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Eleven women to be added to Alameda County's Hall of Fame - San Jose Mercury News
Julie Rems-Smario had spent her career working for the deaf, but a chance opening in a weeklong sexual assault and domestic violence conference gave her a new direction to channel her energy.
In 2003, the Pleasanton resident founded DeafHope, a sexual assault and domestic violence support and awareness program for the deaf.
"I basically couldn't stop thinking about this training I had," she said via an American Sign Language interpreter. "It just latched onto my heart. It became a huge calling for me."
On Saturday, Rems-Smario will be one of 11 women inducted into the 18th Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame for her work as the nonprofit organization's executive director.
The Hall of Fame recognizes women who live or work in Alameda County and have made significant achievements benefiting the community, been successful in overcoming obstacles and served as role models in categories including justice, environment, community service, business and professions, education, athletics and health.
Rems-Smario grew up in Hayward and received a master's degree in liberal arts and deaf education at the Cal State Northridge.
She worked for the Five Acres Deaf Program, the California School for the Deaf in Fremont and the Ohlone College Deaf Center before starting DeafHope with four other women, honing the idea for the organization in coffee shops and home kitchens.
Rems-Smario, 45, said that though the deaf did have access to
county resources, those weren't very accessible without proper American Sign Language support and understanding of deaf culture.
"We wanted to create a place of our own," she said.
The organization, which operates out of the Alameda County Family Justice Center, offers weekly support, parenting and art therapy groups, training and technical assistance, a hot line, school outreach and children's and teen programs.
DeafHope also provides court advocacy and accompaniment to help women navigate the legal system and is working toward creating a shelter for domestic violence survivors using architectural principles such as open spaces with flexible walls and rooms so people can communicate at a distance, Rems-Smario said.
The organization's advocacy is also going viral with the launch of a social-media campaign Thursday called the "Lavender Revolution," aimed at empowerment.
"The best way to end violence is to get out there and create new thinking," Rems-Smario said.
In 2007, she was a CNN Hero finalist and received the eWomen Network's International Humanitarian of the Year Award. But Rems-Smario, who is married with three children, said the county honor is close to her heart because the need for her organization was originally questioned.
Julie Rems-Smario had spent her career working for the deaf, but a chance opening in a weeklong sexual assault and domestic violence conference gave her a new direction to channel her energy.
In 2003, the Pleasanton resident founded DeafHope, a sexual assault and domestic violence support and awareness program for the deaf.
"I basically couldn't stop thinking about this training I had," she said via an American Sign Language interpreter. "It just latched onto my heart. It became a huge calling for me."
On Saturday, Rems-Smario will be one of 11 women inducted into the 18th Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame for her work as the nonprofit organization's executive director.
The Hall of Fame recognizes women who live or work in Alameda County and have made significant achievements benefiting the community, been successful in overcoming obstacles and served as role models in categories including justice, environment, community service, business and professions, education, athletics and health.
Rems-Smario grew up in Hayward and received a master's degree in liberal arts and deaf education at the Cal State Northridge.
She worked for the Five Acres Deaf Program, the California School for the Deaf in Fremont and the Ohlone College Deaf Center before starting DeafHope with four other women, honing the idea for the organization in coffee shops and home kitchens.
Rems-Smario, 45, said that though the deaf did have access to
county resources, those weren't very accessible without proper American Sign Language support and understanding of deaf culture.
"We wanted to create a place of our own," she said.
The organization, which operates out of the Alameda County Family Justice Center, offers weekly support, parenting and art therapy groups, training and technical assistance, a hot line, school outreach and children's and teen programs.
DeafHope also provides court advocacy and accompaniment to help women navigate the legal system and is working toward creating a shelter for domestic violence survivors using architectural principles such as open spaces with flexible walls and rooms so people can communicate at a distance, Rems-Smario said.
The organization's advocacy is also going viral with the launch of a social-media campaign Thursday called the "Lavender Revolution," aimed at empowerment.
"The best way to end violence is to get out there and create new thinking," Rems-Smario said.
In 2007, she was a CNN Hero finalist and received the eWomen Network's International Humanitarian of the Year Award. But Rems-Smario, who is married with three children, said the county honor is close to her heart because the need for her organization was originally questioned.