October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s a topic that can be difficult to grasp and hard to discuss for those who have not been affected by it. The statistics are eye-opening.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 women will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. In Charlotte alone, nearly 40,000 domestic violence calls were made, making it the number one reason for 911 calls in 2018. And in 2019, there have already been 10 homicides in Mecklenburg County as a result of domestic violence.
These are alarming numbers and spotlight the purpose and value of the organizations in our community that help prevent domestic violence and advocate for victims of it.
Here are Charlotte-based organizations that are actively battling domestic violence, and the Women’s Impact Fund Members who are advocating for awareness and prevention.
Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage (JKFFC)
Mission & Vision: To create a future without intimate partner violence. To make that possible, we are dedicated to funding initiatives with defined outcomes that prevent intimate partner violence, that provide educational curriculum for youth and young adults, that promote awareness, and that provide credible research for the exploration of innovative methods that stop intimate partner violence.
JKFFC focuses on educational opportunities with a specific focus on young adults. The non-profit works with middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities to expand curriculum and start domestic violence awareness clubs. JKFFC also hosts employer workshops for companies seeking to improve their HR policies on bullying and intimidation.
Four of our Women’s Impact Fund Members currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage: Jill Dinwiddie, Nina Jackson, Rose Planer, and Claire Samuels.
When Jill was asked why she avidly supports domestic violence educations, she said “I do this work because I’ve visited the shelters and support services for domestic violence victims in every county across the state; they are expensive to operate and state funding is not increasing. We cannot afford to continue building more shelters while the number of abuse cases continues to rise, so I decided to focus on the prevention side of this issue to see if through education and awareness we can stop the epidemic. That’s where my interest, energies, and priorities still lie.”
Mission: To provide hope and healing to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault.
Safe Alliance is a non-profit that offers multiple services to domestic violence and assault victims including the Greater Charlotte Hope Line, a 24/7 crisis line for Mecklenburg County residents. It also offers services such as hospital accompaniment, support groups, trauma counseling, shelter services, and legal representation throughout Mecklenburg County.
Safe Alliance’s Clyde & Ethel Dickson Domestic Violence Shelter provides safe housing for individuals in imminent danger, ready to escape a violent situation. Over 840 survivors have found reprieve in the shelter over the past year.
In addition, Safe Alliance delivered free legal services for 423 survivors seeking protective orders through their Legal Representation Program, and accompanied 4,760 survivors to Court through its Victim Assistance Court Program
Three Women’s Impact Fund members currently serve on the Board of Directors for Safe Alliance: Leslie Wickham, Markita Payne, and Barbara Pooley.
Mission: Empower women and support victims of domestic violence across the country.
Thread Talk was founded by Hannah Kay Herdlinger, a Women’s Impact Fund member after she became a victim of domestic violence in 2014. She created Thread Talk to support domestic violence shelters by donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cozy blankets and other gift items.
Since the launch of Thread Talk, Hannah has met with hundreds of domestic violence survivors across the country. She has said that the common theme is that they want to let other victims know that they are not alone and that there is hope for the future. Hannah’s passion is clear in this “Carolina Has Heart” segment on WCNC.
This month, Thread Talk led the way on behalf of the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau to create a Hope Mural located in the tunnel of Little Sugar Creek Greenway. The Hope Mural was unveiled on October 7 and will be on display through the end of August 2020.
Hannah, along with the Speakers Bureau, was also successful in getting a joint city and county proclamation of Survivors Day, which was on October 15. This day is a day to honor and celebrate the resilience and courage of survivors, and give hope to those currently battling domestic violence.
