WORD Oct. Issue

8/8/2019 WORD Oct. Issue

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OCTOBER 2010 VOL. 1 ISS

The Official Spoken Wo of the Lowco


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October is here, and folks all over are gearing up forHalloween (I swear the first day of this month, my neighbors

had erected their spooky lights before nightfall), or donningtheir pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness. But someof you may not be aware that Oct. is also Domestic Violenceawareness month (DVAM).Domestic Violence (DV) is a serious issue folks. I wouldntbe surprised if all of our readers out there knew at least oneperson who has suffered abuse by a partner. I will neverforget an older family member telling me the story of how hisdaughter was dating some guy who he didnt too much carefor, but reluctantly allowed her to date nonetheless. Oneevening the young lady came home with a bloody face. Thefather, enraged, grabbed his shotgun, and waited for theman to have the gall to come to the house to take hisdaughter out again. When he did, the father answered thedoor with his shotgun pointed at the young mans head andspecifically told him if he ever came back to their house hewould blow his damn head off.Now thats pretty drastic, but I could only imagine the painthis father felt when he saw what this man had done to hisdaughters face let alone, the unexposed pain and detrimentput upon her psyche.CODA (Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse) haspartnered up with us here at word. and Poetry andPancakes to bring further awareness to this hideousproblem. We are really excited to be a part of this endeavor.One event CODA planned was a 3k Domestic ViolenceAwareness Walk called Get in the Game! The walk tookplace Oct. 16 th in downtown Beaufort with hopes of creatinga large presence, particularly of men, to further bringawareness to this issue. This months P&P is centeredaround DV with a large percentage of the proceeds going toCODA!On the cover of this issue of word , we have decked it out inpurple, which is the color for DVAM, and have included factsregarding DV throughout the background. We also have afeature interview with Kristin Dubrowski the executivedirector of CODA to share some information about theorganization and to shed some light on domestic violenceand abuse as a whole. So, we hope you enjoy this issue.But we also hope you are inspired to take a stand. If you, or

someone you know are a victim of domestic violence,please contact CODA at (843)770-1070 , or 1-800-868-2632.Raise awareness raise life.

RaiseAwareness Raise Life!


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OCTOBER 2010 VOL. 1 ISSU

Our next Poetry and Pancakes is October 29 th 2010 at the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center located at1211 Harrington St in Beaufort (right across fromthe Cricket Telephone Store) at 8:30pm ! We willfeature Melissa mookie Ellis , a Poetry andPancakes patron who has developed her love forthe spoken word, and has become a performingpoet in her own right.We will also feature independent rock band,Consider it Done, and Atlanta soul singer ShannonReno! Our last P&P, in September, we featured KimberlySimms-Gibbs from Greenville, SC. She is thefounder and is a member of the poetry collectiveWits End Poetry.If anyone is interested in participating in our nextP&P as an artist, or wish to make reservations,please call Jamie at (843) 476-9738 or Mackenzie at(843) 521-7354. If any person or group is interested in volunteeringat P&P, call Jamie or Mackenzie or emailMackenzie at [email protected] . SPIT THAT ISH POET!

spit thatish poe tPoetry and Pancakes

Performancepoet andeducatorKimberlySimms-Gibbs

S p o t l i g h t

Melissa Ellis is like one of those cool homegirls yougrew up withalways there to make you smile,someone you could go and talk to about yourrelationship problems, ready to ride when need be,and always keeping you in check.We first met Ellis a year ago, when she came to herfirst Poetry and Pancakes.I rediscovered my love of poetry after seeing K.P.perform at P&P in October 2009. I viewed poetry asmostly mushy, lovey dovey stuff. [But] He talkedabout healthy eating, violence, and things I'd neverconsidered poetic. He actually had something to say!And I realized that poetry could be more than flowery,romantic words. It could have a message. Thus began Ellis plunge back into the art. Sheconfesses that she used to write poetry back in middleand high school, but gave it up until October of lastyear.Now after a year of writing and prepping pieces toperform, she is ready to take the big stage! I consider myself a conscious poet , says Ellis,

poetry with a message. I may not have the theatricsof some poets, but I feel I have a purpose--somethingto say. And anyone who has seen Melissa read any of the pieces she has been working on at P&P, knows shedefinitely has something to say!

I'm inspired by so many poets--from the legends:Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes to the more well-known like Shihan, Black Ice, Rachel McKibbon, totalent of P&P powerful folks like Jamie Fleming, K.P.,and Alexis Lynah. You can catch Melissa Ellis debuting as a feature atPoetry and Pancakes on October 29 th 2010 at 1211Harrington St. at 8:30pm!
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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risten Dubrowski is an optimist and a fighter. Youwouldnt know the latter just off of looking at her.She is about 5 8 and very slender. The optimismthough gleams through her effortless good looks, and

huge welcoming smile. After spending some time with her, itis easy to see the passion that lies in this Colorado gal.

As executive director of CODA (Citizens Opposed toDomestic Abuse) for the last three years, Dubrowski usesthat optimism, fight, and the passion in her to better servicevictims of domestic violence and their children. I recentlyhad an opportunity to sit down with Dubrowski at her officesin CODA and discuss with her domestic violence, a little bit of her own life, and the future of her organization. Always easyto talk to, she exuded that calming spirit of hers andwelcomed me into her world.

How did you get started in this line of work? I got my BA in womens studies and when I was anundergrad I volunteered for a domestic violence and sexualassault hotline...so when I finished school, I wanted to dosomething where I applied my degree directly so I ended upgoing to work for a DV shelter in Denver as an overnightadvocate. I did that for a few months then became theshelter director. When I was doing that, I went back to getmy masters in nonprofit management. After I moved here Istarted at CODA as DV counselor then was the coordinatorfor victim services before I became the Executive Director.So there is that whole sort of education interest, but I amalso a survivor of DV as a teenager, and there is DV in my

family as well. So there are personal experiences that drew

When you were in college, were there any other career choices that you were considering? Yes (laughter). It is really funny. My other choice wasworking in the library. When I was in college my work-studywas at a library which was a combined college and publiclibrary. When I moved to Denver, I interviewed for the DVagency and for a library, so I had to decide. They paid almostthe same-the library actually paid a little more- and it waseither a city or state job so the benefits were a little bitbetter...and it was daytime not overnight, but I just felt like Ineeded to be doing domestic violence. it was my calling.

(Upon moving to SC)I contacted coda about volunteering andthey happened to have a position open and they asked me if I wanted to come in and interview and of course when Icame in to interview, I liked everybody a lot and they offered

me the jobI thought I was kind of finished with domesticviolence but obviously I was supposed to be doing it.

woman

on amission

What were you earlier experiences like working withdomestic violence victims? Scary. I was so scared to get my first hotline call as avolunteerbut the whole time I volunteered, I never got onecall. When I was in Denver, even though I had the training, Iwas so afraid. But then I realized that really most peopledidnt expect you to hav e all the answers; they really justneeded someone to listen and to give them support andunderstanding of what theygoing through and believethem with what they aresaying. Once I realized that, Iwas ok with the hotline. Butworking at the shelter, I wasthe only staff person workingovernight. For the first fewmonths I would have baddreams of people showing upat the shelter shooting the

[CONTD ON NEXT PAGE]

One in everyfour women will experiencedomestic violence intheir lifetime.**www.ncadv.org

K

Interview by Jamie Fleming Words by Kristin Dubrowski


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the place up. Thankfully nothing remotely close to that everhappened. But the opportunity to work with survivors wasreally inspiringand having a positive impact on peopleslives is what really hooked me into it.

Has that fear ever come to fruition?

Yeah there has definitely been threats made, but thankfullynothing has ever come to fruition.

How did you end up coming to Beaufort and do you likeBeaufort? Ah yes! I do! I knew when I was in Denver, my husband atthe time, we knew we wanted something different. We hadbeen to the Savannah area, and really liked Savannah, andfelt like moving down to this area would be the most likemoving to a foreign country but still being in the US. When Itold people about the move, they would ask why are you

moving there? And I would say, why have you beenthereits beautiful, besides they need me there! So wedecided to both quit our jobs, and move and set up a homebase and look for jobs more seriously. We ended up inBluffton the weekend before St. Patricks . I had never heardof Beaufort, Hilton head. I do like itI like Bluffton, but I likeBeaufort better. I think there is something really specialabout this whole area.

Does CODA offer services to abusers? We work with two certified battering intervention programsand we make referrals to them. WE dont offer ser vicesonsite.

What is considered domestic violence and or abuse? Our definition is a pattern of behavior that is used toestablish and maintain power and control over an intimatepartner. The legal definition focuses on physical violenceand threats of physical violence that can be carried outbetween either current former boyfriend girlfriend, spouse,people who have a child in common. So our definition isbroader, it includes physical violence, emotional,psychological, financial, all different forms of abuse, it alsoincludes same sex couples.

Do you deal with teenagers too? We do. We do a program called the Megan Project which is

mainly done in high schools. The program is based onMegan Ridgeway who lived up in the Greenville area andwas murdered by her boyfriend after they graduated fromhigh school. She had broken up with himthats anotherthing that a lot people dont realize in planning to leave, orwhen a women leaves can be the most dangerous time.Thats when the abusers going to make a last ditch effort.Its that power and control. If you are leaving they lose thatpower and control. We provide counseling servicesobviously with the consent of the parent. We know datingviolence is a huge issue. But the students are reallyreceptive.

What is the greatest challenge for you in this line of work? Well, the greatest challenge for me in my position is to getmoney to run the organization. The greatest, let me thinkIguess I am at a point that I have been doing it for elevenyears and nothing has changed. Like that being a third of mylife, that is a lot. But in the grand scheme of things, elevenyears is a short period of time. I think there are a lot of reallygood programs. Thats why I am really excited about MOST(Men of Strength Clubs). Really getting at the core issuesand really doing primary prevention work- thats how we are

going to see that change happen. Thats the mostchallenging thing for me-staying engaged when I am feelinglike I havent seen as much change as I would like to see . Bknowing too, that it does take time to find projects andprograms that will have a larger impact, and create morechange. What we are talking about is really changing socialnorms. I want people to get it. This is not a onetime issue-this is an ongoing issue. It is not just about October isdomestic violence awareness month. This is something weneed to be doing year-round. I am optimistic that we will getthere.

South Carolina isranked #8 in thenation for thenumber of deaths which involve menkilling women.**www.dvasc.org

Do you see domestic violence being aheavy problem herein Beaufort? The latest rankingcame out and SC isnow 8 th in the nationfor the number of women murdered bymen, and I thinkBeaufort County is 9 th according to the mostrecent stats I have for

the 46 counties for the number of domestic assaults. So it isa huge issue, but it is a huge issue anywhere and I think wesee the same things here that we see in other places. Its notsomething people want to talk about.

Do you have men who come and seek out services as well? We do. Usually maybe about one percent per year whichtranslates to about 4 or 5 men who access services. We arenot able to house them at the shelter. We are only able totake male children with their moms up to 17. Shelter doesnot come up that frequently mainly counseling and legalservices.


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The ExchangeHot Venues and Community Events in and around the Lowcountry

Every Tuesday Plums Restaurant (Beaufort) Open mic beginning at 10pm

Oct. 17 th The Sentient Bean (Savannah, GA) AWOL Open Mic Poetry Night Presented by All Walks of Life, Inc. FREE. 7pm. Oct. 18 th The Sentient Bean (Savannah, GA)Jason Bible and Bill DeYoung Jason Bible is anaward-winning singer-songwriter hailing from Ft.Worth, TX, and is a member of The Train Wrecks.Bill DeYoung is a true veteran he was playingguitar and singing on the Gulf Coast of Florida inthe 1970s; time, tide and circumstance brought himto Savannah two years ago, where he continues hisday job and breaks out the acoustic whenever themood strikes. 8pm. FREE.

Oct. 21 st Theatre: Art (Savannah, GA) SCADPerforming Arts presents the Tony-winning playabout a friendship tested by questions about artafter one buys an expensive painting. $15/general,$10/discounted. 8pm.

Oct. 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, and 30 The ExchangeClub of Beauforts 18 th Annual Ghost Tours(Beaufort) Take a carriage ride or walking tourthrough the moss lined streets of Beauforts historicdistrict while listening to costumed storytellers tellhaunting tales of the area. Carriage tours: $20/adult $10/child ages 3-11. Walking tours: $12 all ages. Allproceeds benefit CAPA. (843)524-4678 for moreinfo.

Oct. 23 rd Book launch and signing of The Dolphin (Beaufort) Artworks Thomas McDermott-

Post was 8 years old when his good friend, BillyKeyserling, the Mayor of Beaufort, South Carolina,told him about the challenges of getting hiscommunity to forget their differences and worktogether during these difficult times. Thomas hadan idea for the Mayor, which resulted in thiswonderful and whimsical tale of a special dolphin,and what she had to teach to her community. 2-4pm. FREE

Oct. 28 th Rock the Vote at USCB! (Bluffton)Come and enjoy great music, free food, andpolitical awareness at USCB-Bluffton campus. 5-7:30pm. FREE.

Oct. 29 th Poetry and Pancakes (Beaufort) P&P

featuring Melissa Ellis, Independent rock band,Consider it Done, soul-singer Shannon Reno, poetJustin Blackman, and others! 8:30pm. $10.00.

Oct. 30 th - Nov. 6 th Savannah Film FestivalPresented by SCAD (Savannah, GA) www.filmfest.scad.edu

Nov. 11 th -13 th The 28 th Annual Penn CenterHeritage Days Celebration (St. Helena Island)www.penncenter.com

July 18th

Oct. 28 th Bluffton Campus 5-7:30pm
http://www.filmfest.scad.edu/http://www.filmfest.scad.edu/http://www.filmfest.scad.edu/


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1. Jamie Fleming teaching students at Onslow County Learning Center in Onslow, NC. 2. Mackenzie taking a break after working on this issue of word. 3. Lyricist (pronounced Tree) taking a break from recording. 4. LOUD student Victor participating at our LOUD Cookie Car Wash. 5. LOUD student Sharod participating at our LOUDCookie Car Wash. 6. Teacher and poet, Jack Bryant pu tting on an exhibition for students at Onslow County Learning Center. 7. LOUD students gathered around a boombox.8. Poet Jamella Taylor performing at Poetry and Pancakes. 9. LOUD student Jamella performing at the Sentient Bean in Savannah, GA. 10. The LOUD Poetry Slam Team in

Savannah, GA. 11. LOUD instructor, Andre Minor teaching the sound design students.

WORD Oct. Issue

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