Posted by Yvonne LaRose on May 30, 2001 at 23:33:34:
There are times when you wonder if anyone is listening. It's gets disheartening. No signs of change, no evidence of response, just total silence and inertia. And then you wonder if you should just give up.
In December, the energy was high as I listened to the Los Angeles County Commission on Women ponder what to do for their adopted domestic violence shelter. The idea of giving toys was considered. I forced myself to be silent and wait for the public comments at the end of the meeting.
Then I rose and made a recommendation, a plea, that they consider another gift to the shelters. You see, toys are nice but very temporary. I explained that people who have left a violent situation very often did so with just the clothes on their backs or merely what could be carried in their two hands. "They're just starting out again," I explained, "and need things to help empower them as they move back into the mainstream." I explained that the most meaningful gifts the Commission could give those who are survivors of domestic violence are sheets, towels, household appliances, dishes, pots and pans.
The Commission thanked me. But in the next set of minutes I received, I read the decision of the body regarding the Christmas gifts it would make to the domestic violence shelter and my words to the Commission were repeated, verbatim.
Life's been hectic, to say the least. It was not until April that I was able to return to the Commission meetings, and then because the Education Committee (on which I am a member) was having a meeting. I thanked the Commission for acting on my recommendation. The President of the Commission smiled broadly and responded that the Christmas was the best received that they've ever had. The Commission was very grateful for the suggestion.
But by early May, I was still feeling nothing was being heard and my desire to create awareness and change was to no avail. Then I happened to notice a fellow editor's signature and the banner that accompanied it. Out of curiosity, I click on the hyperlink and was taken to W.I.S.H. I clicked on the signature link of another fellow editor and found she also had W.I.S.H. on her site, in addition to another link to a site of empowerment.
My heart beat like a war drum. I floated on air. Someone heard and acted. These people will be added to my list of "Responsible and Responsive" and I told them so.
But the news that came back to me was even better. They said it was because of the Domestic Violence Awareness event that I had hosted last year that they became motivated to create these organizations or get involved with them. It was because of the awareness raised by that event that some became empowered to shake off the chains of oppression and be the best they can be. It was because of that event that several other organizations were brought to light that are also acting to stop domestic violence in some way or be proactive.
It's at the least expected times that you get some small thing has happened and when you realize something's actually happening to create change.
viva