The criminal complaints charge Pray with leave two threatening voice mail messages to two Century employees last spring. Pray went on to threaten and harass another two employees. The voice messages included threatening to shoot and harm a victim and her family members. Pray is suspected of throwing a cup at another employee’s vehicle and leaving food in her mailbox. Pray threw eggs at one victim’s home, and threw food at another victim’s home. Pray was also spotted roaming around Lakeview Cemetary (across the street from Century College…I would have security patrol the semi wooded cemetary and grounds to see if he is living there, or continuing to stalk his victims).

Pray was charged last May with making therrorist threats and plead guilty on those charges in August 2011. Pray was again arrested at Century on Sept. 20th, 2011 and admitted to making threatening phone calls to stab the primary victim.

Stalking, Harassment and Terrorist Threats are a serious crime that causes a great amount of fear, stress and harm to the victim.
To give you a small idea of what the victims may be experiencing:
-Fear,
-Anxiety/Anxiety Attacks,
-Depression,
-Hypervigilance (on constant alert, startling at small sounds, racing heart, etc),
-Withdrawl/Isolation from normal activities(afraid to leave their home, afraid to return to work, afraid to be alone, fear of not knowing what will happen next, fear stalker is still after them, etc),
-Nightmares
-Reliving these horrible events in vivid flashbacks.
Stalking leaves a devastating emotional/psychological toll on the victim that continues long after the stalking ends (if it does). These are REAL threats and should not be taken lightly! Studies show that convicted stalkers re-offend at an alarming rate of 80%.

Some Facts on Stalking:

* More than 1 million women and almost 400,000 men are stalked every year in the U.S.
* 76% of female murder victims had been stalked. 67% had been physically abused by their intimate partner.
* 81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner. 31% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also sexually assaulted by that partner.
* Half of all victims reported their stalking to the police. About one- quarter of the women obtained a restraining order–a far greater proportion than men. Eighty percent of all restraining orders were violated by the assailant. About 24 percent of female victims who reported stalking to the police (compared to 19 percent of male victims) said their cases were prosecuted. Of the cases where criminal charges were filed, 54 percent resulted in a conviction. About 63 percent of convictions resulted in jail time

Source: “Ex-Century College janitor charged with stalking, threats” by Kristine Goodrich. White Bear/Vadnais Heights Press, Wednesday Nov. 9, 2011. Page 3A. www.presspubs.com

AARVARC Stalking Statistics: http://www.aardvarc.org/stalking/statistics.shtml

Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project- Click on this link to download a log to document stalking incidents, for information on how professionals can be educated about stalking and victim response, safety planning and resouces:http://www.bwlap.org/stalking

Stalking Resource Center (Program of National Center for Victims of Crime). Includes support for victims, facts about stalking and resources:http://www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbID=DB_statistics195

Stalking Victimes Sanctuary (Support, Survival Tips, Coping Tips, Resources and More):
http://www.stalkingvictims.com/home.htm

November 2011-Listings of places to go for Thanksgiving Dinner in Minnesota. You may also consider volunteering or donating to any of these places.

Thank-you to these churches, organizations and individuals reaching out to others in the true spirit of Thanksgiving in the fellowship and sharing of a meal.

Alexandria- St. Mary’s Church hosting free community Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s School gymnasium, 421 Hawthorne Street.
Rainbow Rider provding transportation to and from the school at no charge. Free meal delivery program for the homebound.
For reservations, transportation or delivery, call (320) 760-2806. Anyone interested in volunteering should call (320) 834-3140.
Pies are also needed and can be brought to St. Mary’s School cafeteria on Wednesday, November 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. or Thursday, November 24 before 10 a.m. http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/89402/

Bloomington- Walk to End Hunger Thursday, November 24, 2011 from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Mall of America – Best Buy Rotunda. (Park in the East Parking Ramp and enter via the East Entrance.)
There are many ways to participate in the walk: you can sign up to walk as an individual, you can start your own team of family members, work associates and friends. Or, if you cannot attend the walk event, you can sponsor another participant or make a donation to the event. 7:00-9:30 a.m. Open walker registration
7:30-10:00 a.m. Walk – 5K
8:30-9:30 a.m. Program and entertainment Route takes less than 2 hours for the average walker to complete. Walkers can walk as much or as little as they like. http://www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/EventsAndNews/UpcomingEvents/EventsItem.aspx?pkID=269

Buffalo- 35th Annual Community Festival of Thanksgiving and Praise will take place on Wednesday, November 23 at 8pm at Zion Lutheran Church.
Pastors from the Buffalo area churches join to give leadership to this community-wide time of worship. Over 130 musicians from different churches are expected to participate. Choirs from six Buffalo churches will combine to present anthems of thanks and praise with organ and brass. The handbell choirs from Zion and other churches are preparing pieces to be rung in a massed choir. Nursery is provided, and offerings are used to help those in need through the Buffalo Ministerial Association. 200 Highway 25 South | PO Box 88 | Buffalo MN 55313 | 763-682-1245. http://www.zionbuffalo.org/2011/10/thanksgiving-eve/

Duluth- Duluth- A FREE buffet on Thanksgiving Day serving approximately 5,000 area persons in need at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center at Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. For HOME DELIVERY: Please call 723-6484 by Friday, Nov. 18, to request meal delivery.
Volunteer to prepare for and/or serve food at the Buffet. Please sign up online (link below) or call the volunteer phone line at 723-6774. Monetary Donations – Please use our online donation form or send a check made out to The College of St. Scholastica at:
The College of St. Scholastica
Attn: Thanksgiving Buffet Fund
1200 Kenwood Avenue
Duluth MN, 55811

http://www.css.edu/administration/thanksgiving-day-buffet.html

Glenwood: Minnewaska Community Thanksgiving Dinner, November 24 from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. Sponsored by the Pope County Ministerial Association. Dinner will be served at Minnewaska Area High School 25122 State Highway 28. Take-out meals available by reservation by Tuesday, Nov. 22. Call Audrey 320-239-4652 evenings for take-out reservations, rides, volunteer opportunities, or other questions.
Directions: The dinner is served at the Minnewaska Area High School located at 25122 State Highway 28, half-way between Glenwood and Starbuck. http://www.alexandriamn.org/events/eventdetail.aspx?EventID=806

Hastings-United Methodist Church hosting free community Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, Nov. 24 from noon to 3 p.m. 615 W. 15th Street.The meal includes roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, vegetables and pie.
Delivery of meals to those unable to come to the church is an important part of the day. A voluntary collection of nonperishable food items will be taken for the emergency food shelf at Hastings Family Service.
Reservations for the meals, both at the church and for delivery, are strongly encouraged, and can be done by calling 651-437-4398. Anyone interested in volunteering can call Hamilton Williamson at 651-253-1256. The reservation deadline is Nov. 21. http://hastingsumc.org/

Hopkins- Gethsemane Lutheran Church hosting free Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 24 at 1 pm in Fellowship Hall. Please make a reservation by November 23rd with the church office at church office at 952-935-1753. 715 Minnetonka Mills Rd, Hopkins, MN 55343. http://www.glconline.org

Zion Lutheran Church- Thanksgiving Community Dinner & Worship.
Thanksgiving Dinner, Wednesday, November 23rd – 5:30pm. Free Thanksgiving meal for area seniors and needy families hosted by Zion’s Human Care Ministry. We’ll provide a free ride too! Please call 952.938.7661 (Zion’s Church Office) to RSVP by Monday, November 21 and set up ride accommodations if needed. We look forward to seeing you there! 241 5th Ave. N. Hopkins, Minnesota 55343

Thanksgiving Worship Services
Please join us for our Thanksgiving Worship Services to thank God for all of our many blessings.
Wednesday, November 23rd – 7:00pm
Thursday, November 24th – 10:00am

http://www.zionhopkins.org/

Mahtomedi- St. Andrew’s Church hosting free Thanksgiving Community Dinner at noon on Thursday, November 24th. Volunteers needed. 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi MN 55115. 651-426-3261. http://saintandrews.org/

Maplewood- Woodland Hills Church hosting Thanksgiving Potluck from 3:00-6:00 on Thursday, November 24th. Please register with Andrew at 651-287-2062 or alangbehn@whchurch.org. http://whchurch.org. 1740 Van Dyke St. St. Paul (Maplewood), MN

Minneapolis - Zion Lutheran Church hosting Thanksgiving Community Dinner on WEDNESDAY Nov. 23rd at 6:00 pm. Suggested Donation $3 (no one turned away). 128 West 33rd Street Minneapolis.

http://www.zionchurchmpls.org/events.html

St. Paul- East Side Thanksgiving Day Meal on Thursday, November 24, 12:00-1:15 pm, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. 674 Johnson Parkway. Reserve your place at the table by calling the church office at 774-2396.

http://district1council.blogspot.com/2011/11/free-eastside-thanksgiving-meal.html

In 2006, began taking photographs and journaling to record what it was like for my family to be homeless. When I started, I didn’t know how my work would be used or when. I didn’t know if we’d find a home. Or where we’d sleep that night. I just kept snapping pictures–and praying. I am so humbled that my work is being used to raise awareness about homelessness and domestic violence, and hopefully will inspire others to help the needy. I thank God for working in my life, and sending “jewels to shine in the darkness”.

The Homelessness Forum will be an important event to learn more about poverty in Minnesota, and network with others to make a difference in our community for struggling families. The event is open to the community, there is no charge to attend.

Blessings ~* Lynn

Date: Sunday October 16th, Noon- 2pm
Location: St Andrews Church, Great Hall
900 Stillwater Rd Mahtomedi MN 55115
Events: Free Pancake Brunch at Noon
Forum Includes: Speakers on homelessness and related issues, real stories from homeless families, networking and collaborate ideas, address solutions

This is a great opportunity to have lunch and learn more about what St. Andrew’s is doing to address homelessness through our St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center. In addition, speakers representing government and non-profit organizations that serve people in housing crisis will describe the overall situation of homelessness. We also plan to have individuals who have been through a housing crisis tell their stories.

Homelessness Forum Online:
http://www.saintandrews.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=159733

Time: Sunday, September 25, 2011
Location: Privacy of your home- Join in prayer, fasting, and lighting candles with Supporters, Advocates, Professionals, Moms & Families worldwide

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

LET’S JOIN TOGETHER TO SEND A MESSAGE TO FAMILY COURTS WORLDWIDE: STOP TAKING CHILDREN AWAY FROM FIT, LOVING PROTECTIVE MOTHERS!!!! (And awarding custody to alleged abusers)

This is a non-denominational event and all inclusive. You may participate to the level you feel comfortable.

We welcome your participation by joining us in lighting a candle,and/or including but not limited to a full fast with active praying and/or meditating. We welcome all participates and all beliefs.

For those joining us in a fast:

A corporate fast is when as few as three and as many as thousands of Christians join together for a period of prayer and fasting. The PMA Prayer Warrior Team will be abstaining from all foods. You may join us in this, or a Daniel Fast instead (see below) . Staying in prayer while fasting as much as possible is crucial. Keeping our purpose for this fast while we pray is essential. Join us!!!

Any questions please email : lb.jlpma@gmail.com ♥

Thank-you for your support.

IMPORTANT!!!!!
If you have a medical condition or are undergoing any medical treatments it is advisable to first consult your physician. You may also want to pray, consult a mature Christian or your pastor before fasting. Remember, fasting should be periodically and for limited amount of time.

The Daniel Fast: The Guidelines
The basic guidelines for the Daniel Fast include eating:

fruits, nuts
vegetables
water only to drink (to flush out toxins) Some say natural fruit juices may be included if they contain no preservatives, sugars, etc., but even those juices should be very limited. Coffee and tea are not permitted

Find PMA on Facebook; post your thoughts, prayers, pictures and inspirational quotes: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=263300817025169
About Protective Mothers Alliance International

PMA is working toward bringing about dramatic reform in family court for protective mothers and their children. PMA advocates for change through education, legislation reform, enforcement of current legislation, community and media outreach and other strategies that may be effective and beneficial.

PMA supports the efforts of protective mothers in keeping themselves and their children safe from the abuse of a former partner, and in empowering these mothers to become advocates for themselves and others.

Among the many common family law practices we work to stop are:
Custody of children granted to men who abuse women; those who abuse/have abused children; those who are perpetrators of sexual abuse towards children; and the granting of unsupervised contact with children to abusers with no requirement that they overcome their abusiveness.

Other issues include:
* Labeling protective mothers as parental alienators and punishing them for their appropriate protective efforts
*Using biased tests, and misusing psychological tests to support abusers
*Forcing protective moms to spend excessive amounts of money on prolonged, unnecessary litigation,
…and much more.

PMA administrators, chapter leaders and members are working together as a tight team to change harmful practices that eliminate, or restrict loving, biological mothers from the lives of their children.

Please listen to our Protective Mothers Alliance blog talk radio shows:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pma

Please visit the PMA web site:

http://protectivemothersalliance.org/index.html

Please visit the Guardian Of Truth blog

https://protectivemothersalliance.wordpress.com/

Please watch the PMA YouTube video:

Date: Saturday – July 30, 2011
Time: 6:00pm-Midnight
Location: Spirit of Sobriety (SOS) Club & Coffee Bar
1417 Helmo Ave North, Oakdale MN 55128
(651) 735-2400
(Hwy 694, 10th St Exit, 3/4 mi behind Carmike in Oakdale Plaza)

http://www.sos2400.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sos2400

Dynamic, inspiring speakers Judy C. and Lisa F. to share their insights and personal stories of recovery.

Potluck featuring the best family recipes in the Midwest–please bring a dish or treat to share.

Dance Party to follow, hosted by legendary Camel Club Video DJs John Mayer and Jeff Johnson mixin’ Top 40, Rock, R&B, Country and more! Pool, Darts, Cards also available.

Suggested Donation: $6.00 dollars. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay. All ages & family friendly.

NOTE: Women in Recovery Open Meeting/AA every Sunday night, 6 pm, at the SOS Club. Women are welcome to join at any time.

As I look into your faces, I see the jewels of a crown. There are deep green emeralds, fiery rubies, sparkling diamonds, and beauty of all shades in the people God has created. These jewels were once rough cut stones, some chipped or broken. Other felt they were imperfect. Then we found our way to God, (1 Peter 2:4) ”Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones are being built up..”

I once felt like a rough stone. I didn’t think I had any value. I hid from everyone how abusive my marriage was, and as a result I did not let anyone get close to me. I lost all my friends, except for my penpals who lived hundreds of miles away.
I was isolated and totally dependent on my abuser. I had no sense of self. I had no material belongings, no money and no job. And he threatened if I left that he would make up stories that I am crazy and take the kids. I can honestly say that God saved my life and that of my children. After 8 years my situation seemed hopeless then God came into my pain and despair, and helped me break free from the abuse.

For the first time, I really begin to experience life; simple things like making choices or leaving the house were new to me. I had lived in fear for so long, I didn’t know what freedom was. God walked through my life, picked me up out of the dark places, wiped away the dirt, and made me shine. He whispered in my ear “Look what I found!” and for the first time, I felt loved.

God will do this for you too, (Zechariah 9:16),”The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people. They will sparkle in the land like jewels in a crown.” Remember, you are a jewel in His crown.

God walks through our lives like a curious child, picking up a cast off stone and seeing a treasure. He held up the stone that was you and smiled. My children collect rocks, and this is how I see God—picking up a dirty stone and wiping it against his shirt, He says, “Look what I found!” There is excitement in His voice as God finds you—the rough stone is so loved that He places you in His crown, lying against the very head that sweat tears of blood for you, against the head whose vision created the universe…because God has always known that you were never a rough stone but a jewel.

Lynn Mari, © 2010

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston, MA and Southeastern MA

INDABA THEATRE OF NEW ENGLAND joins International Celebration of Women Artists.

On Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 2-4:30p.m. Woven Stories of Hope, Love and Healing – From Silence to Joy! At the Brockton Public Library – Main Branch. 304 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301. Admission is free and is an all age’s event. Directed by Donna Cotterell and Radiant Jasmin. For more information, please call, 774-240-0690 and visit www.indabatheatre.org.

Blending spoken word poetry, personal reflections, song, dance, and visual art to reveal therapeutic, cathartic and healing techniques for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. A talkback session and refreshments will follow the performance.

The mission of the Indaba Theatre of New England is: To empower inner city youth. To transform young peoples lives through performing arts. Indaba Theatre of New England in collaboration with the National Black Doll Museum will create and develop a cultural arts center that will be a mecca for visual and performing arts. Together, they will produce interactive museum exhibits and programs in the arts, multicultural events, and performances of theatre, music and dance for children and families. As they build, invent and create a multi-purpose center for the arts, young people will be at the center mentored by caring adults instilling in them a desire to become community leaders and play a significant role in revitalizing their city. Indaba is a Zulu word for coming together for a meeting or purpose. Our purpose is to create a more harmonious and unified community, help curb youth violence, and create healthy outlets of self-expression.
This event is part of a new international celebration of women artists called SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now Day).

“Women artists are creating change in their communities and around the world,” said Martha Richards, the co-founder of SWAN Day. “This day of celebration will help people imagine what the world would be like if women’s art and perspectives were fully integrated into all of our lives. The long term goal of SWAN Day is to inspire communities to recognize and support women artists as a basic element of civic planning.” For more information about SWAN Day events happening around the world, please visit www.swanday.org.

SWAN Day is an annual event facilitated by WomenArts, taking place on the last Saturday of Women’s History Month (March) and the surrounding weeks. WomenArts (www.WomenArts.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women artists get the resources they need to do their creative work. Its emphasis is on women in film, video, and theatre.

Call 774-240-0690 to speak to Donna Cotterell, Founder/Director, email, donna.cotterell@verizon.net

Alexandria:

Thanksgiving Day Dinner: St. Mary’s Church in Alexandria will host a free community Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The dinner will be held in the St. Mary’s School cafeteria, 421 Hawthorne. Rainbow Rider is available for transportation to and from the school at no charge. There is a free meal delivery program for the homebound. For reservations, transportation or delivery, call the reservation line at (320) 760-7761. To volunteer, call (320) 834-3140. Pies are needed – they can be brought to St. Mary’s School cafeteria Wednesday, November 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. or Thursday, November 25 before 10 a.m.

Cambridge:

Thanksgiving Day Dinner. Cambridge Lutheran Church. CLC will host the “Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner” on Thursday, Nov. 25 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You are invited to come enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner with turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. A free will offering will be taken. Take outs will be available starting at 10:30 am. No deliveries. 621 Old North Main St.Cambridge, MN 55008. Volunteers are needed to prepare and serve the meal. Direct your calls to Darlene Pearson (763-689-4312).

Chaska:

St. John’s Lutheran Church and School. Thanksgiving Service (9:30 AM). Thanksgiving Meal (11:30 AM to 1:00 PM), November 25th. 300 East 4th Street Chaska, Minnesota 55318. Telephone: 952-448-2433.

Duluth:
Thanksgiving Day Buffet 2010. The Twin Ports Community, The College of St. Scholastica and area volunteers cordially invite you to join the Twenty-First Annual Free Thanksgiving Buffet!Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25 from
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. HOME DELIVERY: Please call 723-6484 by Monday, Nov. 22, to request meal delivery. YOU CAN HELP!

Volunteer to prepare for and/or serve food at the Buffet. Please sign up online or call the volunteer phone line at 723-6774.
Monetary Donations – Please use our online donation form: http://www.css.edu/thanksgiving.xml
Or send a check made out to The College of St. Scholastica at:
The College of St. Scholastica
Attn: Thanksgiving Buffet Fund
1200 Kenwood Avenue
Duluth MN, 55811

Farmington:

Thanksgiving meal- Lord of Life Lutheran Church will host a community Thanksgiving meal at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21 at the church, 16200 Dodd Lane. A 6 p.m. worship service will follow.

Maplewood:
Thanksgiving Potluck – Woodland Hills Church. 1740 Van Dyke Street, St. Paul MN (White Bear.Larpenteur next to the Plaza). Thursday, Nov. 25th, 3pm-7pm. Woodland Hills is hosting a community potluck and game night on Thanksgiving, everyone welcome (whether they attend the church or not). Bring a dish or treat to share. RSVP with Andrew at (651) 287-2062 or alangbehn@whchurch.org. Please include number of guests.

Minneapolis -

House of Charity Food Center, 714 Park Av. S., on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, a nontraditional brunch buffet will be served from 9 to 11 a.m. Call 612-594-2000 for information.

Monticello:

FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER- November, 21st 1:00-2:30pm at St. Henry’s Catholic Church of Monticello. Come and Celebrate with us…. FREE!! Dinner and Entertainment. All are Welcome! Sponsored By: The Monticello area Christian Community. Rides to and from are available. For more information call: Gene Garman 763-878-2475, Dane Hasbrouck 763-878-1617 or Tom Welle 763-878-1748

Oakdale:
Thanksgiving Potluck – SOS Social Club 1417 Helmo Ave North, Oakdale MN (3/4 mi behind Carmike in Oakdale Plaza). Thursday, Nov 25th, 2:30pm-??. Meet your neighbors, make new friends! Family-style potluck dinner, children welcome. Bring a dish or treat to share. Cards/UNO, pool, and darts available (may want to bring toys for younger children). RSVP in person at SOS or to sos2400@live.com or by phone: (651) 735-2400. Please include number of guests, and what you plan to bring to the potluck. Donations appreciated.

Redwing:
Community Thanksgiving Dinner – November 25, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm First United Methodist Church in Wesley Hall. The dinner is for those who may not have a gathering of family and friends to attend, but would like to be with others and enjoy a good meal. People from around our community look forward to this dinner every year. Although there is no charge, donations are welcome. Volunteers from outside of our church help with the dinner, although it is our congregation who hosts the meal, under the leadership of Bruce Duerkop. We encourage all who are able, to donate food or money. We also welcome your help in the kitchen the night before and the morning of the dinner. If you are not able to help in the kitchen, we need help serving and with clean up. Watch for sign-up sheets in the Hamline Commons, or call the office at 388-3262 to indicate how you are willing to volunteer. 403 East Avenue Redwing MN 55066.

St. Paul:
Community Thanksgiving Dinner – November 25, Noon-2:30 pm Randolph Heights Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall. The meal is open to anyone. Reservations for the dinner may be phoned in to the church office (651-698-3889). If you’re going to be around on Thanksgiving Day, perhaps you could spend it with us by helping with the dinner by cooking, serving or cleaning. If you will be elsewhere, you can still be a part of the event by donating food. Sign up sheets are available in the Narthex. You can also call the church office at 651-698-3889.4 35 Hamline Avenue South Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105.

White Bear Lake:
Free Thanksgiving meal at JJ’s Bierstube. Thursday Nov. 25 from noon-2:30 pm. RSVP by call Jodi at (651) 271-4961.

The purpose of “Artability” is to:
*Empower artists with mental illness by providing a venue to display their work and join a community of other artists to discuss and create their art together.
*To change social perceptions of mental illness and challenge stigma, showing mental illness as both a creative asset and a creative outlet.
*To include and validate the work of artists with different levels of artistic ability and different forms of mental illness.

I decided to enter the “Artability Exhibit& Art Sale” as someone recovering from trauma and anxiety due to years of domestic violence followed by homelessness and ongoing harassment from my abuser. My goal is to raise awareness about domestic violence, and the damage caused to it’s victims, especially children growing up amid violence and chaos. My submission will include photography and writing about my family’s experiences with domestic violence, homelessness and our journey to rebuilding our lives and finding a safe place to call “home”.

Despite fleeing my home and taking steps to start over, I continue to endure the worst forms of ongoing emotional abuse and character assassination from my abuser–who is now claiming I am “making up” these allegations of abuse because I am crazy. He is taking no responsibility for his actions. I would like to challenge this notion, and other stereotypes about abuse survivors, with the assertion that domestic violence results in very real emotional and physical damage on it’s victims, but in no way does that make any survivor of abuse “crazy”. Keep in mind, that those perpetrating abuse are the people closest to the victim–a partner or family member, someone who is loved and trusted. It is a normal response to a crazy situation for a victim to develop ways to survive and cope with violence that are dysfunctional to any normal relationship but given the peril the victim lives in, this is necessary for their own survival (and sanity). Only after getting needed help and support, maybe even leaving the relationship, can the victim begin to heal and establish a healthier, happier life.

My “Artability” photography/writing submission is an opportunity for me to finally take a stand for myself, and to claim my voice–the abuse is real, it happened but my life is so much more…I look forward to the opportunities of my future, and knowing that my actions to break the cycle of abuse will secure a better life for my children.

The 2010 “Artability” exhibit and art sale is free and open to the public and will be held at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer from Sept. 30-October 2. 285 N. Dale Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. Come and support local artists, invite family and friends!

Schedule:

Opening Reception:
Thursday, September 30 — 7:00 PM

Viewing Hours:
Thursday, September 30 — 6:00-9:00 PM
Friday, October 1 — 2:00-8:00 PM
Saturday, October 2 — 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

For more information: 651.227.6321

_____________________________

From my submission
“By Faith Alone”:

So much has changed to how I see the world

before violence and poverty…and After.

Beauty has become the dead rat stretched out

in a rigid line next to the dumpster.

My children affectionately named

the rat “Hairball”. He comes to life

in bedtime stories, going on adventures

that take us far away from our troubles.

Beauty is days we roamed the streets,

looking for someplace–anyplace to go.

One day we went hiking in Swede Hollow.

My children jumped in the creek,

splashing each other. They collected

pebbles and bits of colored glass,

convinced it is “treasure”.

Or, the warm glow of the Walmart

parking lot, the safest place to sleep

when you are living in your car.

Beauty is more than expensive objects or

carefully placed decorations…

it is the pure essence of hope

shining forth from the beaten, the oppressed,

the determined who persevere by faith alone.

– Lynn Mari, 2010

(2009 Artabilty Exhibit, my picture is of the Gopher)