Change Begins With Us---We Can Make A Difference

Awareness begins with us! As much as we see happening in our communities that we are not pleased with is a challenge to us to become involve. Violence in our schools, on our streets and more sadly, in our homes where children reside impacts and effects not only the individuals who are victims but also the community as a whole. How many times have you sat on a city bus or other means of public transportation and witnessed someone being harassed or threatened and you looked the other way, thinking....that's not my problem. Well, in reality, it becomes our problem. It becomes our problem every time a youth is sent to prison, whether by paying out of our pockets, or having taxes increased. It becomes our problem every time a child comes to school and cannot learn or chooses to find a way to express themselves in a negative capacity. Most do not believe this, but violence does begin at home. The youth are heavily impacted and their attitudes impede or should I say, extend from what they live! It is our duty to impact change.

I wrote a novel, "A WOMAN SCORN'D" that expresses through the lives of the characters written into the story what impact violence has on families. A member of my family was killed in 2004 at the hands of someone who took her life through a display of domestic violence. I miss her always. However, my mission is to keep her memories alive and to continue to spread awareness. My book was revisited after her death and I wrote in a character to assure that her voice would always be heard.

Beginning this month until the month of October, I am selling copies of my novel to campaign a fundraiser for "THE SOJOURNER'S HOUSE" transitional housing program that is a program through Women Against Abuse. I have taught workshops to the women in this program through a grant I received in 2008 from The Leeway Foundation in December of 2008. Through these workshops the women have learned how to embrace their self-esteems and strive for change in a positive way. Every woman in this program receives a copy of my novel and together we engage in conversations and dialogues along with strategies to impact change in their lives. We work towards them stepping away from the mentality of being a victim and becoming the NAVIGATORS of their own futures.

This program has lost a lot of funding as a result of city budget cuts. I am placing my novel on sale via FACEBOOK and other social networking mediums as well as it being available via Amazon.com. Anyone interested in purchasing a copy may also contact me via email: womaniknow2@yahoo.com. Info for where to mail your payment will be provided. The cost of the novels purchased directly from me will be $12.00 and 50% of the proceeds of the sale will be given to SOJOURNER'S HOUSE to help them through a donation I send to them on a yearly basis.

I pray your hearts will be touched and you will support my fundraiser. God bless you all! ~~~Dorothy Goins