We are VOICES of Acadiana

Domestic violence.

Domestic violence isn’t a dirty word, but we treat it like one.

Domestic violence isn’t a class-specific problem, but it’s perceived as one.

Being a victim of domestic violence isn’t something to be ashamed of, but survivors still hesitate to tell their stories for fear of being judged.

Domestic violence is spoken of in hushed voices and whispers. Victims and survivors are often unable to share their experiences without being judged for staying, for not asking for help, for “covering” for their abusers. Domestic violence is perceived as something that can only happen to “others”; not to good families, not to church-going families, not to high-school sweethearts. But anyone can experience domestic violence. It is insidious and silent, and even those perceived as strong and smart can become victims.

VOICES of Acadiana is led by survivors - 10 women who have experienced domestic violence and come out stronger on the other side. 10 women who want to take their individual experiences and turn them into something positive for their community. 10 women who know that the only way to stop the cycle of domestic violence is to use their voice and break the silence.

The mission of VOICES of Acadiana is to advocate for victims of domestic violence by actively working towards systems change, domestic violence education and awareness, and survivor outreach to break the generational cycle of abuse in families. VOICES of Acadiana is led by survivors working to break the silence by empowering survivors to take a stand against domestic violence.

VOICES of Acadiana’s first step towards empowering survivors to take a stand against domestic violence was the Fab Four campaign, which included the personal story of our Systems Change Chairperson, Brandie Stelly. The story of these 4 survivors joining together with the support of the Family Justice Center is a real-life example of true bravery and sisterhood. They had suffered alone, but they spoke up together. VOICES of Acadiana’s Fab Four campaign allowed them to use their shared story to bring awareness to the prevalence and impact of domestic violence in our community, dispel fear, and inspire current victims to use their own voices to reclaim their lives.

VOICES of Acadiana was established in February 2019, and joined the national VOICES register in May 2019. VOICES of Acadiana is a local chapter of VOICES, a national initiative started by the Alliance for Hope International. Nationally, the mission of VOICES is to promote public support and bring awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse through community education and advocacy by sharing stories of hope, courage, and strength.

The Acadiana chapter of VOICES is comprised of 3 committees, each with distinct goals and ongoing projects. The Systems Change Committee hopes to remedy gaps and flaws in the civil and criminal codes that are used by abusers in the court system. The Awareness and Education Committee seeks to educate children, teens, adults, and local professionals on healthy relationships, signs of domestic violence/domestic abuse, and ways to break the cycle of domestic violence in the Acadiana community. The Survivor Outreach Committee aims to assist survivors with common obstacles after leaving an abusive relationship, to connect them with other survivors, to direct them to resources offered through Faith House of Acadiana and the Family Justice Center of Acadiana, as well as other support systems in and effort to facilitate healing.

The women of VOICES of Acadiana are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we have already received from our community. We believe that if survivors continue to link arms and use our voices, that together we can break the cycle of domestic violence.

We will no longer allow silence to hide the violence.

We are SURVIVORS.

We are VOICES of Acadiana.

-Shelby Gale, VOICES of Acadiana Secretary