Help victims flee domestic violence & restore hope

During this quarter, Fresh Spirit Wellness for Women, Inc. (FSWW) celebrated 25 years of service to the community. To commemorate this momentous occasion, FSWW hosted its 25^th Anniversary Appreciation and Awards Brunch in conjunction with its annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) event on October 8^th, 2022. The Event was held at the Hilton Hotel Galleria and our Keynote speaker was Houston City Councilwoman, Dr. Letitia Plummer, who is also a domestic violence survivor herself.

Founded in 1997, from our Founder/ED, Dr. Conte Terrell’s own domestic violence experience, FSWW has served, saved, changed and inspired countless victims/survivors therefore turning their “hurt into healing” which is part of our mission. It is by this foundational history that FSWW is fueled to continue to extract as many lives from the jaws of domestic abuse as possible.

The campaign theme for this wonderful milestone was “Be The Light!,” for which FSWW and its dedicated team are committed to and compassionate about serving.  However, our Founder/ED, Dr. Conte Terrell and the FSWW Team acknowledge that we could not have made it through its 25 years of service without the help of many supporters. Their support has manifested into many forms of in-kind donations, mentorship programs, support group facilitation, volunteerism and financial support totaling over $2.5 million dollars.

To show its heartfelt appreciation for its employees, board members, donors, partners and volunteers, FSWW honored them with the “Be The Light” Award in the form of beautiful crystal trophies, medals of valor and certificates of appreciation. Acknowledging Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), FSWW had a candle lighting ceremony remembering a few victims who lost their lives to domestic violence. We also spotlighted two client success stories, one with the Warrior Award and the other with the Celebration of Life Award for their strength, courage and continuous progress in overcoming the trauma of their circumstances.

FSWW rolled out the red carpet and served a spectacular three-course meal accompanied by the likes of a professional saxophonist to set the celebratory atmosphere for our guests. Festivities continued with the presentation of awards to the honorees and culminated into a surprise visit from Congresswoman, Shelia Jackson Lee honoring Dr. Conte Terrell with a Proclamation from the Congressional House of Representatives for “Being The Flame!” that lights the pathway for others to “Be The Light.”

Dr. Conte Terrell was also presentedwith a Proclamation from Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner, declaring October 8^th, 2022, as Fresh Spirit Wellness for Women, Inc. day.

Fresh Spirit took great pleasure in honoring all of its distinguished guests and letting them know just how valuable their support is. 

Fresh Spirit is also very grateful for the constant support it receives from GlobalGiving.

With your support this past year, the Fresh Spirit Team was able to provide 333 unduplicated clients with 1063 crisis counseling and therapy hours; 52 support groups with 501 attendees; and 94 clients received legal advocacy services. We also provided 20 clients with emergency hotel stay with our Safe Night Program. 

Your ongoing support has been integral in making these services possible. Due to the sensitive nature of our services provided and the safety of our clients, photos are limited due to confidentiality. 

Fresh Spirit Wellness for Women, Inc. (Fresh Spirit) continues to strive for excellence in providing crisis intervention services to victims/survivors of domestic violence. With the onset of the pandemic, domestic violence was exacerbated. Now that we are post pandemic, the residue of its existence still lingers. Numerous calls are received daily from victims/survivors seeking not only counseling, but they are also in great need of resources on how to navigate their new lives as well as the changing landscape around them.

Therefore, the Fresh Spirit Team has readily evolved by introducing our Professional Empowerment Series to offer our clients a job readiness component that will equip them in seeking, obtaining and maintaining employment.

As a part of Fresh Spirit’s Next Level Growth, Next Level Living Series, our team has developed a real-time on the job training (OJT) support group to educate and address employment needs as observed by our team.

Because many of our women are coming out of oppressive and abusive relationships, they have not had the opportunity to learn basic protocol in the employment sector while others who previously had that knowledge, lost it due to being separated and bound for so long. Also, since navigating employment virtually during the pandemic is new to most, this series will help them with virtual job interviewing etiquette.

Furthermore, they have been deprived of gaining their independence; physically and emotionally as well as financially and socially. These socio-economic deficiencies combined with their compounded trauma has placed many clients at a major disadvantage in acquiring or regaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, this series is designed to impart new information to some and be a refresher to others.

Some of the topics of discussion are:

The Recruiting Process highlights the employer’s point of view. Fresh Spirit’s goal is to relay the mindset of the employer so those clients who are seeking employment can obtain an understanding of what the employer is looking for in an applicant. Reviewing this process will also assist the client in focusing, customizing and applying their job search energies in the correct manner.

Applications and more focuses on the protocol of completing hardcopy or online applications. This component will discuss the details of algorithms and how to increase one’s chances of being selected. It will also discuss how to avoid the “black hole” which means the application is never seen.

Screening to be seen reviews the telephone protocol needed during the preliminary interest and introduction to the potential employer. This audible presentation determines whether or not the applicant makes the cut to the next phase.

Interviewing to impress delves into the protocol expected during this visual interview phase whether virtual or onsite. This section will tackle the do’s and don’ts that could make or break the potential employment opportunity.

This series was carefully crafted by our Fresh Spirit Team to provide our clients with the job readiness tools needed to help them achieve their employment goals, all while maintaining and preserving a healthy living environment for themselves and their children.

With your support this quarter, the Fresh Spirit Team was able to provide 67 unduplicated clients with 193 crisis counseling and therapy hours; 13 support groups with 124 attendees; and 25 clients received legal advocacy services. We also provided emergency hotel stay in our Safe Night Program to a family of four fleeing domestic violence. 

Your ongoing support has been integral in making these services possible. Due to the sensitive nature of the support group services provided and the safety of our clients, photos are limited due to confidentiality.