Bravo, Marcella Chester @ Abyss 2 Hope
Bloggers are the most creative people! A few months ago, I found this very clever “Just Being Real“ blog award. The blogger is a sexual abuse survivor who believes in […]
Category Archives: Life Rafts
Bravo, Barbara Bentley: Paul H. Chapman Award Winner!
Barbara Bentley, author of Dance with the Devil, will receive one of six of the 2009 Paul H. Chapman Awards by the Foundation for Improvement of Justice on September 26 in Atlanta. In addition […]
Bill Clinton: Why He’s a Champion for Family Violence Prevention
When we think of Bill Clinton’s presidency, passage of the Violence Against Women Act isn’t typically the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, he is a tremendous champion for family violence prevention and for people who have experienced abuse. He’s walked in our shoes.
RIP: Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes
At age 66, Frank McCourt published his first book: Angela’s Ashes. It was a New York Times best-seller for two years, won a Pulitzer Prize, and became a movie. His success inspired other people who had experienced abuse to write their own memoirs. There wouldn’t be a Life Rafts section on this web site but for Frank McCourt.
Vernetta in O Magazine: Does Oprah Finally Get It?
Good questions. I think most women who experience domestic violence would like to know the answers. As I read and digested the article, I realized the Vernetta’s story is all our stories. We are conditioned by the system to think we’re the only ones who think the system doesn’t work. The truth is that it doesn’t work for most of us. “Fell through the cracks,” is a phrase that sets my teeth on edge. Callous indifference is more accurate.
O Magazine: Vernetta’s Story
Vernetta is a perfect example of an advocate for domestic violence. She has done everything right, and the most important thing she’s done is that she never gave up.
Nancy P. Tyler: Will Her Nightmare Ever End?
Is Nancy Tyler’s nightmare over? I doubt it. Arrest and court records hold abundant evidence that Richard intends to kill Nancy. The clear pattern is that his brother will pay the bail, Richard will be released, and the court proceedings will drag on and on. Even if he is convicted, Nancy fears the day he will be released from prison. Richard has threatened too many times.
Fern Michaels: “Persevere and you will prevail.”
Mary Ruth Kuczkir created the perennially best-selling Fern Michaels brand, and the rest is history. Ms. Kuczkir’s books have been so successful that she was able to put all five of her children through college, and she’s set up the Fern Michaels Foundation to fund scholarships and help single mothers. She lives in a 300 year-old plantation house in South Carolina.
Victory for Vernetta!
It took seven years and two trips to the appellate court for Vernetta Cockerham to receive justice. About 45 supporters wearing puple and white ribbons came to the preliminary hearing at the Yadkin County, NC court house.
Orders of Protection: A Victim’s Frame of Reference
Should a woman seek an order of protection when she has been abused? Is it the best course of action to take? Or should she not pursue an order and just call the police as needed?
Anne Caroline Drake 