Today we’d like to introduce you to Tawana Smallwood.
Tawana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Beyond the Sparkle Foundation was founded after the death of my cousin, Sparkle L. Watson. We’re a non-profit focused on family and intimate partner violence harm reduction.
Sparkle was killed by her spouse in 2015. We started the foundation with the goal of educating people to recognize domestic violence. At that time, we didn’t fully understand what Sparkle was facing in her relationship. We just wanted her to get out and be safe.
I didn’t know that one of the most dangerous times for an abuse victim is when they leave. I didn’t even realize that a woman is more likely to be killed within the first three months of leaving. I thought it was common sense and expected her to leave. As people on the outside looking in on the relationship, we don’t understand how leaving could trigger violence.
Sparkle’s death ignited a movement in our family. We became determined to ensure that no other family would have to endure what we are still trying to recover from.
BTS works to create an environment that makes it easier for people to recognize and leave unhealthy relationships.
We do this by:
– Erasing the stigma in our communities surrounding abuse. Victims and survivors don’t have to be perfect to be believed.
– Helping people have conversations that challenge common myths about domestic violence.
– Encouraging people who experience abuse to evaluate their own situations and solutions, but to also reach out for help.
I started researching domestic violence in the black community and it challenged many of the beliefs that I once held. I wanted to share what I learned with others.
Has it been a smooth road?
The most difficult thing was believing we could impact change or that our work mattered. I didn’t realize that we could approach domestic violence from a different vantage point.
I struggled with getting family support while everyone was still in the early grieving stage. I’m thankful to God that everyone came to understand that Sparkle’s death didn’t have to be in vain.
At BTSF, we have a mission to bridge the gap between community resources and our neighbors. I still live in a community where the same risk factors I grew up with are prevalent. There’s a lot of work that has to be done, but first, we have to acknowledge violence is an issue.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Beyond the Sparkle story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m proud to be one of the voices trying to dismantle domestic violence in low income and working-class black communities.
The recent work that we’ve done includes:
– Beyond the Sparkle’s 2nd annual Toy Drive for kids affected by domestic violence and poverty.
– We launched the website as a resource to provide information about healthy and unhealthy relationships.
– Our podcast about Surviving R Kelly explains how many of the things described in the series were unhealthy relationship behavior, but are also common in our community, relationships and media. We try to make our content culturally relevant.
– The content we create and stories we share are aimed at empowering people experiencing abuse to take steps toward safer and healthier relationships.
Being in an abusive relationship can erode your self-confidence and undermine your belief in your own abilities. A big part of leaving relationships is the belief that you can. Victims, survivors and their support systems need to have conversations about recovery as a process. Setting realistic expectations is an important part of healing.
We’re an inclusive organization, but we focus on intimate partner and family violence in the black community. It’s the community Sparkle and I were raised in. A lot of our outreach is aimed at Black women and girls because we’re the least likely to report domestic violence, even after we leave the relationship.
So many vulnerable groups exist in our community that face barriers to connecting with domestic violence resources. Our identities may be the reason we are denied services or not given the same opportunities as other victims.
Beyond the Sparkle Foundation places importance on awareness of unhealthy behavior, safety, barriers survivors face, and the process of recovery.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think that social work and community advocacy will be more focused on what victims and survivors feel they need to heal. From what I’ve learned about advocacy work, in the past, there’s been mostly focused on law and arresting the perpetrators as the main focus.
Jail and prison are some options, but there will be more resources for violence prevention and battering intervention programs. While our org talks mostly about prevention and making healthier choices, we haven’t seen much of the same services for men who are victims or who are batterers.
That’s changing. We believe we will see a more holistic approach to victims and perpetrators. We want to see the whole community in a healthier place.
Pricing:
- If you would like to support the Beyond the Sparkle Foundation please consider making a one time or monthly micro-donation of $1, 2, or $10. Small gestures make a big impact. Contribute to Beyond the Sparkle.
Contact Info:
- Website: beyondthesparkle.org
- Phone: 469-275-1076
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondthesparklefdn
- Other: http://soundcloud.com/youalreadyknowx
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