Our latest New Yorker of the Week fosters a tight-knit network to support those affected by domestic violence. NY1's John Schiumo introduces us.

Sue Rock teaches New Yorkers how to intertwine creativity and comfort.

"When you are able to tap into your own creativity, your own innate sense of what you would like to create, it's greatly empowering," Sue said. "It brings you to a new level of understanding of what you can accomplish for yourself and what you can give for others."

It's especially important for Sue to empower survivors of domestic violence; her friend was murdered more than a decade ago.

"When I found out she passed, I had thought it was an illness…not even thinking that it could have possibly been a domestic violence situation. So that experience haunted us," Sue said.

Motivated by the tragedy, the Brooklyn native founded "Sue Rock Originals Everyone."

The nonprofit provides handmade garments to those who escape their abusive relationships, oftentimes with just the clothes on their back. It also helps them master a craft.

"She's helping women to smile, because a lot of times the women don't have a reason to smile, they don't believe that they do," said Pamela Isaac, a domestic violence survivor. "But then when they see that someone thinks enough of them, it helps them a lot."

A group of students from Bard High School Early College is among dozens of volunteers inspired to help survivors rebuild their lives.

"It's beautiful. And I want them to feel beautiful and to feel good when they wear something that we’ve made for them," said Fiona Brackley, 17, an 11th grade student.

"It means love. It means that someone thought enough of me that they took their time to create something," Isaac said. "They didn't just run out and buy it. So it's very special."

Using discarded and donated materials, Sue Rock Originals Everyone has created pieces for thousands of survivors over the past ten years.

"This is a woman with a purpose; who saw a need and decided to fill it," said Siedah Garrett, a woman who donated materials. "And that's just a beautiful thing — in life, in general, and specifically for this group of battered women."

And so, for supporting those in need, one stitch at a time, Sue Rock is our New Yorker of the Week.