25% … that’s 1 in 4 … women experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. Each year, 1,300 deaths occur as a result of domestic violence.*

Photography by Becca Snider Tally

 

Startling and heartbreaking isn’t it? Each year, Americans — male and female, rich and poor, white, black, brown — experience 2 million injuries as a result of domestic violence.*

In Arkansas, 420,000 women and 375,000 men have been victims of rape, stalking and/or physical abuse by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.**

October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. To mark this sobering occasion, on October 15 2015, Women’s Own Worth, W.O.W., hosted its second annual Wowapalooza at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. The organization was founded by Jajuan Archer.

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Jajuan Archer founder of Women’s Own Worth.

In 2011, Archer experienced domestic violence and after being accosted at gunpoint by her ex-boyfriend, twice, she made the brave decision to leave that relationship. She established W.O.W. to help others who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse. W.O.W. offers emotional and financial support as well as individual and family therapy programs for victims of domestic violence.

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Triple Threat

The evening included a silent auction and music by Triple Threat as well as presentation of the 2015 W.O.W. Woman of the Year award.

Kimberly Bell, a licensed, certified clinical social worker, was recognized as the “W.O.W. Woman of the Year for her outstanding commitment to helping those in need not only through Women’s Own Worth but through every avenue she sees a need.”

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Kimberly Bell was recognized as the “W.O.W. Woman of the Year”

Bell said the work she does to help victims is well worth her time. “God has made room for my gift. He’s ‘got me, and He’s got you, too.’”

For more information about W.O.W., including how to get assistance or how you can help the 501(c)3, log on to womensownworth.com.

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*Centers for Disease Control

**Allstate Foundation – clicktoempower.org