This holiday season, the issue of domestic violence becomes especially concerning, with reports indicating an increase in cases during this time of year. Recent conversations with survivors and leaders from local organizations shed light on how individuals are seeking to break the cycle.
Neisha Himes, a survivor of domestic violence, has turned her pain into purpose by founding The G.R.O.W Foundation , a nonprofit dedicated to helping others overcome similar circumstances.
“It’s already hard enough as a survivor. You always have to put on a face that everything is okay,” Himes said. “During the holiday season, that facade is put under a microscope.”
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Data from Break the Cycle indicates that nearly one in two women and more than two in five men in the U.S. have reported experiencing physical abuse from an intimate partner. The YWCA of South Hampton Roads has reported a nearly 10% increase in families experiencing domestic violence during the holiday season.