DVWMT Talkshow Present ” From Brokenness to Boldness Interviews” Hosted by QueenAfi
Lyn was a featured guest on Domestic Violence Wears Many Tags Talkshow
hosted by Queen Afi Gaston
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=83271&cmd=tc
Air date : January 7, 2014
A Look At Wrongful Convictions: Courage Empowerment Forum Welcomes Johnnie Lee Savory
FEATURING THE MUSIC OF VARIOUS ARTISTS
It was early 1977 when the life of a 14 year old was turned completely upside down. There was a double murder and investigators dragged the 14 year old Johnnie Lee Savory into an absolute nightmare. There were witnesses and evidence proving that Johnnie was not the murderer of his friend and friend’s sister but it was not enough to stop his 50 – 100 year original prison sentence. Johnnie would end up spending 30 years of his life behind bars for a crime he did not commit. Furthermore, the State of Illinois has denied multiple requests for DNA testing of evidence that would exonerate Johnnie.
According to The Innocence Project, there have been 273 post-conviction DNA exonerations in the United States. According to the same organization, DNA tests prove that nine Chicago teenagers were convicted in the 1990s of murders they did not commit. Five of them are still behind bars but prosecutors are refusing to acknowledge their innocence.
Johnnie’s plight is the plight of thousands more across our country, lives held captive behind bars because of a criminal justice system that fails to be just. Out of his experience, Johnnie has taken his pain and dedicated his life to helping those who are wrongfully convicted.
Tune in Tuesday, August 16th at 9 PM Eastern, 6pm Pacific to www.party934.com, 94.9 FM Hudson Valley, NY to hear Johnnie Lee Savory, wrongful conviction advocate and information specialist to Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
Visit Johnnie’s site at www.thesavoryfiles.com and also visit www.law.northwestern.edu/cwc/newsandevents/Savory.html
You can listen to previous broadcasts of Courage Empowerment Forum by, visitingwww.courageempowermentforum.com
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The Danger of Those with a History of Violence: Courage Empowerment Forum Welcomes Executive Director of the National Domestic Violence Registry Myra Spearman
FEATURING THE MUSIC OF ELIANE AMHERD
Myra Spearman was in her early 20’s when she first got married. Like countless women and men around the country, what began as a fairy tale marriage turned into years of a nightmare filled with real abuse, terror and victimization. The relief Myra felt after breaking free from a relationship of abuse was a turning point as she embarked on a mission to save the lives of domestic violence victims and offer them hope. Her activism eventually led to the launching of the first ever National Domestic Violence Registry (NDVR). Now, Myra and a team of people across the country have created a movement to comprehensively tackle the domestic violence epidemic around the United States and work with legislatures and activists to draw the connection to those with a history of violence in their past through the efforts of NDVR.
In 2009, Myra also won the Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center’s Award from the Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana for her creation of NDVR and holds a lifetime membership with the Society of Innovators.
Tune in Tuesday, July 12th at 9 PM Eastern, 6pm Pacific to www.party934.com, 94.9 FM Hudson Valley, NY to hear domestic violence activist Myra Spearman and learn more about the need for the comprehensive approach of NDVR toward the issue of domestic violence.
Featuring the music of ELIANE AMHERD, singer, guitarist and songwriter, from her album Now and From Now On
Eliane is one of the hottest forces of the New York City Jazz, Brazilian and Latin scene. The Swiss-born singer, guitarist and songwriter graduated from New York’s New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Music in 2000. Since then her original music and lyrics, a groovy mix of all her influences, has been creating quite a buzz.
Besides her performances as a leader or a featured artist in New York’s most famous clubs, like the Blue Note, Joe’s Pub, the Jazz Standard, Cornelia’s Street Cafe, Nuyorican Poets Cafe and major events like the Swiss Peak Festival, the reopening of the Silverstein Building at the World Trade Center (alongside Lou Reed, Susan Vega, and the Brazilian Girls), she also tours in North- and South America, Canada, Europe and Asia, where she performed at the Beijing Jazz Festival in China and the Giant Steppes of Jazz Festival in Mongolia.
Eliane worked with greats such as Randy Brecker, Marcus Strickland, Marc Ribot, Michael Carvin, Bill Ware, Jovino Santos Neto etc. She plays guitar in the Pacha Massive video “don’t let go” on MTV, her song “as If” can be heard in the award winning movie “Approaching Union Square” by filmmaker Marc Meyers and her voice is featured on Jeremy Mage’s song “Slippery Light” appearing on the NBC hit TV series “Lipstick Jungle”. Eliane also arranged and produced the Swiss Miss Sampler ÒheimwehÓ, featuring famous Swiss artists like Eliana Burki, Nubya, Gigi Moto, Mia Aegerter etc. This recording has earned her many great press reviews, several interviews on Swiss national radio stations and an appearance on the popular Swiss talk show “Aeschbacher”.
Her own band consists of the best musicians the city has to offer, like the two female bass players Jennifer Vincent and Hagar Ben Ari, bass player Gustavo Amarante and the drummers Willard Dyson and Abou Diarrassouba. Other accomplished musicians you can catch on stage with Eliane are: drummers or percussionists Ze Mauricio, Genji Siriasi, Sylvia Cuenca, bass players Ray Parker, Yoshi Waki, Itaiguara, pianists Rachel Z, Helen Sung, Chris Wiesendanger and many others. ElianePerforms.com
For more information about Eliane, visit www.elianeperforms.com.
The Call for More Men
Recently I had the opportunity to co-present a workshop at the National Organization for Women’s (NOW) annual conference in Tampa, FL. The workshop was about how survivors of domestic violence could be resilient after experiencing abuse. I shared my own personal story of resiliency, what that means for me as a survivor of child abuse and intimate partner violence, and coping techniques. After my presentation, participants in the workshop shared their experiences and their own heartfelt stories of triumph over abuse.
During the entire NOW conference, hundreds of feminist women, and men, gathered during that weekend to discuss issues affecting women and families in this country and around the world. Men like Barry Goldstein, activist and battered mothers advocate, and Ben Atherton-Zeman, spokesperson of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism, only to name a few, represented that segment of male society who fight for the equality of women, protection of children, and the declination of the age old, destructive misogynist ways of thinking. They were welcomed speakers among a sea of activist women.
Whether you agree with all that NOW as an organization represents, one thing I saw was their ability to engage men in the conversation of solutions to ensure a progressive future for both women. All movements start from one point but in order to be sustainable, they must be willing to adapt and grow into a progressive effort that meets the needs of society in modern times. Among many great initiatives, that is one initiative NOW is managing to do.
Often when we talk about social ills like domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, we speak in terms of how they affect women. And women are often the ones to carry the torch to create support and resources for survivors. There are more women representing these issues too like there are women flooding church pews. There is an overwhelming unleveled scale of women compared to men on these serious issues that require the participation of men, the imperative engagement of men both young and old.
If we want to see a drastic shift take place in the way society views domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, men can no longer be side line participants in the conversations and there must be an active recruitment to engage well intentioned men to ally alongside women who have taken these issues by the bridle to see effectual change take place.
We also need to pay closer attention to how misogyny has damaged men and has failed male victims. The misperception that as a man you should tough it up if you are assaulted, or that you can just take it and move on has drove countless men to live lives that are less than fulfilling, lives filled with denial, depression, addiction, abuse and yes, like many women re-victimization. We also do ourselves a disservice when we alienate men from our lives, when we fail to acknowledge their role in helping to create solutions. We also poison our posterity when we allow rhetoric and misogynist imagery to permeate our mainstream society, from both men and women, and do nothing about. I am talking about the men and women who portray both sexes like nothing more than sexual objects.
There are many men that want to get involved and fight alongside women to help bring change, despite what negative they have been taught by their fathers or society. Unfortunately some of them have been turned away by women who failed to recognize the need for change and allow men to take part in the solution with programs and services.
So take the time to look at your work and find ways to increase the engagement and participation of men. Men are a vital part of the equation to solving women’s issues and issues that are perceived to be just women’s issues. There are countless positive, inspiring, spirit filled men out there that are crusaders for protection and seekers of justice. The issues that often begin with female victims affect all of us. So be a part of that progressive change and embrace the men who raise their hands and ask, ‘How can I as a man help?’
A Voice for the Innocent: Courage Empowerment Forum Welcomes True Crime Author and Crime Novelist Diane Fanning
For some of us, the inspiration to do something comes from a motivation of a role model. In the case of Diane Fanning, a frightening and near abduction of herself at the age of 9 set a “lifelong interest in the psychology of the criminal mind.”
A winner of the University of Illinois’s Defenders of the Innocent Award for her book about a Texas serial killer that helped exonerate Julie Rea of Lawrenceville, Diane has become a highly accomplished and well respected crime author. The author of over a dozen books, Diane continues to draw readers not only interested in mystery and crime, but readers in search for real justice.
Her latest book MOMMY’S LITTLE GIRL recounts the life and death of 2 year old Caylee Anthony. It’s available at all online and local book retailers. Diane has recently been featured on TruTv, Justice with Judge Jeanine Pirro, The Joy Behar Show, and several talk radio shows around the country covering the Casey Anthony Trial.
For more information on Diane and her books, please visit her website: www.dianefanning.com Diane’s personal coverage of the Casey Anthony trial can be seen each day on her blog Writing is a Crime
Tune in Tuesday, June 21st at 9 PM Eastern, 6pm Pacific to www.party934.com, 94.9 FM Hudson Valley, NY to hear award-winning crime author Diane Fanning.
You can listen to previous broadcasts of Courage Empowerment Forum by, visitingwww.courageempowermentforum.com
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The Impact of Domestic Violence and HIV/AIDS: Courage Empowerment Forum Welcomes Donna Savage, Author of The Blood and Tears of Domestic Violence, Executive Director of Domestic Violence and AIDS Mission of New Jersey
At the age of 16, Donna Savage left home and got married with the hopes of a better life. She did not imagine that her new husband would become her abuser for nearly twenty years. At the near end of her divorce, she was urged by her lawyer to write about her experiences in what became her first book titledThe Blood and Tears of Domestic Violence: A Survivor’s Revelation. Writing her debut book proved to be a struggle as she unraveled flooded memories of years of violence. It was until a tragedy that occured in the life of a friend that jolted Donna to move past the pain and forced her memoir’s completion.
Donna is also the founder of The Domestic Violence and AIDS Mission of New Jersey, a faith based organization serving those affected by domestic violence and AIDS. It’s also the home of the first abusers helpline called the National 24 Hour Abuser Hotline.
Tune in Tuesday, April 19th at 9 PM Eastern, 6pm Pacific to www.party934.com, 94.9 FM Hudson Valley, NY to hear Donna Savage, author and founder of The Domestic Violence and AIDS Mission of New Jersey for this enlightening program about abuse and healing.
Visit Donna’s websites at www.donnasavagepublishing.com and www.dvamnj.org.
Gerard M. Williams, Gospel Vocalist
Gerard M. Williams is a multi-talented gospel vocalist and guitarist. He has a strong, mature voice that truly compliments the message he spreads of love and hope in his spirited gospel tracks. What you hear on his album is what you get in live performances, a truly passionate and gifted artist. His sound will not let you down; his poetic lines are inspiring and uplifting. He is destined be one of the next great gospel performers, ‘I don’t want to wait on someone else to do it for me…I have a purpose to get my music out and the faith that it will happen….Music is my ministry, and to spread it is what I am commissioned to do.”
Bio
Gerard M Williams has established a strong local following in the Triangle region of North Carolina, and his following is expanding rapidly across the country via access to the internet…
Singing since the age of 4 Gerard knew that his roots would be in gospel music, the music of TRUTH. Growing up in the city of Durham, North Carolina, home of two of the biggest names in gospel music, Shirley Caesar and John P. Kee; Gerard knew he had big footsteps to follow. Likewise, he knew he had wonderful examples to pattern himself after in all aspects of the gospel music industry from song selection to performance, from writing to publishing, from studying to living the life he sings about. Now he is ready to share all that he has learned with the masses. …
Lastly as a member of his high schools honor chorus, Spartan Song, Gerard was afforded the opportunity to sing for the US Secretary of State on national television. Following high school, Gerard was accepted into the coveted Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. After enrolling at Berklee he became a part of an auditioned Gospel group called “Overjoyed.” With Overjoyed, he traveled to and performed in Switzerland. One of his highest achievements while at Berklee was being a part of the biggest vocal show that Berklee has to offer in which he was selected 1 of 8 performers in a show that well over 100 vocalists had auditioned for.
In addition to all of his scholastic musical endeavors, Gerard always remained close to his gospel roots in his home church and choir. As a result had the opportunity to tour with his church choir throughout England including, London and Durham. These events and his season of preparation eventually lead to Williams having the opportunity to sing background with such gospel greats as Tremaine Hawkins, and Dennis Montgomery. Gerard has had the opportunity to minister to literally thousands as a member of the Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries Conference choir as well as being showcased in the nightly services more recently he has been showcased at the singers and musicians conference hosted by Dr. Dorinda Clark Cole of the Legendary Clark Sisters. He has had also had the opportunity to be showcased at the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
Working on his debut release consisting of Gospel, Inspirational and Soul tracks, Gerard hopes he will capture a new audience that will have the opportunity to experience the soul stirring voice that many of his other loyal listeners have become accustomed with. Writing songs since the age of 12 Gerard has been focused on writing conscious music that listeners will be able to embrace. Songs like “So Glad” ,Hurting People and “Walk Out Of The Rain” evoke feelings of hope and determination and the calming worship rendition of “Blessed Be the Lord” show many sides of diversity in Gerard’s music, which speaks of Hope, eternal salvation, and Love With his eyes poised on a lasting recording career, the formal training to go forth, complete submission to the will of GOD and the drive and goal to succeed, Gerard M Williams is sure to become a name that will be synonymous with gospel music for years to come. You can read Gerard’s full bio by visiting his www.gerardmwilliams.com.
You can listen to previous broadcasts of Courage Empowerment Forum by, visiting www.courageempowermentforum.com
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Courage Empowerment Forum Welcomes 1in6.org – Info, Options, Hope
Research shows that approximately “1 in 6 men have experienced unwanted or abusive sexual experiences before age 16”. Out of these numbers are men who suffer in silence, in a world that is just learning how to cope with the stigmas surrounding male survivors of sexual abuse. Would you know what to do, how to react, if a man or young male you care for confessed to being sexually assaulted or victimized? 1 in 6 is an organization that is providing resources, support and understanding for this issue. They are also shedding light on the myths that permeates society and often keeps males survivors suffering in shame and in the darkness. With a motto of “INFO, OPTIONS, HOPE”, 1 in 6 is responding to the needs of these men and those that care about them.
Tune in Tuesday, April 5th at 9 PM Eastern, 6pm Pacific to www.party934.com, 94.9 FM Hudson Valley, NY to hear Steve, executive director of 1in6.org and learn more about the help for male survivors and all survivors of sexual assault.
Visit 1in6.org’s website at http://www.1in6.org
CHARLEY LANGER, Intelligent Smooth Jazz, Saxaphonist
Courage Empowerment Forum is pleased to feature the music of Charley Langer! Charley’s music has been branded as “Intelligent Smooth Jazz”. His music is carefully crafted and takes the listener to places they’ve never gone before. Charley has a unique style that is truly recognizable as his own. He brings an undeniable gift of saxaphone playing to audiences around the country and a band of talented performers on every track. He is also receiving national air play on the Weather Channel.
Bio
A classically-trained saxophonist, Charley developed his technique under such masters of the instrument as Vincent Gnojek, Douglas Masek, and Laura Hunter. His experience includes numerous live venues, television, and radio; as well as performances with notables Morton Gould, John Adams, Zita Carno, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and others.
During a temporary relocation to Hawaii, Charley worked as a sideman for local entertainers, including island chart-topper Jon Basebase (“Suddenly”), the Bobby King Royal Combo, and the Willie Barton Orchestra. More recently, he has played and/or recorded with contemporary Christian artists Annie Herring, Julie Meyer, Chris DuPre, Pablo Perez, and Gregg Stone.
After having been a contributing performer on numerous independent recordings, Charley has released his debut solo CD, Never the Same. To help perfect this mixture of jazz and rock, Charley enlisted drummer/producer Ron Wikso, who has shared the stage with numerous rock legends. Another prominent musician on the album is guitarist Kurt Griffey who, like Wikso, boasts an impressive resume of rock gigs and adds a unique flavor to Charley’s songs that make this album stand out. Never The Same features world-class bassist Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report), keyboardist Wally Minko (Jean Luc Ponty), and percussionist Michito Sanchez (Joe Sample). The title cut is currently receiving daily nationwide airplay on The Weather Channel.
Although Charley’s current musical focus is on recording and composition, he still makes time to perform with the award-winning Sacramento band, Steelin’ Dan, and other local projects.
Visit www.charleylanger.com .
You can listen to previous broadcasts of Courage Empowerment Forum by, visiting www.courageempowermentforum.com
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When the Law Fails to Serve and Protect: Courage Empowerment Forum Welcomes Author Rosa Torres
What happens when the one you vow to love betrays you through abuse? What would you do if you go to seek the help of law enforcement, only to find out there is no help because the one you love is law enforcement? Rosa Torres was faced with those decisions when she met a man over 20 years ago that became her husband who was a police officer. Their relationship with violence resulted in her receiving severe, physical battering. Rosa found herself facing a system that became numb to her cries for help. Rosa’s retelling of years living with domestic violence in her memoir Abuse Hidden Behind the Badge is a message of “self-affirmation and love of one’s self-worth” and a “remarkable reminder that hope is the entity that will prevail in life’s darkest moments,” according to Anthony P. Johnson, Philadelphia political candidate.
Tune in Tuesday, March 29th at 9 PM Eastern, 6pm Pacific to www.party934.com, 94.9 FM Hudson Valley, NY to hear Rosa Torres, author of Abuse Hidden Behind the Badge and learn more about her heroing story. We will also play various music selections throughout the hour.
Visit Author Rosa Torres’s website at http://torrespublishing.com
You can listen to previous broadcasts of Courage Empowerment Forum by, visitingwww.vimeo.com/courageempowermentforum or www.lyntwyman.com/Radio.html
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Dedicated to Those Who Still Have a Fighting Chance
It’s been almost 11 years ago that I met a beautiful young man who was dying of cancer at the tender age of 18. I had heard about his struggle with cancer in the local newspaper and new that someone needed to reach out to him and his family. I was working a full time job then so I asked my preacher at the time if he would pay this young man a visit and he promised me he would. After 2 or 3 weeks had gone by, I learned that my preacher had not kept his word and I became livid. ‘Why am I giving this man my tithe money when he can’t even get his ass in the car and visit someone who is sick as the rest of us are at work struggling to make a living?’ I thought.
I then made the decision to make the visit myself and I asked another church member, who knew the family of the young man, if she would go with me to visit them after I got off from work. She agreed and in the cold and chill of December, we drove down an old, back country road to a white cottage in the darkness of the night out in the woods. Once we arrived at the home, we were met by some of the friendliest of people, given the circumstances. The new friend that I met that night, who I always call now my Charlie, was laying in the living room on his hospital bed, connected to a morphine pump as his source of pain relief and sustenance.
What happened that night I have never forgotten as I watched this young man, who did not have much left to his frail being, wake from his sleep and he began speaking to me, though he couldn’t see me as the cancer had taken most of his sight. We talked and I learned about his favorite instrument, his favorite sport, even his favorite flower. I also prayed with him that night asking God to be by his side and Charlie received assurance that he would go to meet his Maker. Minutes later, he drifted back to sleep but before he did, I gave him a red Bible.
Charlie died three days later on December 26th and after speaking with his mother after the funeral had taken place, I learned that he was buried with the same Bible I had given him. I also learned from his mother that the visit I had paid him gave him renewed strength that she had not seen from him in a while. He was a more cheerful person in his last three days, making mention of me several times and wanting to know where his Bible was. On Christmas day, after weeks of not eating because of the effects from the morphine, he awoke asking to get dressed and ate his last meal ever with his family. I didn’t know that the time I had left to reach him wasn’t that long. I didn’t know that Charlie was on the verge of death the night we went to see him. The local newspaper had minimized the state of his condition.
Just like my angel, Charlie, whose life was claimed by a gruesome disease called cancer, there are many victims of domestic violence who are also on the verge of death. If you and I don’t get to them, don’t talk to them, don’t reach out to them soon, and just wait for other people and organizations to do the work when you and I are just as capable, then it just may be too late. If we can save them or offer some kind of hope to help them move on and be empowered to take the next steps, then we’ve done our job.
I know my Charlie died, but he needed someone to come to him and give him some kind of hope as his fate was near. For those who are being victimized by domestic violence, they still have a fighting chance, however, and that’s the point I want to get across today.
So I challenge all of us who are fighting for the rights of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault to crime victimization, please remember that each person deserves the help and support. It’s not too late. Each person deserves to be kept safe from their abuser and out of harm’s way with whatever it takes. Judges, prosecutors, police officers and advocates reading this, ask yourselves are your departments doing all they can do to protect victims? Politicians and legislators, are you passing laws to keep victims safe or what’s holding you back from making the right decisions to protect your citizens? Is it that one little clause in a bill that needs to be modified that’s preventing you from voting on it? If so, then for Heaven’s sake come to a compromise, get it changed and pass that bill! And family, friends, co-workers, what’s keeping you from talking to the person you love or know about getting help as they are being abused?
If all of us wait for the next guy to come around, just like the lazy preacher I once had, what we’re called to do by Divine Intervention, Providence or Karma will never happen. So let’s take the time to make this coming holiday and new year a time to be more proactive in our fight for all of humanity. There are some things we just know we must do that are right. Someone needs you. Don’t let anything hold you back.
~Dedicated to my Charlie. Called home to be with his Maker December 26, 1999.~
