Domestic Violence Hotlines and Resources

If you or someone you know is frightened about something in a certain relationship, please call the following:


National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Other resources: (from feminist.org)
Click here ----> Link to Resources

My Plans to Start a Non-Profit

Here are some of the reasons why:

Domestic Violence: It Kills
By: Britney Francis


Domestic violence is a crime that is committed to not only women, but men and also innocent children. As it is a learned behavior and a vicious cycle, the heinous acts of domestic violence occur to a wide spectrum of people, the numbers show women as the main victim. According to the American Institute on Domestic Violence, numbers show that between 85% to 95% of the victims are women. Domestic violence can affect more than just the victim but also the workplace, families, and can even lead to death.

On the night of October 30th, an unreported case of domestic violence took the life of a 17 year old Morgan City high school student headed for college. Kim Gobert, Jr. was known as a respectable young man who was about to finish high school a semester early. He was also a talented football player who had dreams of becoming a football star. Unfortunately, his mother’s boyfriend had other plans for his life. According to a neighbor and Kim’s former teacher, Darris Dorsey frequently beat Kim’s mother and had broken her arms twice. Dorsey had gotten into fights often with Kim while he was trying to defend his mother and younger sister. While they were traveling in a car on the way to the store that fateful night, Kim was stabbed in the stomach during an altercation then rushed to the hospital where he later died. Dorsey has since been charged with first-degree murder.

According to the American Institute on Domestic Violence, 5.3 million women are abused each year and about 1,232 women are killed each year by an intimate partner. Domestic violence is also the leading cause of injury to women. Break the Chain Against Domestic Violence reports that 70% of men who abuse their partners abuse their partners’ children as well. Only 3% of domestic violence cases reported are against men. Higher percentages, 83% and 75% were those of men who were husbands and boyfriends.

In the African American Community, African American women experience domestic violence at higher numbers than white women. The top murders of African American women are committed against them by a current or former intimate partner. The Africana Voices Against Violence reports that 17% of African American women actually report abuse to the authorities.

There are a vast array of organizations against Domestic Violence. These organizations provide help for those in crisis and provide recovery opportunities for those who receive their help. The organization encourages those who know of any cases of domestic violence to provide a way of intervention and most of all -- PREVENTION. Ways of intervening would be to tell someone that is trusted, call Domestic Violence hotlines, direct the abused to a Domestic Violence website, or simply call 911. By helping, even a little bit, could save a life.

His story inspired me so much that I've decided to start a non-profit in his honor. All of his peers, family members, close friends and friends of the family including myself have taken it quite hard. I'm determined to start this non-profit so that no other mothers would have to go through what his mother has been through. Hopefully I can be up and running by 2010...


PLEASE PEOPLE!!!
If you or someone you know is frightened about something in a certain relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Black Unity, does it exist?

So, today I was in Walmart picking up some items and this random guy just comes up to me, shoves a magazine in my face. Barack and Michelle were in an embrace and he was kissing her cheek. He said, "This is the president" and we both smiled. It's like, Black people have been floating on Cloud nine since November 4th. Everyone's smiling at each other, nodding, giving each other that look like "you know whats up". LOL This guy at the post office yesterday did that to me. So I'm wondering is there such thing as Black Unity? Did it ever really exist? And will there be this renewed Black unity now that we have Barack in office? I guess only time will tell.

RIP Kim Gobert :(

Teen allegedly killed by mother's boyfriend
The Associated Press
Published: Friday, October 31, 2008 at 12:31 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 31, 2008 at 12:31 p.m.
MORGAN CITY, La. - Morgan City Police Chief Jim Christy says a woman's boyfriend stabbed her 17-year-old son to death.

Christy says Kim Gobert was stabbed in the stomach after an argument turned physical. Gobert died at Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City, where he was taken for treatment.

Christy says officers called to the hospital Thursday night learned that Gobert and 49-year-old Darris Dorsey were traveling in a vehicle when the argument began. Christy says Dorsey, who apparently was driving, stopped the vehicle and began walking away. The chief says Gobert then pursued Dorsey and a fight started.

Christy says Dorsey was booked Friday with second-degree murder and on warrants for contempt of court and failure to pay probation fees.

He went to my aunt's preschool when he was a kid and I remember him. He was a sweet child. I caught a glimpse of him in his teen years a couple of months ago heading to prom. From the looks of his MySpace page, he was a well-liked kid. RIP KIM! :(

WHY? RIP Julian King 2001-2008

So today, I woke up and didn't check my email immediately because I told myself I'd check as soon as I got to school. I logged into Twitter as soon as I got to school and saw that an SUV was found with a child's body inside. They wouldn't confirm it right away but deep down, everyone knew it was Julian. I shed a tear in thinking that I couldn't imagine losing three close family members in such a heinous, heartless way. I'm deeply saddened by the events and tragedies that have befallen upon the Hudson family. I mean, I just don't understand how things like this happen. I know they happen but, why did they have to kill those people? Why did they have to shoot that innocent child? Now he won't experience a high school graduation, his first love, his first day of college, or marriage. Who in their right mind would want to rob someone of those advantages? Of life? I'm just so fucking angry! I'm also angry that people in that neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago saw that car parked there since Friday and didn't utter a single word until today. I mean, the AMBER Alerts were issued. When will Black folks stop listening to all this foolish shit these rappers are talking about!? The NO SNITCHING Clause has got to be stopped! When it comes to someone's child, "SNITCHING" shouldn't be an issue with anyone, I don't care what it is.. this is someone's CHILD. I prayed that child would make it back to them safe and sound. Jennifer, my deepest condolescences goes out to you and your sister. I know you guys are both strong and will be able to pull through. You are in my prayers and thoughts!

Folks, take this time to hug your mothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins, nephews, nieces, closest friends, and significant others. Show them you appreciate them because you never know when the Lord will see fit to take them away from you. If they don't live near you, call them and tell them you love them.

National Association of Black Journalists

..were at my school tonight and I must say, it was a life changing experience. I mean, sure, I've come across black professionals plenty of times before but I must say I am excited to say that I will soon be a member of the NABJ! We've had it at our school before but with Katrina hitting and everything not coming back full circle right away, we've been missing it for a couple of years. Tonight, I've met the president of the NABJ, Ms. Barbara Ciara, Kathy Times, Gregory Lee who is Xavier alum and a sports editor for the Boston Globe, ahh.. just so many great people! I hope to attend their conference next year as well as the NBPRS conference this coming February. I'll keep you all updated!

Professional PR 101 Multi City Conference

Got this from an email that one of my professors sent me... so to all you young PR folks in New Orleans and beyond, you might want to check this outo. There will be PR seminars on Oct 8th! First 100 to sign up will be able to attend for free:



The producers of BET's 106 & Park's Wild Out Wednesday & Free Style Friday are coming to New Orleans to seek the next contestants to compete against other aspiring artists from around the world in New York City!

This is your chance to secure national attention to your rapping and r & b abilities.

The performance opportunity will be Oct 8 @ Gallier Hall. There will be an invite only Welcome to New Orleans private VIP reception Oct 7 for the producers from BET, MTV News, XXL Magazine and more!

The performances will be held Oct 8 during the Professional Public Relations Conference to be held at Gallier Hall from 9am - 9pm.

To register and secure a performance opportunity visit www.divadendentertainment.com and click ppr 101 or call us at 404 816 6000.

Good luck representing your city!

IKE!?!!!? Ike Turner?

I can't believe after 3 days of being back in New Orleans, I gotta worry about Ike's ass! Is Ike Turner coming back in Hurricane form to come kick our asses? Only time will tell. Luckily, I didn't lose power from Gustav, and I didn't lose my boyfriend either even though I was really worried about him because he didn't leave Louisiana. And even more, I'm glad Gustav didn't turn out to be the "mother of all storms" as our wonderful Mayor Ray Nagin made it out to be. I really think he tried to scare the bejeezus out of New Orleans citizens to get them moving out of the city this time. Everyone knows New Orleanians could be the most stubborn when it came to evacuating the city.. either that or lack of funds. But at least they took the initiative this time to use the resources provided to them to get out of the city. Now that that is out the way, let's hope I get this internship with the New Orleans Hornets!!! Ike, go away!!!! Or better yet, go to Texas! lol

Unorthodox Vacation

So thanks to this Gustav and New Orleans not having power back up in the city and so on and so forth, I've gotten the vacation from the city I've been wanting for the past 2 or 3 months. But damn, it's time to go home! I'm 22 years old, in college, with my own place and when I come home, my mom makes me feel 12....lol I hate to be repetitive, but I miss my bf! He's become an important person in my life and I never thought I'd be without him from days at a time.. but hey I guess shit happens.

I can't wait to graduate so I can move back to ATL!

Hurricane..

Thank God this Gustav shit is over! I was scared because my boyfriend didn't leave the city right away and now he's all the way back home and I'm still here. But oh well, at least this storm's destruction wasn't as catastrophic as Katrina. Thank God!!! School starts back Monday.. I can't wait! it'll be like starting the school year all over again....lol

In other news, Karrine Steffans called to check on me after I evacuated! She's a cool chick.

Workplace Beef?

Have you ever had someone at work who you just wanted to curse out so bad? It's bad enough some people at my job don't have workplace etiquette as it is. But being 22, and 23 years old, you're too old to be faking it with people! And I have a coworker who is so fake and INSISTS on conversing with me when I could care less about her doing so. This totally sucks but I know it won't be the end of me being surrounding in a workplace with people I don't like, so I'm not trippin... unless I work for myself but that may be waay later down the line.

Xavier University's Communications Department

Check out our MySpace page! Hasn't been updated in a while, but still look at it! Also XPRO coming soon

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=333871266

Xavier Public Relations Organization

(and hopefully soon i'll be in prssa)

To anyone's who is interested...

Hey bloggers, this is my new blog... i used to blog frequently but that was on MySpace... i'll try to update as much as possible