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…

Bettina Byrd-Giles - 80salumna.wordpress.com - I was reminded of a support group that I had run on a temporary basis for an organization that works with domestic violence survivors.  It consisted of women who had fled their homes with their children without money and only the clothes on their backs…

Virginia Jones - birminghamalabamadailyphoto.blogspot.com - 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…

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…

Michelle Clemon - akaomicronomega.net - Domestic violence doesn’t just affect survivors; it has a ripple effect throughout the community. Thus, it’s the community’s responsibility to address it.

Agnes Chappell - Birmingham Municipal Court Judge - The Domestic Violence Court hears approximately 250 cases per month…

Foundation Birmingham - foundationbirmingham.wordpress.com - 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….

Andre Natta - bhamterminal.com - 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…

Maria Claudia Zuñiga Escobar - hispanicinterest.org - 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…

Bettina Byrd-Giles - 80salumna.wordpress.com - 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 Blog-A-Thon…

Bettina Byrd-Giles - 80salumna.wordpress.com - 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 interview on NBC 13, they had a few words to share with us….

Foundation Birmingham - foundationbirmingham.wordpress.com - 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…

Bettina Byrd-Giles - 80salumna.wordpress.com - 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.

Foundation Birmingham - foundationbirmingham.wordpress.com - 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…

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…

Laurel Mills - laurelfainmills.com - 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.

Bettina Byrd-Giles - 80salumna.wordpress.com - Since WordCamp Birmingham, I learned that blogging actually has redeeming qualities.  People are blogging for social justice purposes.

Lynse Leanne - lynseleanne.com - 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…

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. And, Alabama is 12th worst in the nation when it comes to this crime…

Lee Ann Brown - mybirmingham.blogspot.com - Domestic violence is not just a women’s issue, it is a community issue and it takes each one of us to stand up and speak out for the victims…

Dianne Mooney - thewomensfundbham.org - 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…

Iveta Martin - iveta.thinkunique.com - 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 violence is there then this is just the beginning….

JaneA Kelly - Paws-And-Effect.com - It’s widely acknowledged that there’s a close connection between animal abuse and domestic violence. Not only do abusers threaten or hurt animals to scare their victims, but sometimes children in violent families even end up being abusive toward animals, too…

Tina Holt - BirminghamMom.com - 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….