Relationships
The P.U.R.S.E. Foundation
sponsors events throughout the
year to raise domestic violence
awareness
Teen Dating Violence
Awareness Workshop
[February]
P.U.R.S.E. hosts a
workshop for teens
residing in foster care
homes as the mission
is to Educate, Encourage & Empower teens to take a stand against
violence. Teens are provided with information on teen dating violence relationships and informative sessions that provide them the
opportunity to learn life skills. Teens are also provided breakfast,
lunch and a host of trinkets at this workshop.
P.U.R.S.E. Foundation Parade [February]
P.U.R.S.E. along with a host of our volunteers come together to
join in a parade to bring community awareness on teen dating violence.
P.U.R.S.E. Foundation Appreciation Celebration [April]
This event is held every year to say thank you to the P.U.R.S.E.
Foundation sponsors, supporters and volunteers. This event is to
take the time out to acknowledge and celebrate the support received from the community.
Bags of Love: A Domestic Violence Awareness Charity Event
[October]
This event is open to the public to learn about the social issue of
domestic violence and raise money for P.U.R.S.E. to host free workshops, provide scholarships and care packages for distribution to
local homeless shelters throughout the
metro Atlanta area. The audience is
able to hear from domestic violence
survivors and be entertained by musicians and many other artists that come
out to bring awareness and share their
talents and gifts at this event. Children
are able to partake in free face painting
and enjoy complimentary sweets from
our supporting vendors. All guests are
provided with a complimentary gift bag.
Teen Dating Violence
Speaking Engagements
[Throughout the year]
P.U.R.S.E. speaks at various events,
schools and local churches throughout
the year to bring awareness of teen
dating violence. During these speaking
engagements students/teens are often
given trinkets for taking an active role in
speaking up and out on this issue. We
do raffles to continuously keep everyone
engaged while presenting the facts on
teen dating violence.
For more information go to:
www.pursefoundation.com
Erika Lee is from Kankakee,
Illinois and currently lives in
Atlanta. She founded the
P.U.R.S.E. Foundation in
2009. She is a motivational
speaker who focuses on teen
dating violence. Erika earned a
master’s degree in Political and
Justice Studies and her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She is a member of the
Elizabeth Baptist Church in
Atlanta.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
Housing the Homeless
come very ill. His digestive Homeless Veterans
system was failing quickly. by the numbers
I drove them to Chicago
8.6 percent of homeless
Heights to look at their
population
unit—a very large one bedroom with a dining room, Male
91 percent
Single
98 percent
full kitchen, hardwood
Live in a city
76 percent
floors and running water
Disability
54 percent
with all utilities included.
African-American veterans are subSince he was awarded a
stantially overrepresented among
HUD/VASH (VA Suppor- homeless veterans, comprising 39
percent of the total homeless veteran
tive Housing) voucher, his population but only 11 percent of the
rent was covered. I offered total veteran population.
them lunch and they told
Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness
me they didn’t have any
food in Pembroke. His friend had charged him to take them
grocery shopping and to all appointments. Not a friend at all if
you ask me. I took them to the local food pantry and they were
given four bags of food and toiletries.
I drove them back to Pembroke where we unloaded the groceries. They were so happy and finally had something to look
forward to in life. A few weeks later they moved into their new
unit and later he received his chef license.
One day I was out in the community and say my veteran in the
kitchen of a restaurant, looking
very well, talking strong and the
head chef. I cried because I was so
happy for him. I introduced him to
my sister who was with me. He
told her he was so down in his life
and looked up one day to see an
angel and there I was.
I truly feel I am doing the work
of God because He hasn’t given
me anything else to do. If I walked
away from housing people in need Yvette Jones is a licensed real
I probably could find other things estate broker , real estate instructor
and military relocation profesto do. I do have a dual master’s
sional. When she’s not working,
degree in a great field. I have a
her world is centered on her son,
great bachelor’s degree. I’ve got
Sam, 15, a talented musician and
certifications to do several things. aspiring pilot and Fatima, 11, a
But I believe that this is my calling. musician and equestrian. For more
I love what I do. I get tired. I get information about Yvette and her
work, contact her at
frustrated but I can’t see myself
www.yvettejones.net,
doing anything else because it’s all [email protected] or (312)
of God.
593-8901.
Fall/Winter 2015 The Well Magazine
21