The Women's Fund Blogging Against Violence

October 1-15 2009

If you blog about domestic violence,  Voices Against Violence, or The Women's fund and link to us, we'll link to you!  tell us here

On Twitter please use:  #wfundbham

 Donations appreciated.  Thanks!

2009 Participants

A. Fine Blog  Blogging Against Violence Against Women
First, the importance of the partnership between broadcast media and social media was clearly highlighted here. Rather than being threatened by the bloggers, NBC and the Women’s Fund recognized the importance of building a strong relationship with them. The future won’t be social media or broadcast, it will be social media AND broadcast – in some combination that we are still developing.   read more

Lessons from an 80’s Alumna Voices Against Violence Initiative Hi blogasphere.  I am sitting here with Robin Adams Hall, Laura Lee, and Meg McGlamery with the Voices Against Violence program here in Birmingham.  Before being whisked away for a live television   read more

Birmingham Daily Photo  I Just Listened
Today meet Jean Newsome. Jean, an RN, has written and self published a book titled Homeless Hearts. It all started when Jean's son was diagnosed with cancer. She shared with me the shock, the fear, the worry, the emotional roller coaster. In her words, she   read more

Service Employees International Union   Domestic violence is STILL a pre-existing condition
The last thing victims of domestic violence should have to worry about is being denied insurance coverage when they are trying to rebuild their lives. Guess who doesn't care: big-name insurers in eight states and DC, where it is still legal to exclude victims of domestic violence from coverage. read more

Violence In the Family  Alabama makes history again at NBC13 News  (seven posts from blog-a-thon)
We are winding down from this event, and winding up for our next collaborative partnership. It's been wild, interesting, exhilarating, and now I'm sitting here looking at the view of a city that looks beautiful...I see lights, white, red, yellow and green.    read more

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham The Mythology of the Batterer- There’s More at Work
What causes a man to batter? According to Wes Goodenough, director of the Violence Intervention Program at Gateway, there’s some mythology about the causes of domestic violence.  As we try to imagine why someone would batter their partner, we think    read more

Birmingham Daily Photo Blogging Against Violence - Part I
As I have said many times, this blog has opened many doors for me and introduced me to many wonderful people and causes here in my hometown. Today was certainly no exception. I was asked to participate in the first ever Blogging Against Violence. NBC-13 and The Women's Fund joined forces and pulled off an amazing event. They brought together area bloggers   read more

The Community Foundaiton of Greater Birmingham In-person Meeting Boosts Community of Social Media
The great thing about social media is that you develop relationships with people you never meet. You can feel a connection just because you care about the same things and you can work together as advocates for a cause and that is a powerful connection.  The even greater   read more

The Women's Fund Domestic Violence Doesn’t Just Affect Survivors  by A. Michelle Clemon
My sorority chapter, Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, promotes health in a very broad sense, including healthy relationships with family, spouses and friends.   read more

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Western Part of County Suffers Special Challenges
District Court Judge Jill Ganus, serving as a Special Circuit Judge, watches as the women line up in the hallway, some who should be going to the doctor, not to the court. She tries to help them all, finding a way to provide Protection From Abuse orders that   read more

The Terminal  Don’t stay silent
Some folks may be wondering why I’d be writing as part of  a blog-a-thon about domestic violence. Those who’ve followed the history of bhamterminal.com may not be wondering as much, though they may not know why…  There are several reasons. The one I feel most comfortable talking about involves my next door neighbors for the better part of four years back in Savannah    read more

The Women's Fund Voces contra la Violencia Doméstica  by Claudia Henly
En mi trabajo como facilitadora de recursos en la corte para victimas veo algunos casos que nos ayudan a preparar material para educar a la gente inmigrante sobre Violencia Domestrica y otros problemas que atacan a nuestra comunidad.  Constantemente publicamos   read more

Lessons from an 80’s Alumna Tahiera Brown on Domestic Violence
You never know what life may bring to you.  I have never had the opportunity to chat with Tahiera Brown, author of Annihilator of Innocence, but we are friends on Facebook.  I have also had an opportunity to read portions of her book.  She sat down with me for a few minutes at the Women’s Fund Blogathon.  BB-G: Why are participating the Voices Against Violence Initiative? TB:  I am here to support the Blogathon hoping that our presence here will be able to help      read more

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Nurse Listens and Learns About Lives of Homeless Women
Jean Newsome found her way to a homeless shelter because she thought she could help by offering her skills as a nurse, taking blood pressure and performing other services. She ended up providing an even greater service as a listener and a writer, recording the life stories of women who found themselves without a place to call their own. Her book, “Homeless Heart,” documents    read more

Lessons from an 80’s Alumna  Cameron Vowell on Voices Against Violence
I just caught Cameron Vowell as she was walking out of the NBC 13 studio.  She is involved in a number of programs on behalf of women.  I wanted to know why she was giving her time today. BB-G:  Why are you participating in the Blogathon?CV:  I am 62 years old and have no idea about what this is about.  I have tweeted and posted on Facebook for the first time ever.  This is so exciting.  It is allowing the Women’s Fund to reach people we have never reached before.  read more

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham  Run for their lives! A reason to leave a bad situation  Jennifer Kilburn of the Children’s Policy Council has one phrase she wants to emphasis at Women’s Fund Blogging Against Violence today: “Run for their lives.” That’s how she wants to encourage victims of domestic violence, primarily women, to find the courage to get out of a bad situation, by running in order to save their children. “They may not leave for themselves, but maybe they will leave for their children,” she said. Because as long as they are still in the relationship   read more

The Women's Fund by Judge Agnes Chappell  The City of Birmingham responds to some 800 incidents  The City of Birmingham responds to some 800 incidents of domestic violence calls per month.  The domestic violence court docket consists of approximately 250 cases per month.  With the help of Voices against Violence, the court is able to properly dispose of most of its cases by holding the perpetrators accountable.  Now victims (because of our two victim advocates) and read more

Lessons from an 80’s Alumna  Blogging Can Be Socially Redeeming
Since WordCamp Birmingham, I learned that blogging actually has redeeming qualities.  People are blogging for social justice purposes.  I am participating in a Blogathon to raise money for the Women’s Fund of Birmingham’s domestic violence initiatives. NBC-13 has dedicated space and air time for us to get a message out to you about.  Please spread the word and give a donation.   read more

Lynse Leanne Let me set the scene….
I was 13.  It was a cool night.  We had been drinking and smoking pot.  It was me, my friend, her aunt and uncle.  I knew that her uncle had a temper and we had seen some hints that one day it may blow up…but i never thought i would be there.   He got angry with his wife over some meaningless thing.  She didnt bring the salt that he liked with his Bud Light.  and the fighting began.  I remember being terrified.  I didnt know what to do.  I was a child.  read more

It Is What It Is  Warning: Graphic Content
I'm re-posting this today to join the conversation started by The Women's Fund of Birmingham and NBC13 about domestic violence. There was a lot of talk on the web about Keira Knightley's domestic violence ad. (It is posted above, and it is quite graphic, so please watch at your own discretion.) What fascinates me most about the discussion though is how many people are saying that the ad is too graphic and goes too far.   read more

NBC-13 Gina Redmond    Domestic Violence Awareness: Leaving an abusive relationship
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. And, Alabama is 12th worst in the nation when it comes to this crime. For many victims, leaving a violent relationship is the most dangerous time of their lives. How do they escape? What help is available? It was a picture that for a moment brought domestic violence to the forefront: a photo of pop star Rihanna badly beaten and    read more

The Women's Fund If you have a VOICE– USE IT! by Dianne Mooney  
When I ask myself why I support The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham, it’s not only because I CAN, but it’s also because I know the money will be spent to make life better for a very targeted group of women and girls who are in great need. Very often these people lack the strength and self-esteem   read more

Blah Blah Blah Thoughts  No More Silence — Voices Against Violence
The Women’s Fund Birmingham is trying to help raise awareness in our community via their inaugural Blogging Against Violence today October 7th, any online support will function till the 15th of this month. If possible please visit the The Women’s Fund Birmingham Site and donate $25. The new media press event today will be from 3PM – 730PM.   Violence, first you think it is just physical, but verbally and mentally, the violence can exist and it can thrive. My first thought is that the outward signs of violence surely are so obvious. Surely, if the physical    read more

Paws and Effect part one  Pets and Domestic Violence: A Paws and Effect Special Feature October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month here in the United States, so we’re going to do our part to put a spotlight on this issue through this special column on how pets are affected by domestic violence, how pets are used by abusers to terrorize their victims, and what you can do to help domestic violence victims ensure that their pets are safe if they choose to leave their abuser. This column was inspired by the following letter, which we received last year:   read more

Paws and Effect part two   Blogging Against Domestic Violence Paws and Effect is honored to participate in the Women’s Fund of Birmingham (Alabama, USA) inaugural Blog Against Violence New Media Event, October 7, 2009. This is a cooperative effort between the Women’s Fund of Birmingham and area television station WVTM, NBC-13, to raise money and raise awareness for Voices Against Violence, The Women’s Fund’s nationally recognized initiative to reduce domestic violence  read more

DRE's Ramblings   Lend your voice to the Women’s Fund tomorrow Tomorrow I’ll be adding my voice to the what organizers hope will be a large chorus of stories, information and sharing. If you’ve got a blog – or a link that you’re willing to share via Twitter – I’d like to invite you to join me and others to lend a voice to an important issue.  read more

BirminghamMom  Voices Against Violence in Greater Birmingham    My closest personal encounter with domestic violence was during college, when a roommate and good friend locked herself in her room for hours. When she came out we noticed her swollen eyes (from crying) and a bump on her head. She finally confessed that she and her boyfriend had gotten into a   read more

Lessons from an 80’s Alumna Let the Blog-a-Thon Begin
A blog-a-thon benefittign the Women’s Fund began on October 1st.  Bloggers,Ttweeters, Facebookers and other new media junkies have been asked to blog to raise awareness about domestic violence and to raise funds to advocate for survivors of domestic violence. How can you get involved?   read more