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COMMUNITY CONNECTION
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Product Spotlight | ||
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Survivor Portrait |
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Question & Answer | ||
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Does battering happen more often in the US than in other places? As far as we know, it doesn't. Domestic violence is not reported very well and is therefore hard to measure. Based on surveys from shelters and so forth, the US may have less battering than some other nations around the world. However, if all women in the US victimized in 1993 held hands, the line would stretch from New York City to beyond Las Angeles. So, it's a relative issue whether battering happens more in the US than in other places. It happens too much everywhere. What do you want to know? |
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VIP Highs and Lows | ||
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Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. |
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We Want to Hear from You!Looking for something specific? |
Preview of Vol1. No.1
Newsletter Table of Contents
- Survivor Story: Joyce White's Perspective
- Who's Who: Joyce has both a business and nonprofit
- Knowledge Columns: From cradle to grave and around the world
- Online Picks: Video, cool website, and free stuff
- Resources: Medical grants, legal forms, and more
Our Pledge to You
Welcome to your first edition of the Community Connection Newsletter. Every quarter we will bring you new information right to your email inbox.
In the preview edition of this newsletter, I explain the reasons for this new publication and our target audience. You can read about it here. With the new year upon us, we pledge to provide information about issues and solutions regarding domestic abuse and useful resources available to you. Some of the information will come from our online research and some will be written by our guest writers who are also survivors with something to say.
It is our hope that you will also pledge to become a part of our community and join our newsletter as a business, a survivor, a writer, a nonprofit and share your knowledge; help other survivors rebuild their lives, just like our featured survivor, Joyce White. As an artist, business owner, nonprofit founder, and participant in the Bravery Project portrait series (A New Perspective), she is an inspiration to us all. I can speak for my good friend Joyce, when I say that we hope this is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with you.
One of the greatest gifts that we can give each other is our story; our stories of overcoming, growing, learning and living. Joyce shares her story with us, giving us all a gentle reminder that we are each loved.
Joyce with Judge Toler
How did you get the help you needed to leave your abusive situation?
All the people told me to leave, but none of them were giving me other options like where to go. I had no place to go. I was afraid to leave there because I was told if I did he would kill me when he found me. I stayed until I got out of the hospital from my last beating.
What resources were available at the time you left?
I am sure there were resources, but I was not familiar with them. A police officer and a social worker took me to a place where I was not able to tell my address. At that time I was not sure what was happening. I just knew I could not go home to what it was. With this decision, I lost my children for 10 years. It was much later in my life when I realize where this place was, what it was about and what next to do.
How are you a different person today?
I am wiser now, more empathetic and sympathetic for young women and all women that are going through this. I have learned to share my story with others and hopefully it helps someone else. I used to have guilt that I had bottled up in me, but I am now a person that does not have that anymore. I am happy with me... my insides are not tumbling when I speak about my background now. So yes, I am a different and better person now.
What are you doing now in your life?
I am now trying to help other women realize that times have changed, do not be naive as I was. I try to stress on other women that YOU are loved, YOU are someone worthy and someone does care.
What advice would you tell people about a victim who is still suffering?
First and foremost is to pray. I did a lot of that, although I thought God just forgot me, of course I know better now. Have faith that someone does care and find someone to tell about your situation. Do not keep it bottled up. Let someone know you are being abused. My problem was I did not have anyone to share this with. YOU don’t have to suffer the way I did. YOU can get help, YOU should always feel loved, YOU should always know GOD loves you, and most importantly YOU MUST LOVE YOURSELF.
A Caring Company - Joyce White African Jewelry
Sunny Delight
What started as a means of survival to make ends meet, turned out to be a path of passion for Joyce White, the woman behind Joyce White African Jewelry and Hope for Women Arts. The stunning jewelry and paintings that she produces not only fill the spirits of the recipients, but helped Joyce find something positive to cling to.
“Art has been very helpful to me. I have learned to focus my negative energy into something positive instead of woe-is-me.”
Joyce’s business manufactures a line of jewelry art that she markets to women she calls, “bodacious and self confident.” Her pieces not only make a statement, but 30% of the proceeds are donated to Hope for Women Arts. She has also generously created a series of pieces just for Bravery Project and will donate 20% of the proceeds to the work of Bravery Project. One of her custom pieces is featured in the Product Spotlight in this edition.
To see more of Joyce's designs and story, visit her websites listed below or call (602) 304-1040.
www.joycewhiteafricanjewelry.com
www.joycewhiteafricanjewelry.blogspot.com/
www.joycewhitedezigns.com
A Nonprofit Making a Difference – Hope For Women founded by Joyce White
What service or product does your nonprofit provide?
Hope For Women is supported by Arizona Art Alliance. The organization was founded in 2000 and is run by all volunteers. We teach women how to make fine art. In 2010, we launched a new facility for women and children. We supply all materials and we all are volunteers. We are teaching at Fresh Start Women Center, Central Arizona Shelter Services and our newest place is UMOMS starting in January 2010.
When and why did you start it?
Hope For Women is in its second year. I started Hope For Women because I know art can help you mentally and physically. I am proof that it does help. With that, I thought it could help other women.
To date, what results has your nonprofit provided the community?
To date we have helped over 120 women like myself who never thought they could ever do anything other than what they were told they could do. For me, I am a trained professional fork lift operator. I never had art classes; however, I am a jury member of several art organizations throughout the Phoenix area.
How can people get involved with your nonprofit?
You can either call me at (602) 304-1040 or go to www.hopeforwomenarts.org. My email address is info@hopeforwomenarts.org. After you go to the website, click on applications, fill out both applications, send them to me via email and I will contact you as soon as I get them. Anyone that just wants to assist another artist does not need to fill out the applications.
From cradle to grave and around the world. Learn...share...respond.
- VIDEO PICK: A humorous look into the opposite side of happiness in "5 Ways to Misery." By the way...don't take it personal.
- WEBSITE PICK:The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,871 groups with 6,848,886 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and thus keeping good stuff out of landfills.Freecycle.org
- COOL FREEBIE you can use: A way to endear your pet to you while reducing the dreaded kitty/doggy breath. Free Greenies treat sample for dogs and cats (Be sure to click #3 tab)
Information you can use...
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