Hey y'all, I'm Alex; I'm a sophomore communications major. Today we spent most of our time at the Family Justice Center. They essentially house different organizations (Knoxville PD, YWCA, etc.) so that individuals seeking assistance and information can get everything in one location. While we were there we did a few activities to better understand the complexities of domestic violence.
The first activity we did was called "In Her Shoes." We went through scenarios inspired by real women and had to make decisions as if we were them. It was so eye opening to really think about the situation as if you were dealing with the same emotions and restrictions. It also really gave us insight about the barriers that exist between different organizations designed to help. It was really frustrating to go through the scenarios and deal with the disconnect. Many times we assume that it would be so simple to make the "right" choice, but even if people do, those decisions do not always work out the way they should. Talking about the statistics also proved to be unsettling. While we talk about domestic violence, it's crazy to think about the number of families that are really being effected by the problem.
The trip did end on a more hopeful note though. The director at the center shared that she had more personal experiences of abuse with us. Hearing how she had recovered and become so empowered really did make it feel like change is possible. I'm sure her road to recovery wasn't easy, but helping to prevent and assist in families still has to be so rewarding. Everyone at the center was so passionate about making this change in our culture, and the fact that us, a group of young college students, also care so much makes me think that we really do have the power to make positive change.
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