VOICES of Acadiana

Quarterly Newsletter April-June 2020 April 2020 Monthly Committee Member Meeting COVID-19 VOICES members reviewed the protocol for online meetings and will be doing those monthly. VOICES POWER HOUR The committee decided that they would incorporate a Power Hour twice weekly outside of their monthly meetings. This will enable members to dedicate time to stay in touch with each other on topics involving domestic violence as well as get work done for their individual committees.  Social Media VOICES members agreed that social media posts need to incorporate being quarantined in homes and how to stay safe. May 2020 Monthly Committee Member Meeting On May 1st, committee members, Kelsey Sanders, Kirby Banks, and Roxanne Martin met with Jamie Angelle, chief communications officer for the Lafayette Consolidated Government. The committee members are working with the mayor’s office in hopes of creating public service announcements with the objective of raising awareness in the fight agai...

If you or someone you know has been interested in getting involved with VOICES, here’s your chance!!! VOICES of Acadiana is ready for new members!!! If you are interested in joining our committee in the fight to break the cycle of domestic violence, we are ready for you to join our team!! The application process is simple. Go to https://faithhouseacadiana.com/voices-of-acadiana/ and scroll to the bottom of the page until you see “Become a member”. Fill in all the requested information. You can choose to be an active member and attend monthly meetings or become a supporting member and just participate in selected events. Either way, we are happy to have new members joining us!! We will be accepting applications until the end of August. When the deadline rolls around, we will close the application process and begin a vetting process to ensure the safety of all members and applicants. Then we will begin the interview process. At this time we are unsure if we will hold the interviews onli...

It was the summer of 2007; I survived the “fresh meat” phase of high school and was excited to start training for various activities. I was on the basketball team, volleyball team, dance team, and color guard. My summer was busy and consisted of a lot of sun and sweat but I loved every minute of it because I was working on my skills to become a better athlete for the upcoming school year. In the midst of developing my skills, I was sidetracked by my soon to be boyfriend. We started messaging on Myspace, which quickly led to text messages and phone calls. Shortly after, we were hanging out several times a week and before school started, we were a couple. Once school started, we spent recess together and weekends together; we were inseparable. I was eager to attend homecoming this year since I actually had a date.  It was October and homecoming week was in full effect. The school theme that day was animal-themed. I decided to wear this leopard print dress that I received multiple com...

Moving Forward Monday by Kirby Banks In order to move forward, we need to recognize our successes and what we have overcome as survivors. You deserve to be PROUD of yourself! You’ve been blamed by your abuser and yourself for way too long it’s time to CLAIM THE VICTORIES among all the trials and tribulations. Most of you have read my story and yes there’s tons of toxicity and lows yet despite all of them I’m going to give you some HIGHLIGHTS OF MY VICTORIES from my story. In sharing this my goal is to give HOPE to other survivors that although it doesn’t feel like it there is HOPE for victories as you stand up for yourself.  • I finally left my abuser for good in 2011 after 7 years of abuse.  • Got my first TRO and civil stay away order in 2012. • I started my healing journey in 2015. • Got my 2nd TRO in 2016. • Shared my story at the Still I Rise Women’s Abuse Survivor Conference in January 2017 for the first time.  • Called the police on my ex-husband in 2017 for the 1s...

(This piece is a continuation of part 1 of my story originally uploaded to the VOICES of Acadiana blog site on September 1, 2019.) I wish that I could say that leaving was easy.        It was not. I wish that I could say that staying away was without turmoil.      It was not. I quickly learned a well-known fact in the world of domestic violence: the most dangerous time for an abused woman is when she leaves the relationship . During the first two years after leaving, ·        He stalked me   ·        He threatened me ·        He damaged property ·        He controlled me through the children ·        He harassed me by telephone and text    ·        He forced his way into my home ·     ...