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LUNAFEST Lexington

October 6, 2022By

“The films are unlike any other you can see throughout the year.” 

LUNAFEST Lexington is back in person this year at the historic Kentucky Theatre. This evening of short films promotes women and gender nonconforming storytellers from around the world, while raising funds to support our mission.  

Three local women – Geni Osborn, Helue Shalash, and Pam Holbrook – came together more than a decade ago with the goal of organizing an event to support survivors of intimate partner abuse. 

Their efforts brought the traveling film festival to our region, and in the years since, the event has raised more than $100,000 to support services.  

“We all face challenges as we walk through life – some are more difficult to overcome than others,” shares Geni. “LUNAFEST is a great opportunity to support the individuals in our community as they chart a new, healthier path for themselves and their families.”  

This year’s event features eight short films, each less than 10 minutes long. The stories range from an animated poem about coping with isolation during the pandemic to a 13-year-old girl building a mobile app to help kids stay connected to their incarcerated parents.  

Brought to you by LUNA, maker of the whole-nutrition bar for women. 

Join us for a night to #SupportSurvivors

Tickets are now available!

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Purple Thursday – It’s About Time

October 3, 2022By

It’s about time to end domestic violence. 

October 20 is Purple Thursday, an annual day to show support for survivors during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  

The color purple is a symbol of peace, courage, survival, honor, and dedication to ending violence. It’s believed the color’s connection to our mission might have begun during women’s suffrage.  

In 1978, thousands of advocates for women’s equal rights wore purple when they marched in Washington, D.C. Today the color honors this history, survivors of abuse, and those lives that have been ended too early.  

Why is Purple Thursday Important?

Purple Thursday is important to our mission because raising awareness is an essential part of working to end the cycle of abuse. 

It’s time to wear purple shirts, hats, nail polish, ties, and more! It’s time to identify yourself as an advocate and raise awareness. It’s time to let survivors know there’s a large community here to support their path to safety.  

Read the Fall 2022 Issue of Bloom 💜

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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Equine Therapy at the Life Adventure Center

September 10, 2022By

Advocates are always brainstorming ways to connect survivors to the community for healing activities.  

We have a longtime partnership with the Life Adventure Center in Versailles where survivors have taken many trips over the years. The Life Adventure Center uses outdoor adventure to transform lives affected by trauma. They’ve also hosted a lot of our staff retreats.

Advocate Madison Haven recently took a group of residents there for an equine therapy session. 

Passionate about nature and connecting with animals as a form of healing, she was excited to facilitate this experience alongside a group of residents who grew up with horses and missed having that kind of connection with an animal. 

One resident said she had a horse when she was a little girl and riding again made her feel happy and at peace for the first time in a while.

Madison reflected, “It was an incredible experience to be able to observe the horses’ behaviors. To be present while brushing them, get to ride them, and work as a team to corral the horses while respecting them. It was a good lesson of patience and persistence while remaining gentle and understanding of the horse and its own free will and boundaries similar to our own.” 

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Jiggy Puzzles x PK’s Gift Closet

September 6, 2022By

We are so lucky to have a generous community that cares about survivors.  

Amy Rowell – who owns PK’s Gift Closet – shares her collaboration with Jiggy on a lovely puzzle that supports survivors.   

Thank you, Amy!   

I first found out about GreenHouse17 when I donated in memory of a family friend who had spent some time there. When I looked it up to find out more about it, I was so comforted at what a refuge it seemed to be, and I loved the incredible skills that were taught in such a serene environment. I imagined my friend loved being there and found strength in being able to thrive in peace.   

I wasn’t living in Kentucky when I first heard about it, but I moved back in 2020 to start my own business. (I’m a native Lexingtonian.) I believe in serving others in all ways always… and I was anxious to find something local to support and remembered GreenHouse17. Of course, 2020 was a mess but I tried to help as much as I could.   

When I got my business up and going, charity was an important part of my business plan right from the start, even if I couldn’t give as much as I wanted in the beginning. In the Bible, it says to “use your gifts to serve one another” so I knew I had other ways to support them.   

Giving my time and efforts to others takes me away from myself (which is a good thing) and allows me to focus on blessing others. It’s also wonderful for learning, like discovering that pulling weeds and cleaning up a garden is very VERY tough work…and that organizing is truly my love language!  

When the opportunity to do a puzzle with Jiggy came along, which is a dream collaboration for me, it was important to me to give back through that personal blessing and GreenHouse17 was the perfect partner. I always want the ladies there to be empowered and have every chance to create a life for themselves from their own minds, hearts, and hands. GreenHouse17 is the perfect place for them to start.  

As for the puzzle, I thought a colorful pile of ribbons would be so fun to work as a jigsaw puzzle… and thankfully, the wonderful team at Jiggy agreed with me! I picked some of my favorite colors and patterns and styled them into a rainbow swirl of vibrancy that turned out beautifully!   

It’s packaged so elegantly and would make for a cute hostess or housewarming gift… and don’t forget the holidays. Puzzles are so fun to work with family and friends! If you don’t already know, working a puzzle is a relaxing and rewarding (nothing like finding “that” piece) hobby!   

 

**Jiggy x PK puzzles are sold out!

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Serving Harrison and Nicholas Counties

August 31, 2022By

Survivors deserve to be supported in their home community.

Although our emergency shelter is located in Lexington, staff of our organization live and work in all 17 counties of our service area – Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, and Woodford.   

Harrison & Nicholas Counties  

Anne Hodge is the advocate for survivors in Nicholas or Harrison Counties. Although each day is different, Anne dedicates much of her time to providing support for survivors before, during, and after family court hearings. 

What is a typical week for Anne?   
  • Anne provides legal advocacy during domestic violence court hearings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  
  • She also facilitates a weekly online support group about protective orders and legal basics, and connects survivors to other support groups offered by our organization. 
  • Another important activity is partnering with local organizations to make referrals for food, clothing, and other needs that survivors might experience. 

“People may need food or help with their electric bill or gas money. I refer them to agencies for financial assistance like Community Action or the Ministerial Association,” Anne explains. “Community partners are very valuable to our program and I keep in close contact with them.”

Legal Justice Matters  

Anne also coordinates the L-JUST project, a grant-funded legal justice effort to create an informed and supportive network of legal professionals across the central Kentucky region. One way Anne accomplishes this goal is through partnerships with attorneys who agree to provide no-fee services and representation for survivors navigating complex legal situations.

Get connected with an advocate in your county!

Call our 24/7 hotline at 800.544.2022

The L-JUST project is supported by subgrant number VAWA-2021-GreenHou-00029 subawarded by the state administering office for the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice’s STOP Formula Grant Program. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the state or the U.S. Department of Justice. 

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Losing a Loved One to Intimate Partner Abuse

August 25, 2022By

If you’re reading this and have lost someone to intimate partner abuse, we’re so sorry for your loss.  

Friends and families of domestic homicide victims often self-blame and sometimes experience survivor’s guilt. Darlene Thomas, our executive director, has supported countless friends and family through grief.  

“It’s normal for families to question and hold themselves responsible,” shares Darlene. “But you’re not to blame. The only person to blame is the abuser.”  

Stages of Grief  

Do you feel shocked or angry right now? Maybe you’re questioning how this happened to someone you love.

Most friends and family will experience these standard stages of grief, but the journey is not always linear:

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Feeling stuck in one stage or bouncing around the stages happens often.

This article from the Cleveland Clinic is a good place to start if you’re interested in reading more about the stages of grief.

Power and Control Wheel    

After some time has passed, exploring the dynamics of intimate partner abuse can help friends and families navigate the complexities of grief.   

The Power and Control Wheel, developed many years ago by advocates in Minnesota, provides examples of the ways abuse affected the life of your loved one. Some of the examples leave visible marks, but most are purposely hidden and difficult to recognize.   

It’s important to remember that many tactics of power and control are meant to manipulate and confuse people who supported the victim.  

Your voice matters.   

Sharing information and raising awareness can be helpful in the healing journeys of friends and family.

This link from the CDC discusses types of abuse, how common intimate partner abuse is, other statistics, and how to prevent it – like understanding and promoting healthy relationships.  

It’s okay to be more private about your loss, too. Public discussions can be re-traumatizing, especially for those of us who identify as introverts. Talking about your grief with trusted confidants is helpful, too.

Other Resources    

The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children & Families offers support groups, training in youth bereavement, and hosts a weekend camp for children who have experienced loss.   

The US Department of Justice has this handbook titled Coping after a Homicide. It covers reactions, helping children cope with grief, and the criminal justice system.  

Further Reading

This article from DomesticShelters.org is a great resource 💜

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Nonprofit Impact Award

August 11, 2022By

Commerce Lexington has awarded our organization the Salute to Small Business Nonprofit Impact Award.

Commerce Lexington’s annual Salute to Small Business presented by Forcht Bank recognizes the area’s best small businesses and one exceptional nonprofit organization. The Nonprofit Impact Award category honors services, fundraising, and inspiration to maximize output in the community.

“We are delighted and honored to receive this award,” says Darlene Thomas, Executive Director. “It’s especially meaningful to be recognized by Commerce Lexington because we operate a small business on our farm that surrounds the emergency shelter.”

This year’s week-long celebration of award winners culminates with the Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon on Friday, August 26 at The Campbell House in Lexington.

About the Awards

Commerce Lexington began honoring the contributions of small businesses in 1986. To be eligible for the Salute to Small Business Awards, businesses must be active members of Commerce Lexington Inc. and have completed three or more years of operation in the local market with fewer than 150 employees.

Winners are selected for each of the four categories: Minority Business Award, Business Success Award, Entrepreneur Award, and Nonprofit Community Impact Award. Join us in celebrating the other category winners this year:

  • VOLO Careers International, Minority Business Award, specializes in senior-level women recruitment across thirty industries, including aerospace and defense, higher education, and medical devices.
  • Highbridge Springs Water, Business Success Award, bottles and delivers pure, limestone-filtered drinking water from a natural spring fed by an underground aquifer above the Kentucky River palisades next to High Bridge in Jessamine County.
  • Astral, Entrepreneur Award, was founded in 2015 when Megan Brooks sought a solution for fitness studios to run a successful retail component of their business.

About Commerce Lexington

Commerce Lexington Inc. was formed in January 2004 with the merger of the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Lexington United, and the Lexington Partnership for Workforce Development to promote economic development, job creation, and overall business growth in Lexington and its neighboring communities.

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Follow the link above to view the Commerce Lexington Business Focus publication.

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A Healing Canopy of Trees

August 8, 2022By

“I have really sweet kid memories of laying down under a tree and looking up at the sky,” says Ryan Koch, residential program manager.

Many trees on the shelter property were planted about ten years ago with the support of a Plant the Planet grant from Kentucky Utilities.

“I like anything that helps a young person have a good, normal kind of day.”

Ryan is committed to planting more for residents to enjoy and reduce our carbon footprint.

He recently installed a big disc swing on a strong black cherry tree in the front lawn. “Moms and kids can all get on it at once and have a carefree moment.”

Michelle’s kids love playing under the trees. “They have a little mudhole out there,” she shares. “The other two really love to swing out front. They don’t like to come in sometimes.”

Volunteers help with the upkeep of the trees and cleared a path into the woods on the edge of the property for nature walks.

Read the Summer 2022 Issue of Bloom 💜

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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Empowered by Plants

August 1, 2022By

The University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence Against Women recently completed a multi-year study of the farm’s effectiveness.

“Our mission is research,” shares Diane Follingstad, Ph.D. “If you have been a victim of violence as a woman, we would like to know the best ways to help you get better, to help you heal.”

Research considered physical, psychological, and functional benefits for survivors who participated in six weeks of programming on the farm. These outcomes were compared to those who lived at the shelter but chose not to participate in farm activities.

“I was really fascinated by the impact that this was having on women who have experienced horrible things in their lives—and their children—and the fact that they were somehow recovering more quickly,” explains Claire Renzetti, Ph.D.

“Plant therapy has been used with lots of vulnerable populations and has shown many positive results,” says Rachel Barczak (pictured), farm research project manager. Although not widely implemented at intimate partner abuse shelters, outcomes from the research could change that.

Rachel is a Ph.D. student in the University of Kentucky Department of Sociology. Research was made possible with grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women Research and Evaluation Initiative.

Consideration of the data has begun, and publication of the results is expected soon.

“We talk anecdotally about what happens on the farm, but I think to have research behind it gives us some leverage to expand the program,” says Diane Fleet, GreenHouse17 associate director.

Read the Summer 2022 Issue of Bloom 💜

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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Protect Family Pets

July 26, 2022By

Amendments to Kentucky laws related to domestic and personal orders of protection now include pets. Coercion, control, or revenge directed against a pet to control a spouse or dating partner is considered domestic violence.

Far too often, the most difficult step for victims of intimate partner abuse is leaving parts of their life behind to establish safety. Sometimes this includes their beloved pets.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports more than two-thirds of victims in emergency shelters say their batterer had harmed family pets for revenge or to emotionally control them. The coalition’s website also reports up to 40% of domestic violence victims are unable to escape their abusers because they are concerned about what might happen to their pets when they leave.

PARTNERS FOR PETS

We are committed to protecting and nurturing pets of survivors, too. Early efforts were supported with funding received from RedRover, a national organization committed to helping animals in crisis. SAF-T® guidelines developed by Allie Phillips inform our processes for sheltering animals and families together.

The Lexington Humane Society provides free examinations and vaccinations for every animal that lives with us, and our friends at the Chevy Chase Animal Hospital often provide medical care for animals with injuries from abuse.

The Lexington-Fayette Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention Board also partners with Animal Care and Control to bring attention to the connection between animal abuse and intimate partner violence.

SAF-T for your pet

Follow the link above to read more.

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