About Ramona's Way

Herstory

Ramona's Way was inspired by the life of Ramona, a domestic violence survivor, who was chemically dependent and unable to flee an 18-year abusive relationship. Due to lack of services, she and her children were trapped in a physically and sexually violent situation. Unfortunately, women in these circumstances are often blamed for the violence that is inflicted upon them because of the abuse of substances, and their options are limited. Her daughter, a childhood survivor, social worker, and domestic violence advocate, founded Ramona's Way to provide options for battered women like her mother.

Mission Statement

Ramona's Way emphasizes domestic violence as a political, social, and cultural condition. We provide holistic services for women who abuse substances who are also survivors of emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse. Our goal is to assist women in regaining control of their lives, and empower them with the information and support they need throughout the trauma and recovery process.

Vision Statement

Currently Ramona's Way provides counseling, case management and information and referral services to chemically dependent battered women. It is our vision to provide women in the greater DC metropolitan area with counseling, education, advocacy, children's programs, detoxification services, alternative therapies, and safe and confidential shelter. Attempting to fill the gap in currently available domestic violence services, we are creating a sanctuary for substance abusing battered women and their children, a population often forced to make tough decisions that compromise their health and well-being. When domestic violence compounds the situation, concerns of safety make leaving an abusive relationship difficult.

About the Executive Director

Ali-Sha Alleman is a Master's level social worker with several years experience in addressing women's issues. She received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and her Masters of Social Work Degree from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. She specializes in domestic violence and sexual assault and has worked with women and youth in community-based programs and juvenile detention facilities. She was the Director of the Volunteer Department for My Sister's Place, then the Manager of Education & Programs at this local domestic violence agency. In 2001, she became the Founder and Executive Director of Ramona's Way, a program for survivors of emotional, physical and sexual trauma struggling with substance abuse. Ms. Alleman, a childhood survivor of domestic violence, founded Ramona's Way to provide options for battered women like her mother. Her professional affiliations include the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Council of Negro Women, National Association of Social Workers and the Greater Washington Urban League. Ms. Alleman also serves as an Advisory Board member Foundation Center, Washington,DC and of the Women of Color Network a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.