What is DVWMT definition of DV? The average person would say control, manipulation, pain, spousal abuse and I do agree but here is my definition, I look at these words for what they are Domestic is our homes, our safe haven, our comfort zone, and a peaceful place. Violence is a separate word that is an act committed weather physical abuse and or with a weapon. Violence does not have to live in our homes but some way somehow it gets in and comes in through people, through words, and or behavior patterns.

What are some of the misconceptions of DV? It happens to “low income people”, “sweep it under the rug no one will know”. The worst misconception of is “what goes on in my house stays in my house”. What we fail to realize is physically a person may heal but mentally and emotionally they are still hurt. These tags most people don’t relate to DV. Verbal, mental, and emotional abuse goes untouched because most people only relate DV to women and man abuse.

The abuser needs help: Please explain. In my home my mother was the aggressor and working with my mother today we found she learned from her household because her mom was the aggressor. I can think and having conversations with my mom and grandma the women in my family have always been the dominate figure. Being aggressive was and is a part of my DNA but it was taken out of content and used in the wrong light. (2) It was learned behavior which means I am and many are victims to bad behavior from the home. Some people question, how can she advocate for abusers? I could play the victim roll but instead I let it be known I was an abuser and if God forgave me I can forgive you. Most people men and women when they hear I advocate for the abuser their mouths hit the floor but women start confessing.

Why is it so important for our community to identify the different tags that DV wears? Our communities need to identify with verbal abuse. People take freedom of speech over board and if not thinking before speaking, (free speech) a person’s profanity will kill another person’s soul. I have been the victim and abuser as it pertains to verbal abuse and I have been doing more research on it and the more I study the old saying “it is not what you say but how you say it” rings true. Verbal communication is a first impression, example, you and I are meeting for the first time, and instantly I say what’s up ho. Well at that point you could either retaliate or agree. Verbal abuse is a breaking point on the tags it determines whether violence will be in your home and or you community. People in homes and our communities need to be respectful to one another; it is called effective communication.

What makes DVWMT stand out from other organizations doing similar work in their community? We want people to view abuse as a whole not just the women and man scenario. Understand grandma & grandpa could be fighting and possibly one or both could be arrested. We want people start feeling comfortable to talk about abuse and view it as a whole not just the typical. Most orgs talk about physical abuse upon women, as does DVWMT, but we also talk about verbal abuse being the #1 Killer, self abuse, behavior patterns, and giving people solutions. We believe in showing up in the time of trouble, and DVWMT is obligated to educate on awareness of all abuse. DVWMT is willing to come into your home and educate so that we can start breaking the cycle of abuse in our homes