Fourtner Abaya, who provides financial advice to clients.

“At the Center for Hope, we provide information and viable options to escape an abusive situation. Knowledge really is power when it comes to making life changing decisions,” Fourtner-Abaya said.

When it comes to mental health services, Connie Przepasniak, one of the center’s mental health counselors believes “At the Center for Hope, we strive to ensure we are providing a safe place for our clients to experience their vulnerabilities while sharing their stories, as we assist them in recovering from narcissistic abuse.”

Currently, all services are provided directly by the individual providers who are working in collaboration through the website located at www.centerforhopewny.org. Each provider was chosen by Jay for their work with survivors of narcissistic abuse that involves a narcissist controlling every aspect of a victim‘s life, making it exceedingly difficult for them to break away from their abuser. Often the abuser uses multiple forms of emotional abuse and manipulation that causes victims to feel increasingly isolated, helpless, and fearful. Experienced providers know how to guide a victim through the maze of abuse and toward the path of hope and healing.

Those involved in the center believe that victims of narcissistic abuse deserve the most experienced legal representation, mental health support, financial and real estate advisement, and opportunities for self-care and healing that are available. 

The service providers include:

Legal: Hope R. Jay, Esq.

Mental Health: Connie Przepasniak, LMHC and Susan Kushner Wolfson, LMSW

Financial Advisement: Tauyna Fourtner Abaya, CFP®

Real Estate Advisement: Alison Burke

Holistic Healing: Karen Di Salvo, Reiki Master

The Center for Hope is also planning a future location where all services can be provided in one building. For more information please visit The Center at www.centerforhopewny.org

LET US HELP YOU DOWN THE PATH FROM VICTIM TO SURVIVOR

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I’ve found the secret sauce for Democrats to win back power



Rather than belabor you today with the latest Trump outrages, I want to share with you conclusions I’ve drawn from my conversation yesterday with Zohran Mamdani (you can find it here and at the bottom of this piece) about why he has a very good chance of being elected mayor of New York City on Tuesday.

He has five qualities that I believe are likely to succeed in almost any political race across America today. If a 34-year-old state assemblyman representing Astoria, Queens, who was born in Uganda and calls himself a democratic socialist, can get this far and likely win, others can as well — but they have to understand and be capable of utilizing his secret sauce.

Here are the five ingredients:

  1. Authenticity. Mamdani is the real thing. He’s not trying to be someone other than who he is, and the person he is comes through clear as a bell. I’ve been around politicians for most of my life (even ran once for governor of Massachusetts) and have seen some who are slick, some who are clever, some who are witty, some who are stiff, but rarely have I come across someone with as much authenticity as Mamdani. Authenticity is the single most important quality voters are looking for now: someone who is genuine. Who’s trustworthy because they project credibility and solidity. Whose passion feels grounded in reality.
  2. Concern for average working people. Mamdani isn’t a policy wonk who spouts 10-point plans that cause people’s eyes to glaze over. Nor is he indifferent to policy. Listen to his answers to my questions and you’ll hear a lot about the needs of average working people. That’s his entire focus. Many politicians say they’re on the side of average working people, but Mamdani has specific ideas for making New York City more affordable. I’m not sure they’ll all work, but I’m sure voters are responding to him in part because his focus is indisputable and his ideas are clear and understandable.
  3. Willingness to take on the powerful and the wealthy. He doesn’t hesitate to say he’ll raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for what average working people need. You might think this would be standard fare for Democrats, but it’s not. These days, many are scared to propose anything like this for fear they’ll lose campaign funding from big corporations and the rich. But Mamdani’s campaign isn’t being financed by big corporations or the rich. Because of New York City’s nearly four-decade-old clean elections system that matches small-dollar donations with public money, Mamdani has had nearly $13 million of government funds to run a campaign against tens of millions of dollars that corporate and Wall Street Democrats — and plenty of Republicans — have spent to boost Democratic former governor Andrew Cuomo. We need such public financing across the nation.
  4. Inspiration. Many people are inspired by Mamdani. Over 90,000 New Yorkers are now going door-to-door canvassing for him (including my 17-year-old granddaughter). Why is he so inspiring? Again, watch our conversation. It’s not only his authenticity but also his energy, his good-heartedness, and his optimism. At a time when so many of us are drenched in the daily darkness of Trump, Mamdani’s positivity feels like sunshine. It lifts one up. It makes politics almost joyful. He gives it a purpose and meaning that causes people to want to be involved.
  5. Cheerfulness. Which brings me to the fifth quality that has made this improbable candidate into a front-runner: his remarkable cheerfulness. Watch his face during our discussion. He smiled or laughed much of the time. This wasn’t empty-headed euphoria or “morning in America” campaign rubbish. It’s directly connected to a thoughtfulness that’s rare in a politician, especially one nearing the end of a campaign — who’s had to answer the same questions hundreds if not thousands of times. He exudes a buoyancy and hope that’s infectious. It’s the opposite of the scowling Trump. It is what Americans want and need, especially now.

There’s obviously much more to it, but I think these five qualities — authenticity, a focus on the needs of average working families, a willingness to take on the rich and powerful in order to pay for what average working families need, the capacity to inspire, and a cheerfulness and buoyancy — will win elections, not only in New York City but across America.

Mamdani hasn’t won yet, and New York’s Democratic establishment is doing whatever it can to stop him (Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s billionaire former mayor, just put $1.5 million into a super PAC supporting Cuomo’s bid and urged New Yorkers to vote for Cuomo).

If Mamdani wins, his success should be a lesson for all progressives and all Democrats across America.

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  • Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor. His writings can be found at https://robertreich.substack.com/.
  • Robert Reich's new memoir, Coming Up Short, can be found wherever you buy books. You can also support local bookstores nationally by ordering the book at bookshop.org.