"Poverty is a state of mind, not just a state of your finances," Candace says confidently.  She grew up just outside of Cincinnati, and as a first grader walking home from school one day she saw several "dirty and sad looking" children standing on the balcony of their apartment building.  When she got home, Candace told her mother, "Do something to help the poor children."  She was not expecting to hear that her family was having the same financial struggles as those "dirty" children since she and her siblings were neither dirty nor sad.  When you are poor you don't have enough.  Candace never felt deprived because of what she didn't have; she felt privileged because of what she did have.  Even though her mother had spoken the words, "We are poor too", the meaning would not fully resonate with Candace until well into her adulthood.

The one thing Candace knew as a small child was that she wanted to be a writer. And so she went to college with the right attitude and the intent of pursuing that dream.  Candace was fortunate enough to land an entry-level job working for an advertising agency where she had the ability to write anything and everything from internal documents to being part of the copywriting team.  At this point she was a self-sufficient career women who had helped herself rise out of poverty, but little did she know how rapidly things could change.
 
Having to deal with high blood pressure and diabetes was not Candace's only confrontation with medical expenses.  She was diagnosed with a host of other illnesses including pre-breast cancer lumps.  To complicate things, her daughter, who was a scholar athlete, had chronic medical issues and suffered from a head injury, all of which need consultations from ten medical specialists.  Slowly this brilliant success story hit a wall and Candace could barely make ends meet. 

After a struggling for a few years, Candace was introduced to the Bridges Out of Poverty's Getting Ahead program.  One of the largest pieces of information that Candace learned was the hidden middle class social rule of networking (and it does not equate to using someone).  The class, Candace says "created a context for living.  It unified the missing pieces; it made my life make sense.  Getting Ahead is getting out of my comfort zone."  Recently Candace has been called to preach and is working at getting into seminary.  She continues to write.  She knows that through God's work and her gift of writing she has the opportunity to reach others in need. 

By Margot Halcomb 

 Years ago, I volunteered at a safe house for victims of domestic violence.  I will never forget some of the horrific stories I heard there.  My eyes were opened to the fact that abuse crosses all social and economic boundaries.  I would occasionally take kids living there out for the day, and that is how I met a woman whose story stuck with me.  She was a bright, young medical school student, personable and self-reliant.   It was hard to believe that she was a victim of domestic violence.

Domestic violence is complicated.  We tend to focus on the most shocking examples of abuse, but it doesn't typically begin that way.   The events are usually progressive and may begin simply with verbal abuse and insults.  Keeping their victim insecure is a batterer's goal.  The abuse usually escalates over time to shouting, pushing, beating and beyond. 

These are not stories from another community.  They are not statistics involving only poorer neighborhoods.  These are individuals of all ages and come from all socio-economic backgrounds, and they are living right here in Butler County.

Over the past couple of decades, more effort has been made to address this issue nationally.  Here in Butler County, our Butler County United Way is making a marked difference in the lives of those affected by domestic violence.

As Fran Reese puts it, "The Butler County United Way has been the mainstay in the system that serves these victims and their children".  As the YWCA Domestic Violence Director, Fran knows firsthand how difficult it is to fight against the cycle of violence and educate for change.  Her work has become even more difficult as she has watched budget cuts minimize services within the county. 

The YWCA offers programs to assist individuals and families in escaping violence in their lives. One such program is Dove House, the only emergency protective shelter in Butler County, which has served individuals for over 30 years.   The shelter provides safe temporary housing and helps victims and their children find assistance in determining the best path to take to secure a non-violent future. 

Fran sees how the Butler County United Way collaborates with agencies to fund counseling, transportation and other basic needs for victims and their families.  It funds the 24 Hour Crisis Hotline, providing immediate assistance to victims.  The United Way has also recently stepped up to fill the need of advocacy within the court system to ensure victims have the necessary support through what is often an intimidating process.

Most recently, Fran has seen the development of Stepping Stones to a Healthy Relationship in our schools.  Because abuse is a learned behavior, this educational program is aimed at reaching the youth and modeling healthy relationships.  It is yet another benefit of funding in part from the Butler County United Way.

Unfortunately, domestic violence is very real and happens daily in Butler County.  For many who haven't experienced it, it is easy to shrug it off and think that it does not involve them.  The painful reality is that when a crime is seen only as "someone else's problem," it becomes our greatest threat.  By giving to the Butler County United Way, you can become a part of the solution.  You can become a part of a community who shares its hope for the future and its responsibility to community members.  Please give generously to the Butler County United Way.  You can contact them by calling 513-863-0800 or by visiting their website at www.bc-unitedway.org.

24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-800-618-6523