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.