Michelle Johns, Community Advocate & Owner of Transforming Wellness
Participating as a panelist in The Women's Advocacy Center's domestic violence
awareness panel was an honor and a profound experience. As I reflect on our panel I
am filled with a multitude of emotions—encouragement, inspiration, connection, awe,
empowerment, and sadness. The courage and strength that I witnessed and
experienced during our forum are beyond words.
I had the privilege to sit alongside women who serve our community in diverse aspects
of helping meet the needs of women and children vulnerable due to domestic violence
and it is truly humbling to see the hearts of those willing to help others. The purpose of
our panel was to bring awareness to our community about the impact of domestic
violence and the necessity to persevere in public discussion regarding how domestic
violence affects families and the greater community.
I am encouraged to have met women I had no prior knowledge of and hear their stories
and calling to help bring security to women and children who are forced out of their
homes to save their lives. I am inspired to continue serving women with my gifts and
talents with the knowledge that others like me are also using their gifts and talents to
help women and children leave violence and build a new life safely.
I am sad that so many families are torn apart by unnecessary violence. Children
impacted by domestic violence, whether through witnessing physical, verbal, emotional,
or psychological violence against their mother, are experiencing the violence alongside
their mother. These children often grow up and repeat the patterns of violence in their
homes and communities. The repeated pattern continues to perpetuate harm in homes
and in our greater community.
While domestic violence impacts everyone, it is often viewed as a personal family
matter. In my work assessing domestic violence offenders, I assessed their childhood
history. Remarkably, 100% of the offenders I assessed over three years had been
abused directly or had witnessed abuse against their mother.
Ending domestic violence is the responsibility of everyone. Here are three ways the
average citizen can help:
Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the signs of domestic violence and the
resources available to help victims. Share this information with friends, family, and your
community to raise awareness.
Support Local Organizations: Volunteer your time, donate money, or provide
resources to local shelters and organizations that support victims of domestic violence.
Your contribution can make a significant difference.
Advocate for Change: Get involved in advocacy efforts to support legislation that
protects victims and holds offenders accountable. Use your voice to speak out against
domestic violence and promote policies that foster safe and healthy communities.
Our collective commitment to serving our communities through support, education, and
legislation that protects and honors humanity is the only way to end domestic violence. I
am committed to continuing my work in this vein, as long as the Lord is willing to sustain
me in such a purpose. I ask you, reader, to come alongside me and others in our
community to do the same.
Together, we can create a world where every individual feels safe, valued, and
empowered. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this transformative experience.
Learn more about The Women's Advocacy Center and how you can contribute here.
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