by Joyce Kyles | Sep 6, 2016 | Blog
It is my honor to facilitate Girls Night Out on Domestic Violence for a 5th year. The 1 hour program is designed to bring awareness to teen girls and women about domestic violence. And, to allow for an unfiltered conversation about dv, sexual assault and teen dating violence.
In 2012, I was asked to serve as a co-facilitator for this event. It is hosted by the Whitehaven Public Library in Memphis, TN. It was believed that the area would benefit from having an intimate discussion with young ladies about domestic violence. Since the initial event, I’ve been doing it solo. It continues to be one of the most enjoyable events that I participate in. I learn as much for the attendees as they say they learn from me.
The event is FREE to attend, and if you or someone you know is in the Memphis, TN area, please make plans to attend. It’s for teens and women only. For more information, please contact me or call the Whitehaven Public Library at (901) 415-2781.
by Joyce Kyles | Feb 2, 2016 | Blog
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention month. It is the time that we, as a society, should be making a conscience effort to educate and inform our teens about the importance of establishing healthy relationships, setting boundaries, knowing the signs of abuse and what to do if you find yourself in an abusive situation.
The problem is, in my opinion, we still have too many adults who are not aware that this month has been set aside for such a purpose. We still have too many adults who don’t quite understand abuse themselves, and therefore, simply cannot educate young people about it. There are too many adults that are still living in their own fear of their abuser, what people will think of them if they tell anyone about being abused (past or present) or struggling with their own lack of self esteem and self worth. I was one of those adults. I always knew that I didn’t want my children to be in unhealthy relationships, but I wasn’t providing them with a positive role models. Nor did I spend as much time as I should have in seeking them out. Although we’ve worked through a lot of our individual and collective hurts regarding the aftermath of abuse, it is still something that I regret.
Thankfully, I am a different person, and I have been able to speak to teens and tweens about abuse and reassure them that it’s not their fault, talk to someone they trust and that help/resources are available. What I enjoy most is talking with the parents and the children at the same time. It gives me the opportunity to in turn, tell the parents to BE the person that their child CAN talk to and trust, face their own fears, leave the unhealthy relationship and know that help and resources are available for them as well as their children. I also like to remind people that they are talking to young people, so if it’s difficult for you to know what direction to take, consider that it’s that much more difficult for a child.
Be sure to search for programs that mentor teens and find out if domestic violence/teen dating violence is covered in their programs. If not, then make the suggestion to have it included. I welcome the opportunity to provide insights that will assist in making our young people feel safe and educated.
by Joyce Kyles | Oct 30, 2013 | Speaking Appearances, Walking In to A New Life
The 39th Annual NOVA Conference was recently held in Columbus, OH, with Joyce Parkinson, serving as a workshop presenter. Parkinson, who is a survivor of domestic abuse, is the Executive Director of Walking Into A New Life, Inc. She found herself dealing with a number of barriers during her transition which left her feeling helpless and hopeless at times. With the help of friends, a lot of research and perseverance, she created a marketing company, JP Connections and started sharing her story of transition from victim to victorious. With a background in criminal justice, years of experience in social work and her own personal accounts, she has developed a curriculum noteworthy of sharing nationally, and has caught the attention of organizations locally. The official outline/launch is forthcoming.
NOVA (National Organization for Victims Assistance), is the longest national victim assistance organization of its type in the United States, having been founded in 1975. The conference is a four-day event, with hundreds of attendees from across the country who get together for a series of trainings and networking. This year’s conference was entitled “Implementing the Tools of Our Trade to Build a Comforting Justice”.
Parkinson’s workshop, entitled “Education, Microenterprise Development & Domestic Violence”, focused on best practices for educating advocates, businesses and organizations to better understand domestic violence and how to work with victims to become self-sufficient survivors. “It is easy to tell a person to leave. As advocates, we must also advise them on how to do it safely and equip them with some resources to help them with the transition. I want to help as many as possible to avoid many of the barriers that I encountered and walk into their new lives with confidence and hope.”
It is my honor to facilitate Girls Night Out on Domestic Violence for a 5th year. The 1 hour program is designed to bring awareness to teen girls and women about domestic violence. And, to allow for an unfiltered conversation about dv, sexual assault and teen dating violence.