Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Brunson.
Rhonda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The Choose Courage Foundation began as a personal photography project. I was volunteering at one of the SafeHaven of Tarrant County domestic violence shelters on Sunday evenings. While I was interacting with the women in the shelter, I kept thinking “they don’t know.” “They have no idea how beautiful their courage is and how inspiring it is to see their strength.”
I began a personal photography project to photograph survivors of domestic violence and to celebrate their amazing. There were 12 original models, and we used those images to host a charity art show which benefited the women in the shelter and to grow awareness about domestic violence. The power in these photos was incredible, and from there we created the Choose Courage Foundation as a nonprofit to break the shame, stigma, and silence of domestic violence.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say that building the Choose Courage Foundation has been a smooth road, it has been an incredible adventure! Because one in three women and one in seven men will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetime this issue touches almost everyone in some way. Our organization has grown quickly and sometimes it feels like we are running to catch up.
The first two years we tried different photo events with survivors in different cities, fundraising events, and art shows while we kept working towards defining our true vision and mission for the organization. Our board of directors began with myself and two friends and will have 12 active and dedicated members in 2019 along with countless volunteers.
Our biggest struggle has been to clearly know our why to create a vision and to stay focused along that path.
Please tell us about Choose Courage Foundation.
We are a non-profit with the vision to break the shame, stigma, and silence of domestic violence. Our mission is to grow awareness, inspire victims to seek help and prevent the next generation of abuse.
We are set apart because we celebrate our survivors. We highlight what is possible and use social media to inspire thousands of potential victims to reach out for help.
As an organization we are very proud of the What’s Your Thing? Teen Prevention Program that was launched in 2018. 25 teen ambassadors created a 52-week social media project to help teens know who they are and who they want to be as prevention of abuse.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is going to school. I am naturally very curious, and I love learning and growing all the time.
Pricing:
- $10 donation reaches thousands on social media with a message of hope.
- $25 donation helps support the What’s Your Thing? Teen Prevention Project.
- $100 donation sponsors a survivor photoshoot which is used to inspire victims to seek help.
Contact Info:
- Website: ChooseCourage.org
- Email: info@choosecourage.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choosecouragefoundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/choosecourage/
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